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.
PEARL
The Folk Implosion Lyrics
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I'm about to bring it down
There are things I need to tell you that can't wait
I've been doubting in my sleep
There are secrets I keep
Maybe in the end I'll find a way to stay
Oh but pearl it don't feel that way today
I was down upon my knees
Begging you to change your mind again
You were tired of trying to love me
And had put yourself above me
You try to leave a pearl I don't let go
It isn't till tonight now I know
There's a world outside our window
There's the mystery of desire
I can wait to make you happen
I can set this house on fire
Listen now, i'm about it to bring it down
"Are we meant to be?" I'll ask again
As I wait for your reply
Hear the traffic passing by
Tomorrow I'll be far away from here
Pearl I'll be far away from here
Through the world outside our window
Though you're all that I desire
I couldn't make you happen
So I set this house on fire
There's a world outside our window
There's the mystery of desire
I couldn't make you happen
So I set this house on fire
The Folk Implosion's song "Pearl" is a melancholic song that talks about a man's struggle with his failing relationship with his partner, whom he addresses as Pearl. In the opening lines, the singer admits to Pearl that he has been doubting in his sleep and that he has secrets he wants to share with her. He reveals that he has been struggling to find a way to keep their relationship together, but it doesn't feel that way today. The sense of desperation is palpable in the lines "Maybe in the end, I'll find a way to stay/ Oh, but pearl it don't feel that way today."
The song harkens back to a time when the singer was on his knees, begging Pearl to change her mind again. She had grown tired of trying to love him and put herself above him. The singer admits that he didn't let go of Pearl and kept pushing her to stay with him. However, it is only now in hindsight that he realizes that he should have let her go a long time ago; it is a classic example of not knowing what you have until it is gone.
The melancholic tone of the song is further emphasized in the lines "Tomorrow, I'll be far away from here/ Pearl, I'll be far away from here," where the singer knows that their relationship has run its course, and there is nothing left to salvage. The song ends with the singer resigning himself to his fate, accepting that he couldn't make Pearl happen, and so he set this house on fire.
Line by Line Meaning
Pearl, listen to me now
The singer addresses someone or something named Pearl and asks for attention in order to share something important.
I'm about to bring it down
The singer is about to share some serious news or make a drastic change.
There are things I need to tell you that can't wait
The singer has urgent information to share that requires immediate attention.
I've been doubting in my sleep
The artist has been experiencing doubts and concerns even in their sleep.
There are secrets I keep
The artist has been keeping secrets that they haven't shared.
Maybe in the end I'll find a way to stay
The singer is uncertain about the future and wonders if they will be able to stay in their current situation.
Oh but pearl it don't feel that way today
Despite the possibility of staying, the singer feels like it's not going to happen today.
Well it wasn't long ago
The artist is reflecting on a recent event.
I was down upon my knees
The artist was in a desperate and vulnerable state.
Begging you to change your mind again
The artist was pleading for the other person to reconsider something.
You were tired of trying to love me
The other person had become exhausted and frustrated with trying to love the singer.
And had put yourself above me
The other person had placed their own needs and desires before the artist's.
You try to leave a pearl I don't let go
Despite the other person's attempt to leave, the singer did not want to let them go and held on.
It isn't till tonight now I know
The singer has only come to understand something that happened that night.
There's a world outside our window
The singer acknowledges that there is more out there beyond their immediate surroundings.
There's the mystery of desire
The artist is acknowledging the unknown and unpredictable nature of desire.
I can wait to make you happen
The artist acknowledges their desire for something or someone but is willing to wait for it to happen naturally.
I can set this house on fire
The singer is willing to make drastic changes or take bold actions to achieve their desires.
Listen now, i'm about it to bring it down
The singer is about to say or do something that will have a significant impact.
"Are we meant to be?" I'll ask again
The artist is uncertain about their connection with the other person and is seeking clarification.
As I wait for your reply
The artist is anticipating the other person's answer or reaction.
Hear the traffic passing by
The artist is aware of the sound of the outside world even in this moment.
Tomorrow I'll be far away from here
The singer plans to leave the current situation behind and start fresh somewhere else.
Pearl I'll be far away from here
The artist addresses Pearl directly and confirms that they will be leaving.
Through the world outside our window
The singer again acknowledges the existence of a larger world beyond their current surroundings.
Though you're all that I desire
The singer confirms that their desire is still fixated on Pearl.
I couldn't make you happen
The singer has come to the realization that they cannot force their desires to come true.
So I set this house on fire
The artist is willing to burn down their current situation or surroundings in order to move forward.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind