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.
Lily
The Dodos Lyrics
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How did we become this tear?
Why can we learn to subtract?
You are lit, but behind I see black
It’s time against your back
It’s time against your back
I have steered, I am heading for shore
Don’t look back just to see what it was for
There’s no use, there is nothing more
But time against your back
But time against your back
You won’t speak, when you do you still don’t
I’ve been due, you’re a bitch, you’re a whore
I will love you forevermore
Let’s begin, let us love to destroy
With time against our backs
With time against our backs
The Dodos' song "Lily" is a haunting melody that speaks to the complicated and often destructive nature of romantic relationships. The lyrics suggest that the two individuals involved in the relationship are struggling to communicate effectively, and may even feel trapped by the love they share.
The opening lines, "Look at yourself, look at me, dear / How did we become this tear?," suggest that the couple is overwhelmed by their emotions and unable to make sense of what has gone wrong between them. They question why they can't seem to learn from their mistakes and move on.
As the song continues, the singer takes control, declaring that they have "cleared, dry erase[d] this board" and are "heading for shore." Despite this sense of determination, however, they acknowledge that the past can be difficult to shake, and that "time against [their] back" may make it hard to move forward.
The song ends with a sense of ambiguity, as the singer declares their love for their partner but also suggests a willingness to "love to destroy." This suggests that the relationship is both deeply important and potentially destructive, leaving the future uncertain.
Overall, "Lily" is a bittersweet meditation on the complexities of love and the challenges of navigating relationships that have started to sour. The haunting melody and poetic lyrics make for a powerful listening experience that is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of romantic love.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at yourself, look at me, dear
We need to reflect on how we got to this point in our relationship together.
How did we become this tear?
How did our relationship come to be in such an emotional state?
Why can we learn to subtract?
Why don’t you see that we need to remove the negative components of our relationship?
You are lit, but behind I see black
You look happy on the surface, but I can see that there are underlying issues.
It’s time against your back
Time is running out for you to address these issues.
I have cleared, dry erase this board
I have removed all the negative aspects of our relationship.
I have steered, I am heading for shore
I am taking control of the situation and trying to navigate us to a safer place.
Don’t look back just to see what it was for
Don’t dwell on the past and the reasons for our current state.
There’s no use, there is nothing more
There’s nothing that can be done to change the past, we need to focus on moving forward.
But time against your back
Despite our efforts, time is still running out for us.
You won’t speak, when you do you still don’t
You’re not communicating effectively and when you do, it’s not helping.
I’ve been due, you’re a bitch, you’re a whore
I’ve been patient with you, even though you have been difficult.
I will love you forevermore
Despite our problems, my love for you is unwavering.
Let’s begin, let us love to destroy
We need to start fresh and rebuild our relationship, even if it means tearing it down first.
With time against our backs
We need to act quickly to save our relationship because time is running out.
Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.