1. an indie folk ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands called The Dodos.
1. an indie folk band from San Francisco, CA, United States, formed in 2005
2. a short-lived British punk/rock band that evolved out of Swansea punk band The Urge in 1979
3. a short-lived British rock band that relelased one single in 1967
1. The Dodos are an indie folk band from San Francisco, CA, United States, formed in 2005. Almost all of their albums (except the very first one) are credited to Dodos (without 'The'), but they made their recording début as The Dodos and are listed as such on streaming platforms, which is why most of their scrobbles end up here. The Dodos is the preferred spelling. The band has two core members: Meric Long (vocals, guitar) and Logan Kroeber (drums). They have released eight studio albums since mid-2006: Beware of the Maniacs (2006), Visiter (2008), Time to Die (2009), No Color (2011), Carrier (2013), Individ (2015), Certainty Waves (2018) and Grizzly Peak (2021).
2. Having evolved in late 1979 out of Swansea punk band The Urge, The Dodos were named after the ephedrine-laced asthma tablets, consisting of Dickie Evans (vocals), Phil Roberts (guitar), Anthony Reed (bass) and Steve 'Gagsy' Garland (drums). They contributed a song (1981's 'Blind To Fiction') to a rare compilation called Sex, Violence and the Eternal Truth.
3. The Dodos were a very short-lived British rock band of the late 1960s. They released just one single: 'I Made Up My Mind' b/w 'Can't Make It Out' (Polydor, 1967). Both sides were penned by the band's main songwriter, Alan Hawkshaw.
Family
The Dodos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sworn to be brought up then burst
Quiet car rides
Acknowledgement of
Who is in there, who is inside
Born between desert and storm
And where they meet never gets warm
Quiet car rides
Consenting adults reading on us
Caught between
Desert and storm
But further deeds
That living in
Success, success is failure
Failure is unsure
Success, success is failure
Failure is unsure
Success, success is failure
The Dodos's song "Family" explores the complexity of familial relationships, love and expectations. The first verse, "Family, family first, Sworn to be brought up then burst" suggests the importance of family as the primary institution in shaping a person's upbringing, but at the same time, acknowledges the possibility of this construct falling apart. The quiet car rides could indicate the tension or discomfort one might experience during family road trips, where acknowledgement of each other is a negotiated experience.
The second verse, "Born between desert and storm, And where they meet never gets warm" portrays the conflict that can exist within a family, and the struggle of reconciling opposing personalities or ideologies. The line "consenting adults reading on us" could imply parents who have their own interests first, and are not necessarily attentive to their children's needs. The chorus, "Success, success is failure, Failure is unsure" suggests the futility of striving for an unattainable ideal. It could also suggest the difficulty in reconciling one's own definition of success with that of their families.
Overall, "Family" highlights the often-difficult balancing act of familial relationships, and the struggles that one might face in attempting to navigate these relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Family, family first
The importance of family is always upheld and given priority
Sworn to be brought up then burst
The promise of being raised well and given freedom to live life later on
Quiet car rides
Silent moments on a journey, where contemplation and reflection take place
Acknowledgement of who is in there, who is inside
Realizing and accepting who one truly is at their core
Born between desert and storm
Being born in a difficult situation, where survival can be a challenge
And where they meet never gets warm
When the difficult situation persists for a long time and there seems to be no solution
Quiet car rides
Moments of contemplation and reflection continue, leading to memories
Memories of consenting adults reading on us
Reminiscing the times when the adults around us were doing their own thing, while we were in the backseat of the car
Caught between desert and storm
Stuck in a tough situation where finding a way out seems nearly impossible
But further deeds that living in success
Despite success, there is always more that can be accomplished
Success, success is failure
The idea that success can lead to more pressure and lead one to fail
Failure is unsure
The fear of failing, and not knowing what will happen next
Success, success is failure
Continuing to repeat the cycle of success leading to pressure and potential failure
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.