The Folk Implosion (or occasionally The Lou Barlow Folk Implosion) was an i… Read Full Bio ↴The Folk Implosion (or occasionally The Lou Barlow Folk Implosion) was an indie rock band which formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States in 1993. The band originally consisted of just Lou Barlow (vocals, bass) and John Davis (guitar, drums), but after Davis' departure, Barlow hired Imaad Wasif (guitar) and Russ Pollard (drums) to replace him. The band is best known for their 1995 single "Natural One" from the film "Kids". The song was a surprise hit in the United States and aside from hitting #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts, also hit No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rarity for an indie rock band. The band split in 2004.

Lou Barlow formed The Folk Implosion with John Davis in the 1990s as a way to explore different kinds of music that his other band Sebadoh did not normally play. "The Lou Barlow Folk Implosion," as it is sometimes called, took its name as a tribute to the band The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Another incarnation of this band went under the name Deluxx Folk Implosion, which featured Bob Fay, who worked with Lou Barlow in Sebadoh, on drums.
Folk Implosion briefly stepped to the forefront of the alternative rock scene with their song Natural One which was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Kids (Kids) and received strong airplay on alternative rock format radio stations.

Brand of Skin
The Folk Implosion Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What brand of skin do you occupy?
Who is that smile on your face?
Where is the hole for the sands of time,
Smiling even lines upon my face?

Did comfort kill the curiosity,
The safety failed to engage?
Said I was empty while you shaken me,

Are you too angry to be saved?

Oh no
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no

What brand of skin do you occupy?
And what is left in the snow?
But in the end, let the money decide,
We get too deep we may drown

Harmony's gone
The rhythm remains
Harmony's gone
The rhythm remains
Harmony's gone
But the rhythm remains
It remains,
The rhythm remains

Harmony's gone
The rhythm remains...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Folk Implosion's song "Brand of Skin" are somewhat cryptic and open for interpretation. The opening questions seem to be asking the listener about their identity and emotional state - "What brand of skin do you occupy? Who is that smile on your face? Where is the hole for the sands of time, Smiling even lines upon my face?" These questions suggest a deeper search for meaning and self-discovery, with the sand representing the passing of time and the lines on one's face showing the effects of age and experience.

The next lines suggest a questioning of conformity, wondering if comfort has killed curiosity and safety has failed to engage. There's a sense of someone feeling empty and possibly shaken, with the lyrics asking "Are you too angry to be saved?" There's a sense of restlessness and unease, with the refrain of "Oh no" suggesting a feeling of impending doom or danger.

The final lines seem to suggest a surrender to the power of money, with the lyrics "But in the end, let the money decide, We get too deep we may drown". Despite this, there is still a sense of rhythm and musicality that remains even as the harmony disappears. Overall, the lyrics of "Brand of Skin" suggest a deep questioning of identity and purpose, with a sense of unease and uncertainty pervading throughout.

Line by Line Meaning

What brand of skin do you occupy?
What kind of person are you and what makes you unique?

Who is that smile on your face?
Who or what is causing you to feel happy?

Where is the hole for the sands of time, Smiling even lines upon my face?
Where does time go and how does it affect you?

Did comfort kill the curiosity, The safety failed to engage?
Has your comfortable life caused you to lose your sense of curiosity and adventure?

Said I was empty while you shaken me, Are you too angry to be saved?
You criticized me for being empty while I was trying to help you. Are you too angry to accept my help?

Oh no
Expressing worry or concern.

What brand of skin do you occupy?
What kind of person are you and what makes you unique?

And what is left in the snow?
What remains of the past?

But in the end, let the money decide, We get too deep we may drown
Money often dictates our decisions and if we go too far, we may suffer the consequences.

Harmony's gone, The rhythm remains
Even if things are not in sync, there is still order and routine to life.

Harmony's gone, But the rhythm remains
Things may not be working together but there is still some consistency.

It remains, The rhythm remains
Despite chaos or change, there is always something that stays constant.

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IMAAD WASIF, LOUIS KNOX BARLOW, RUSSELL POLAND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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