Starting with 2001's brilliant day darkener, Here's Luck, the band charted a course of, as Paste magazine said, capturing "the Zeitgeist of this anxious era." The follow-up, 10,000 Years, was hailed as the bands' masterpiece—a concept album based on Levy's experiences in social work telling the story of a poor urban test tube kids’s rise and fall during a genocidal apocalypse in the not-so-distant future. In 2006 the band released Amygdala, a record thematically exploring fear in its varied forms—abandonment, losing children, war & death, aging, social decay.
In 2009 the band emerges with an offering considerably more hopeful in these desperate times. The tracks on Sunshine Committee reflect a complex, often nuanced intersection of art and humanity while marking a return to a more live, rocking sound.
Once featured guests, Matt Darling on trombone and Steven Kung on trumpet have now become integral core members of the band, adding a vintage Stax/Volt-Muscle Shoals unctuousness to the record. Bass player Trent Norton’s writhingly hooky parts almost singularly define the new improved sound. Levy and Brian Halverson have further perfected their guitar matrimony, playing off each other and swapping leads and obbligatos. Peter Sands, given extra real estate space, layers clavinets, harpsichords, pianos, Hammond organs, Chamberlains, and various odd keyboards from his museum of myriad electronic instruments. Drummer Peter Anderson directs traffic like an empathic inner city principal, alternately slamming and playing with great economy, sensitivity and restraint.
As always, the band refers to the traditional soul and rock touchstones while creating something interesting, unpredictable, insightful, and moving: shades of the Stones' Exile on Main Street, Fresh-era Sly Stone, twilight Hendrix and Revolver-esque Beatles, all with Levy's surreal, evocative and enigmatic lyrics winding sinuously through the savory mix.
Sunshine Committee is the band’s first truly self-produced effort, with the entire band involved in the conception, engineering and editing of the record. Granted permission to record this and his children’s record (Bunny Clogs) at the Institute of Production and Recording where Levy is a teacher, the EP's production provided top students with a “laboratory” environment in which to experiment with various mics and recording techniques, comment on arrangement and performance, and assist in the editing process.
Capping off the roster of contributing talent, friend and mainstay John Fields, freshly finished with recording the Jonas Brothers, offered up his mixing expertise to the band.
On the eve of this, the Honeydog's 10th release, with solo projects and new records percolating, the band emerges confident in their ability to reinvent their sound while keeping alive the best musical and thematic features that have been their trademarks for nearly 15 years.
Dear Prudence
The Honeydogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?
Look around round
Look around round round
Look around
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile?
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
The lyrics to The Honeydogs' song "Dear Prudence" seem to be a plea to someone named Prudence to come out and enjoy the beauty of the world. The song uses vivid language to describe the natural world around this person, encouraging them to open their eyes and appreciate it. The chorus, "Dear Prudence won't you come out to play," reflects a desire to share this experience with the person and urges them to not let their worries or fears hold them back from experiencing the beauty of life. The final verse, "Dear Prudence let me see you smile...So let me see you smile again," suggests that the singer wants to see Prudence happy and enjoying herself, likely indicating that she has been struggling with some personal issues.
One interpretation of these lyrics is that the song is addressing mental health issues, specifically depression. The tone of the song is gentle and nurturing, with the singer using the natural world to encourage Prudence to get outside and appreciate the beauty around her. Additionally, the references to smiling and enjoying oneself might indicate an attempt to combat feelings of sadness or disconnection. Overall, the song seems to be a message of hope and encouragement, urging Prudence to find joy in the world around her.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
The Honeydogs are asking Prudence to come out and enjoy the day with them.
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The Honeydogs want Prudence to welcome the new day with them.
The sun is up, the sky is blue
The beautiful weather outside is perfect for enjoying the day.
It's beautiful and so are you
The Honeydogs acknowledge that Prudence is a beautiful person and they want her to enjoy the day with them.
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?
The Honeydogs urge Prudence to open her eyes and see the beautiful world around her.
The wind is low the birds will sing
The weather is perfect and the natural elements are in harmony with each other.
That you are part of everything
The Honeydogs want Prudence to realize that she’s an important part of the world.
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
The Honeydogs want to see Prudence happy and smiling, like a child.
The clouds will be a daisy chain
Even the clouds are perfect today, and they form a beautiful ‘daisy chain’ in the sky.
So let me see you smile again
The Honeydogs want Prudence to smile again and enjoy the beauty of the world.
Look around round
The Honeydogs encourage Prudence to look around and appreciate the world around her!
Look around round round
The Honeydogs really want Prudence to look around, as if they’re pleading with her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind