After the release of some EPs and singles, the group signed with Merge Records who released their second album, Long Goodbye, in 2003. After a world tour, they headed back to the studio in fall of 2005 to begin work on their third album, Cannibal Sea, which was released in March of 2006.
Don't Know Why
The Essex Green Lyrics
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A marionette, a slave
Your legs are wood and tied to the city
Who has final say
It's hard to hug the girders, my brother
It's hard to swing and waltz
With your tempo one beat less than the others
I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
Yeah I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
If your silver wing is stuck on horizons
Catch it when it goes
Or they'll take a piece and pull back the curtains
And there's nothing left but your clothes
I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
Yeah, I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
No
The strings are why you move to Geppeto
The daily hourglass
This match made was made in a moment
But now that moment's passed
I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
Yeah, I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
No, I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
Yeah, I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
No
The opening lines of The Essex Green's Don't Know Why create an image of a person walking along the street, feeling like a marionette or a slave, with legs made of wood, as if they are controlled by the city. The metaphor of being on strings is used to show the character's lack of agency and autonomy, and how their actions are determined by external factors. The repetition of the phrase "I don't know why you stay" suggests that whoever the song is addressing, possibly a lover or a friend, is trapped in a situation they may not necessarily want to be in.
The line "It's hard to hug the girders, my brother" is a striking expression, as hugging steel girders is not something that comes naturally to humans. It shows the character's discomfort with their surroundings, and their inability to fit in with the world they find themselves in. The metaphor is extended when the character is unable to keep time with the rhythm of the city, showing that they are out of sync with the world around them, as if they belong to a different time.
The final lines of the song suggest that the relationship between the character and their subject is fleeting, and possibly transitory. The reference to Geppeto, the maker of Pinnochio, shows that whoever has control over the character is not necessarily benevolent, and their strings are only temporarily attached. The hourglass is used to indicate the passage of time, and how relationships can often be short-lived despite the initial connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Stepping along the hum of the sidewalk
Walking along the buzzing city streets
A marionette, a slave
Feeling like a puppet, controlled by external forces
Your legs are wood and tied to the city
Feeling stuck in the urban environment
Who has final say
Wondering who is really in control
It's hard to hug the girders, my brother
Finding it difficult to embrace the hard, industrial side of the city
It's hard to swing and waltz
Finding it hard to enjoy oneself amidst the city's chaos
With your tempo one beat less than the others
Feeling out of sync with the rest of the world
You're three times more at fault
Feeling like one's own shortcomings are magnified by the unforgiving city
I don't know why, don't know why, I don't know why you stay
Expressing confusion over why someone would continue to endure the difficulties of city life
If your silver wing is stuck on horizons
If one's aspirations are limited to distant dreams
Catch it when it goes
Seize the opportunity before it's lost
Or they'll take a piece and pull back the curtains
Otherwise, others may take advantage and expose one's vulnerability
And there's nothing left but your clothes
Leaving one with nothing but bare essentials
The strings are why you move to Geppeto
One's motives are controlled by hidden external forces
The daily hourglass
The relentless passage of time
This match made was made in a moment
A decision made impulsively and hastily
But now that moment's passed
The opportunity has gone and the decision cannot be undone
No
Expressing a finality to the confusion and questioning throughout the song
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.