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.
The Ball
The Dodos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And please beware, they'll kill without a care (oooh)
Clasp your hands and make some weather
Cause after all we live together
Soak up the ball, though which we're tethered
Close up this space, close up the nether
We stand worlds apart
It grows, this dark, the demons, and the sharks (oooh)
But once too tall, they'll crumble, it will fall (oooh)
Clasp your hands and make some weather
Cause after all we live together
Soak up the ball, though which we're tethered
Close up this space, close up the nether
We stand worlds apart
We stand worlds apart
I had a friend who told me that
The world was going to end
He went to school to learn the law
So he could help defend
"These wolves", he said, "are gathering,
They're meeting on a farm,
They'll start a revolution and they'll never take a part
The lyrics of The Dodos' song The Ball are open to interpretation, but they seem to express a sense of urgency and danger. The opening lines indicate that there is something approaching that is causing panic and fear, and it is implied that this is a violent and deadly threat. The chorus encourages the listener to come together and find strength in unity, as they are all connected by a shared ball, which could represent anything from the world we inhabit to our collective fate.
The verses seem to add another layer to the song's meaning. The second verse tells the story of a friend who believed the end of the world was imminent and went to law school to prepare for this event. He warns of wolves 'gathering' and starting a revolution, but he also seems resigned to the fact that he cannot prevent the inevitable. This could be interpreted as a comment on the powerlessness and anxiety that many people feel in the face of global crises like climate change, political instability, and pandemics.
Overall, The Ball is a haunting and atmospheric song that creates a sense of unease and urgency. It encourages listeners to take action and come together in the face of threats, but it also acknowledges the difficulty of this task and the sense of resignation that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Here they come, we panic, scream and run (Oooh)
We are frightened by some imminent threat and try to escape it.
And please beware, they'll kill without a care (oooh)
The danger is lethal and the attackers won't hesitate to take lives.
Clasp your hands and make some weather
We should use what powers we have to affect our surroundings.
Cause after all we live together
We're all connected and share the same fate.
Soak up the ball, though which we're tethered
We should fully embrace our existence and make the most of it.
Close up this space, close up the nether
We need to eliminate any distance or divide between us.
We stand worlds apart
Despite our differences, we are all in this together.
It grows, this dark, the demons, and the sharks (oooh)
The threat is growing more ominous and dangerous.
But once too tall, they'll crumble, it will fall (oooh)
The attackers will ultimately fail, as their power is unsustainable.
I had a friend who told me that
The lyrics shift to a personal story about a friend.
The world was going to end
The friend believed in a catastrophic global event.
He went to school to learn the law
The friend pursued legal education to be prepared for what was to come.
So he could help defend
He wanted to use his skills to protect others.
"These wolves", he said, "are gathering,
The friend had identified a group he believed posed a threat.
They're meeting on a farm,
The group is organizing in secret, perhaps to plan an attack.
They'll start a revolution and they'll never take a part
The friend believes this group is committed to violent change and will not back down.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind