They describe their heavily art-damaged and theatrical style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word 'gothic'," and are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 1990s.
Palmer accompanies her confessional story-songs with a thunderous and shimmering piano style that rests on the shoulders of Jerry Lee Lewis and Nina Simone. Viglione's jazz and hardcore-influenced drumming and creative percussion are the perfect foil, providing in turns a delicate cradle of rhythm and a piercing bed of nails onto which Palmer lays her raw, tragicomic lyrics.
The release of their debut album The Dresden Dolls, produced by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth), has won the band accolades from both mainstream and underground media, and it appears that the Dolls are poised to transcend cult status and smash all commonly held ideas about what a rock band is supposed to be. Their awe-striking live energy and singular look has earned them opening slots for Nine Inch Nails, Beck, the B-52s, Jane's Addiction, OK Go and Panic! At the Disco, a tour with the Legendary Pink Dots, and a victory in the 2003 WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble.
Their second album Yes, Virginia was released in 2006, eventually followed by a companion record No, Virginia in 2008, which features b-sides and out-takes from the "Yes, Virginia" sessions, as well as a smattering of new tracks.
At the end of summer 2008 they announced a hiatus. The band has made further announcements saying they will reunite when the time is right for both of them, and have stressed they have not broken up.
In September 2008, rumors began to circulate about the future of the whole band. Viglione confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus but emphasized that he and Palmer are on good terms and that they will get together again when it feels right for both of them. In late July and early August 2009, a rumor began to spread that the band was "reuniting for performances in 2010" but Palmer clarified in her blog on August 7: "There's been a ton of press lately re-printing an old quote from an old interview that's now blown up into a full-fledged press rumour that Brian and I have planned Dresden Dolls' shows for 2010. Not true. We aren't planning any shows. Sorry about that, blame the gossip whores."
In 2010, a reunion tour to selected venues in the United States occurred. It started on Halloween in New York City and ended in San Francisco on New Years Eve.
The Dresden Dolls played a show in Mexico City on 9 December 2011. They had a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 2012, supported by The Jane Austen Argument and The Bedroom Philosopher.
Half Jack
The Dresden Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A fraction's left up to dispute
The whole collection, half of the price they're asking
In the halfway house of ill repute
Half accidental, half painful instrumental
I have a lot to think about
You think they're joking? You have to go provoke him
It's half biology and half corrective surgery gone wrong
You'll notice something funny if you hang around here for too
Long ago in some black hole before they had these pills to take it back
I'm half Jill and half Jack
Two halves are equal, a cross between two evils
It's not an enviable lot
But if you listen you'll learn to hear the difference
Between the halves and the half knots
When I let him, when I feel the stitches getting sicker
I try to wash him out but like they say, 'The blood is thicker'
I see my mother in my face but only when I travel
I run as fast as I can run but Jack comes tumbling after
And when I'm brave enough and find a clever way to kick him out
And I'm so high, not even you and all your love could bring me down
On 83rd he never found the magic words to change this fact
I'm half Jill and half Jack
I'm halfway home now, half hoping for a showdown
'Cause I'm not big enough to house this crowd
It might destroy me but I'd sacrifice my body
If it meant I'd get the Jack part out
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, run Jack, run
The Dresden Dolls' "Half Jack" tells the story of someone who is struggling with their identity, torn between two halves - one that belongs to their mother and one that belongs to their father. The first verse sets the tone of the song, with the singer describing themselves as "half underwater" and "half my mother's daughter." They are not fully themselves, but a combination of various factors that are up for debate. The song then shifts to a discussion of how they came to be this way, with references to corrective surgery gone wrong and a "halfway house of ill repute."
The second verse continues the themes of biology and identity, with the singer describing themselves as "a cross between two evils." They are not in an enviable position, constantly struggling with their identity and trying to make sense of themselves. The singer also talks about seeing their mother in their face when they travel, which suggests that they are haunted by their heritage and struggle to escape it.
The chorus of the song brings everything together, with the singer repeating the line "I'm half Jill and half Jack." This line emphasizes once again the singer's struggle with their identity, torn between two halves that may never be reconciled. The ending of the song is somewhat ambiguous, with the singer claiming to be "halfway home now" and "half hoping for a showdown." They are not sure what the future holds, but they know that they are determined to keep fighting to become whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Half underwater, I'm half my mother's daughter
I feel like I'm drowning in my own life, half of me is like my mother, I'm struggling to stay afloat.
A fraction's left up to dispute
There is a part of me that I'm not sure about, and it's open to interpretation.
The whole collection, half of the price they're asking
The complete set is worth less than they're charging because half of it is defective.
In the halfway house of ill repute
I'm living in a place of shame, stuck between two extremes, trying to get by.
Half accidental, half painful instrumental
My existence feels random and unwanted, but I'm trying to make something beautiful out of it.
I have a lot to think about
My life is complicated, and I've got a lot of problems to sort through.
You think they're joking? You have to go provoke him
People are serious about what they say and do, and you might not realize it until you push them too far.
I guess it's high time you found out
It's about time you learned the truth about how the world works.
It's half biology and half corrective surgery gone wrong
I am both the product of nature and of a medical intervention that didn't go as planned.
You'll notice something funny if you hang around here for too
You will eventually see something strange and unusual if you stay in this place for long enough.
Long ago in some black hole before they had these pills to take it back
There was a time when I was lost and alone, and there was no way to fix me.
I'm half Jill and half Jack
I'm caught between two genders, two personalities, two ways of being.
Two halves are equal, a cross between two evils
Neither half of me is inherently good, and together they create something that's both strange and dangerous.
It's not an enviable lot
I wouldn't want to be in my own shoes right now.
But if you listen you'll learn to hear the difference
You can tell the two halves of me apart if you pay close attention.
Between the halves and the half knots
There's a difference between the two halves of me, but it's not always easy to find.
When I let him, when I feel the stitches getting sicker
When I let the 'Jack' part of me take control, my mental health suffers.
I try to wash him out but like they say, 'The blood is thicker'
I try to get rid of the 'Jack' part of me, but it's difficult because it's a part of who I am.
I see my mother in my face but only when I travel
I only see the resemblance between me and my mother when I am away from home and out of my element.
I run as fast as I can run but Jack comes tumbling after
I try to escape my own problems, but the 'Jack' part of me always catches up.
And when I'm brave enough and find a clever way to kick him out
If I am courageous and resourceful, I might be able to get rid of the 'Jack' part of me.
And I'm so high, not even you and all your love could bring me down
If I am successful in getting rid of the 'Jack' part of me, I will feel euphoric and invincible.
On 83rd he never found the magic words to change this fact
Even though I've tried, I have not been successful in making the 'Jack' part of me go away.
I'm halfway home now, half hoping for a showdown
I'm halfway through my journey, and I'm expecting some sort of confrontation or battle.
'Cause I'm not big enough to house this crowd
I'm not strong enough to handle all of the different parts of me that are vying for control.
It might destroy me but I'd sacrifice my body
Getting rid of the 'Jack' part of me might be painful, or even deadly, but I'm willing to take that risk.
If it meant I'd get the Jack part out
I'm willing to endure any kind of pain or hardship if it means I can be rid of the 'Jack' part of me.
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
I'm talking to the 'Jack' part of me, urging it to go away and leave me alone.
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
I'm desperate to get rid of the 'Jack' part of me and I'm willing to do whatever it takes.
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, see Jack
I'm using repetition to emphasize my urgency and seriousness.
See Jack, run Jack, run Jack, run Jack, run
I am relentlessly pursuing the goal of getting rid of the 'Jack' part of me, no matter how difficult it may be.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VAMP
on My Alcoholic Friends
i freaking love alcoholic friends gqhjghqjgwhj