The Front Lawn released two albums and produced a number of stage shows and films before drifting apart. McGlashan went on to form The Mutton Birds while Sinclair turned his attention to filmmaking.
Theme
The Front Lawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why is he drinking all by himself
What could have happened to his face?
What's that thing on his head?
Must have had quite a fall
He's listening to the song that's playing
He's hardly moving at all
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema goes walking
And walking
There's a woman she comes in out of the rain
She waits for a while then she says
"The service is pretty slow around here"
But the man doesn't hear her, he's still listening to the song
And the song sounds like la la la
She looks around the bar she hasn't seen for so long
Nothing is changed, the jukebox playing the same old song
But just then a chord-change
Makes the blood change direction in her veins
And her heart sings dance, dance, dance to my Ten Guitars
The man at the bar has lost his memory
The man at the bar could be anybody
The bottle helps some people forget
But can the bottle help him remember
Will he ever remember who he was?
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema
And the song sounds like Ten Guitars
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema goes walking
And walking
In the song "Theme" by The Front Lawn, the lyrics explore the moments and emotions surrounding two characters in a bar setting. The first verse introduces a man sitting alone at the bar, lost in his own thoughts and staring into space. The lyrics question why he is drinking alone and what might have caused the visible damage to his face, perhaps implying that he may have had a difficult or tragic experience. The mention of something on his head suggests a physical injury, possibly from a fall. Despite his seemingly detached state, he is still listening to the song that's playing, showing his connection to music as a source of comfort or solace. The song in question is reminiscent of "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Ten Guitars," evoking a sense of nostalgia and familiarity.
In the second verse, a woman enters the bar seeking shelter from the rain. She comments on the slow service but goes unnoticed by the man absorbed in the song. As she observes her surroundings, she realizes that nothing much has changed since she was last there. The jukebox plays the same old song, indicating a stagnant or repetitive atmosphere. However, her perspective shifts when a chord change in the song captures her attention, causing her blood to change direction in her veins and igniting a feeling of excitement. Her heart sings out, commanding her to dance.
The third verse introduces the theme of memory and its connection to the man at the bar. It is revealed that he has lost his memory, turning him into an anonymous figure without an identity. The lyrics contemplate whether alcohol, symbolized by the bottle, can help him regain his lost memories. The lyrics question whether he will ever remember who he was and ponder the potential power of music to trigger these memories.
The song concludes by repeating the references to "The Girl from Ipanema," "Ten Guitars," and the image of walking, bringing the narrative full circle. These references reinforce the sense of nostalgia and the powerful emotions evoked by music throughout the song. The lyrics suggest that music can serve as a form of escape, connection, and a catalyst for memories both lost and found.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a man at the bar staring into space
A man is sitting alone at the bar, lost in his thoughts and not interacting with others
Why is he drinking all by himself
Curiosity regarding why he is consuming alcohol in solitude
What could have happened to his face?
Questioning the cause of any facial injuries he may have
What's that thing on his head?
Inquiring about the object present on his head
Must have had quite a fall
Assuming that he must have suffered a significant accident or injury leading to his current state
He's listening to the song that's playing
Engrossed in the music being played at the moment
He's hardly moving at all
Barely showing any physical movement or reaction
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema
The current song being played resembles the famous track 'The Girl from Ipanema'
And the song sounds like Ten Guitars
The music being played also bears similarities to the song 'Ten Guitars'
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema goes walking
The melody gives the impression of 'The Girl from Ipanema' strolling along
And walking
Continuing to emphasize the act of walking in the music
There's a woman she comes in out of the rain
A woman enters the establishment seeking shelter from the rain
She waits for a while then she says
After some time, she speaks up
"The service is pretty slow around here"
Expressing her observation that the service at the bar is not prompt
But the man doesn't hear her, he's still listening to the song
The man remains engrossed in the music, oblivious to her comment
And the song sounds like la la la
The song's melody consists of nonspecific 'la la la' sounds
She looks around the bar she hasn't seen for so long
Taking a glance at the unfamiliar bar that she may have been away from for a considerable time
Nothing is changed, the jukebox playing the same old song
Noticing that everything remains the same, including the jukebox playing an unchanged, familiar track
But just then a chord-change
However, a shift in chords suddenly occurs in the song
Makes the blood change direction in her veins
The chord alteration evokes a powerful emotional response within her
And her heart sings dance, dance, dance to my Ten Guitars
Her heart fills with joy and compels her to dance to the beloved song 'Ten Guitars'
The man at the bar has lost his memory
Indicating that the man sitting at the bar is suffering from amnesia
The man at the bar could be anybody
Highlighting the anonymity and universality of his situation
The bottle helps some people forget
Acknowledging that alcohol can assist individuals in suppressing or escaping their memories
But can the bottle help him remember
Questioning whether alcohol can aid him in recollecting his past
Will he ever remember who he was?
Pondering whether he will ever regain his lost identity
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema
Again emphasizing that the current song resembles 'The Girl from Ipanema'
And the song sounds like Ten Guitars
Reiterating that the music shares similarities with the song 'Ten Guitars'
And the song sounds like The Girl from Ipanema goes walking
Continuing to evoke the image of 'The Girl from Ipanema' taking a stroll
And walking
Repeating the notion of walking within the song
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Wathen66
The Front Lawn's album is one of my favourite. I've been listening to it and and enjoying it for many years - but since finding all this stuff on youtube, with Don McGlashan's short films to complement the music, my appreciation of it has grown even more. This is really, really special. Thank you so much, muttonbirdsandbeyond, for posting it. And thank you, Don, for your wonderful musical and creative genius.
@Gonzax
does anybody know where to find this album? I have all Mutton birds stuff and tons of live concerts but can´t find anything by The Front Lawn.