The Disco Biscuits are also well-known for their ability to run long sets together, sometimes even playing their songs backwards, in styles referred to as "inverted" and "dyslexic." An inverted version of a song occurs when the band starts a song by playing its ending segment, followed immediately by its beginning segment and a jam that segues out of that song and into another. A dyslexic song is played the same way as an inverted one, with its main difference being that the pieces of the song are not played consecutively (e.g. ending of 1 -> 2, 3, 4, beginning of 1 -> 5). Another technique employed by the band is a fakeout, which occurs when the band plays a jam that usually leads into one song, but segues into another unexpectedly.
Due to the separation of their segments, dyslexic songs can begin on one night's show and end the next night. The nature of their setlists is both a blessing and a curse; while the myriad variations on their songs are interesting to hardcore fans of the band, it can confuse people who are not already familiar with their catalog. This forces the listener to be immediately willing to immerse themselves in the Disco Biscuits' large catalog, which can prove to be a rather overwhelming task for novices to undertake. On the other hand, many are fascinated by the game of "what song are they going to play next", and are disappointed when their ears are attuned enough to know the answers in advance.
The band has 2 rock operas as part of their catalog: the Hot Air Balloon (written by guitarist Jon Gutwillig) and the Chemical Warfare Brigade (written by bassist Marc Brownstein).
On 11/5/04 The Disco Biscuits announced that drummer Sam Altman was leaving the band to attend medical school. The band had toured only sporadically from the end of the summer of 2003 until Sammy's official departure was confirmed. The band announced that Allen Aucoin would replace Altman as the full-time drummer on 12/12/05, ending months of speculation.
In 2007, the band co-headlined the D.U.M.B. (Disco-Umphrey's McGee-Biscuits) tour with Umphrey's McGee. Bandmembers from both Umphrey's and Bisco have further more found each other in the Brain Damaged Eggmen, a Pink Floyd and Beatles coverband
Discography
* Encephalous Crime (self-released, 1996)
* Uncivilized Area (1998)
* Bisco Lives (2000)
* They Missed the Perfume (2001)
* Señor Boombox (2002)
* TranceFusion Radio Broadcast Vol. 1-4 (2003)
* Wind at Four to Fly (2006)
* Rocket 3 (2007)
* Planet Anthem (2010)
caterpillar
The Disco Biscuits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna see you all the time
Dead lights surround your little innocence
With boxes never fall behind
You wanna teach me your philosophy
But life is always on your mind
You cant wake up from last nights decadence
You wanna talk about our government
But i dont think i have the time
You did you your part on the environment
But it was only in sand that i saw you draw the line
You always like to live extravagant
You always like to wine and dine
So you now come out of your leather back
You poke your head out for a while
Caterpillar sleep in the bathtub
Fairy always wade in the sink
Butterfly arrive in the bedroom
Beauty fly away on a wing
Caterpillar sleep in the bathtub
Fairy always wade in the sink
Butterfly arrive in the bedroom
Beauty fly away on a wing
You cant believe you have to pay your rent
Why dont you find somewhere to buy
I cant believe i take my vitamins
But i dont wanna see your cry
You say you wanna be an actress
Why dont i ever see you try
So now you think youve found the evidence
So tell me whats your bottom line
Caterpillar sleep in the bathtub
Fairy always wade in the sink
Butterfly arrive in the bedroom
Beauty fly away on a wing
Caterpillar sleep in the bathtub
Fairy always wade in the sink
Butterfly arrive in the bedroom
Beauty fly away on a wing
The Disco Biscuits's song Caterpillar is a commentary on a specific type of person - someone who is always looking for the next thrill, always wanting more, and never satisfied. The song describes this person as living extravagantly, always wanting to wine and dine, and putting themselves on a pedestal. They try to live a glamorous life, but it is clear that they may not have the means to do so, as the song mentions the person struggling to pay rent.
The chorus of the song highlights the cycle of this person's life, as they go from being a caterpillar (representing a person who has the potential to grow and change) to a fairy (representing someone who is still free-spirited but maybe a bit lost) to a butterfly (representing someone who has transformed and found their way) to beauty flying away on a wing (representing someone who has left all their excess behind and found true beauty in simplicity).
The verses touch on various topics, such as philosophy, the environment, and the government, but the singer in the song seems to be distancing themselves from the person they are describing. The singer acknowledges the person's faults and excesses, but ultimately seems to pity them because they are always looking for something that they will never find.
Line by Line Meaning
I always put you on a pedestal
I have always looked up to you and thought highly of you.
I wanna see you all the time
I desire to be in your presence consistently.
Dead lights surround your little innocence
Negative experiences have surrounded and impacted your pure nature.
With boxes never fall behind
You always stay organized and never let things slip through the cracks.
You wanna teach me your philosophy
You want to share your beliefs and ideas with me.
But life is always on your mind
You are constantly thinking about the stresses and challenges of life.
You cant wake up from last nights decadence
You are struggling to move on from excessive behavior from the previous night.
But you always had a good time
Despite the consequences, you enjoyed the experiences from the previous night.
You wanna talk about our government
You want to discuss politics and the government.
But i dont think i have the time
I am not interested in discussing politics at this moment.
You did you your part on the environment
You have made efforts to contribute positively to the environment.
But it was only in sand that i saw you draw the line
Your actions towards the environment were limited and not consistent in all areas.
You always like to live extravagant
You enjoy living lavishly and in a grand manner.
You always like to wine and dine
You enjoy indulging in fine food and drink.
So you now come out of your leather back
You are stepping out of your comfort zone.
You poke your head out for a while
You are briefly exploring new experiences or opportunities.
Caterpillar sleep in the bathtub
A symbol of transformation in the form of rest and reflection.
Fairy always wade in the sink
A symbol of imagination and playfulness.
Butterfly arrive in the bedroom
A symbol of personal growth and transformation.
Beauty fly away on a wing
A symbol of physical, emotional, or spiritual liberation.
You cant believe you have to pay your rent
You are frustrated with the financial responsibilities of adulthood.
Why dont you find somewhere to buy
Why don't you consider owning rather than renting?
I cant believe i take my vitamins
I find it hard to believe that I am taking care of myself while you are struggling.
But i dont wanna see your cry
I do not want to see you upset or struggling.
You say you wanna be an actress
You aspire to become an actress.
Why dont i ever see you try
I have not seen you take any steps towards your aspirations.
So now you think youve found the evidence
You believe you have found proof or validation for your dreams.
So tell me whats your bottom line
Explain to me the final or most important aspect of your beliefs or desires.
Contributed by Arianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ragewompwomp
Fuck yes. I want to see YOU all the time!
@michaelbittel7064
The frisco triscuits .
@keithnercesian6595
manta ray'd
@mitch8758
Jesus fuck... this shit slaps. dick down to bum on this won yall. fur-real can't compete with this hams sause
@cwesley2005
Barber
@ghostdein1
yikes. singing is pretty bad.
@JamesBlitz00
glad i wasn't alone on that
@chrismanion7416
Then done listen to it I don’t comment hateful comments on the shitty music u like
@thirdphase8567
Check out TRACTORBEAM then
@aldenb5878
Lol @Chris Manion are you really taking his comment that personally?