The Honorary Title was a rock band from Brooklyn, New Yo… Read Full Bio ↴(2003-2009)
The Honorary Title was a rock band from Brooklyn, New York composed of Jarrod Gorbel, Aaron Kamstra, Jon Wiley, and Adam Boyd. Gorbel became known for his dark sense of humor, which often worked its way into the band's songs.
Their first release was a self-titled EP. They received much attention and did major touring after they released a full length album on Doghouse Records in 2004 entitled, "Anything Else But the Truth". The album was recorded in Nashville and New York with producer Roger Moutenot who has also worked with Yo La Tengo and Guster. Videos are available for the singles "Everything I Once Had", "Bridge and Tunnel", & "Frame by Frame".
On October 24, 2009 Jarrod announced that The Honorary Title would play their final show on Friday, November 20, 2009. Gorbel released a solo EP called Ten Years Older on his 2010 acoustic tour with Dustin Dobernig. In an interview with weworemasks.com, Gorbel says, "It’s considered a solo session, but…The Honorary Title might be over." He also said he is working on a solo LP. He continues to record and play music, but under his name.
The City's Summer
The Honorary Title Lyrics
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Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
You crawling through the dense green carpeting
Untamed and seventies, tiny fingers couldn't pry
Their way through that thick and knotted reverie
Relapse, fall backwards and slide
Are you suggesting that
I repress, repress and disguise?
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
The surge of static electricity
Brought on by the fear of being seen
Creeping up in silence on the battle scene
Slow and slithering
We stand still on 4th of July
Numb to explosions that
Scream and light, light up the sky
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
There's a solution, it's been tested
My desire will never persevere
When swimming in serotonin
The city summer smells like perfume
So rub your wrists together
Take a swing and you'll feel better
Once you close your eyes
Pretend to sleep for hours and hours spot on
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
(Through the kitchen then up the column of my spine)
Na na na na na na na
(All of this hatred and echoing despise)
Na na na na na na na na na
(Through the kitchen then up the column of my spine)
Na na na na na na na
(All of this hatred and echoing despise)
Na na na na na na na na na
(Just hold on, hold on)
Na na na na na na na
(Just hold on, hold on)
The Honorary Title's song The City's Summer is about the experience of growing up and living in a city, and the constant struggle to find oneself and reconcile the past with the present. The opening verse describes crawling through the "dense green carpeting" of nature, which serves as a metaphor for childhood innocence and the beauty of an untamed world that is lost as one begins to grow up. The next verse, with its mention of "relapse" and "repression," suggests the confusion and uncertainty that often accompany this transition, as well as the pressure to conform and repress one's true self.
The chorus, with its repetition of "na na na" sounds, adds to the nostalgic and dreamy quality of the song. It also introduces the theme of sensory experience, as the singer describes the way the city's summer "smells like perfume," and suggests that there is a "solution" to feeling lost and adrift. This solution, however, is not clearly defined, and the last verse, with its mention of "hatred" and "despise," suggests that there is still a lot of work to be done in order to find peace and happiness.
Overall, The City's Summer is a haunting and introspective song that speaks to the universal experience of growing up and trying to find one's place in the world. Through its poetic lyrics and dreamy, atmospheric music, it evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia for an idealized past, while acknowledging the confusion and pain that often accompany the journey towards adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
Na na na na na na na na na
Background tune
Na na na na na na na
Background tune
Na na na na na na na na na
Background tune
Na na na na na na na
Background tune
You crawling through the dense green carpeting
Walking slowly in the thick green grass
Untamed and seventies, tiny fingers couldn't pry
The grass was overgrown and tough, hard to move even for small hands
Their way through that thick and knotted reverie
The grass was so thick and difficult to move that it was like a complicated and perplexing dream
Relapse, fall backwards and slide
Falling back into bad habits and repeating mistakes
Are you suggesting that
Questioning something
I repress, repress and disguise?
Hiding true feelings and emotions
The surge of static electricity
Feeling of electricity in the air
Brought on by the fear of being seen
Feeling scared of being noticed
Creeping up in silence on the battle scene
Slowly moving forward in a scene of conflict
Slow and slithering
Slow and sneaky
We stand still on 4th of July
Watching fireworks on Independence Day
Numb to explosions that
Desensitized to the loud sounds of fireworks
Scream and light, light up the sky
The fireworks make loud sounds and light up the sky
There's a solution, it's been tested
There is a tested solution to the problem
My desire will never persevere
My desire will never overcome me
When swimming in serotonin
When feeling good and happy
The city summer smells like perfume
The city smells pleasant and lovely during summertime
So rub your wrists together
Rubbing wrists
Take a swing and you'll feel better
Take a drink to make yourself feel better
Once you close your eyes
When you shut your eyes
Pretend to sleep for hours and hours spot on
Pretend to sleep for a long time
(Through the kitchen then up the column of my spine)
Through the kitchen and then up one's body
(All of this hatred and echoing despise)
All of the hatred and negativity that exists
(Just hold on, hold on)
Keep holding on
(Just hold on, hold on)
Keep holding on
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JARROD GORBEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind