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.
Releast
The Folk Implosion Lyrics
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Turn your back on a friend
Walk away, unafraid of the end
Hang the day on a promise
Breaking overhead
The pieces fall, they haven't cut me yet
Dare me to watch your moon
Disappear into a trembling night
Through a window, open every door
No use holding on
Go on into, go all of you
Let me be, let me be
Released
Now you are a stranger
We'll never talk again
But you're everywhere, all we could've been
Whatever I hoped to find
The answer or the perfect lie
I let it pass me by
We share the pain, some rise again
Let me be, let me be
Released
The lyrics of The Folk Implosion's "Released" speak of letting go and moving on from past relationships, despite the pain and uncertainty that may come with it. The first verse suggests a willingness to give oneself to a stranger and turn one's back on a friend, unafraid of the end. The line "hang the day on a promise breaking overhead" may allude to a promising relationship that ultimately falls apart. Despite this, the singer has not yet been "cut," or hurt too deeply.
The second verse takes a slightly different tone, with the singer acknowledging that they will never have contact with the person again, but that person will still be a part of them and what could have been. The line "whatever I hoped to find, the answer or the perfect lie, I let it pass me by" suggests that the singer may have had unrealistic expectations for the relationship or that they failed to recognize red flags.
The chorus calls for release and surrender, acknowledging that it may be painful but ultimately necessary. The final line "Let me be, let me be, released" serves as a plea for closure and an opportunity to move on from the past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Give your heart to a stranger
Start a new relationship with someone unknown
Turn your back on a friend
Betray a friend for something better
Walk away, unafraid of the end
Leave without apprehension of consequences
Hang the day on a promise
Spend the day waiting for a commitment
Breaking overhead
A condition that looms above
The pieces fall, they haven't cut me yet
Despite the situation, I am still intact
Dare me to watch your moon
Encourage me to observe your departure
Disappear into a trembling night
Vanish amidst a scary evening
The end could feel all right
Maybe it's okay that it's over
Through a window, open every door
Expand your opportunities
No use holding on
Let go of what was and embrace what is
Go on into, go all of you
Pursue everything without holding back
Let me be, let me be
Allow me to do what I must
Released
Free and unburdened
Now you are a stranger
You are no longer known to me
We'll never talk again
We have parted ways forever
But you're everywhere, all we could've been
Your presence is still all around me
Whatever I hoped to find
My aspirations for what I wanted
The answer or the perfect lie
The truth or the ideal deception
I let it pass me by
I failed to seize the opportunity
We share the pain, some rise again
We experience collective suffering, but some recover
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IMAAD WASIF, LOUIS KNOX BARLOW, RUSSELL POLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
meezerpocalypse
amazing album! so glad i got to see this lineup twice in that era.
TastyBusiness
The is one of the cornerstones of the album.
C M
I forgot how good this was