After a brief run as a recording-only project based in Austin, founding vocalist David Yow, bassist David Wm. Sims and guitarist Duane Denison relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1989, finding kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and the Touch and Go Records imprint. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began operating as a live band, expanding their following beyond Chicago's alternative scene into an international audience. Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996, and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later.
Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s, and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion from 2008 to 2010 and following tour enjoyed positive responses from audiences and critics.
In October 2013, The Jesus Lizard were set to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties event Release the Bats in Melbourne, Australia. They cancelled this show due to "unforeseen circumstances."
Members:
David Yow - vocals;
Duane Denison - guitars;
David Wm. Sims - bass;
Mac McNeilly - drums.
Former members:
Jim Kimball - drums;
Brendan Murphy - drums.
http://www.thejesuslizard.net
Pastoral
The Jesus Lizard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
your youth is over
years of cheer
reduced to this
A crumbling mess
on a September morn
your blood flows by
like a meandering stream
gurgling
brook-like
baking in the midday sun
hard on the outside
soft on the inside
(That's a nice contract)
I saw you there
Sioux City bound
In a cornfield
I saw you there
stinking
The lyrics to The Jesus Lizard's song "Pastoral" are a reflection on the passage of time and the decay that comes with it. The first verse speaks to the idea of mortality and the inevitability of aging. The line "Your life is gone, your youth is over" is a blunt statement of the reality that we all face as we get older. The reference to "years of cheer" being reduced to a "crumbling mess" speaks to the disappointment and decay that often comes with age. The second verse takes us to a more visceral place, with the image of blood flowing like a stream. This image is both unsettling and darkly beautiful. We are then taken to a cornfield in Sioux City, where someone is "stinking." It's left up to interpretation who or what is being referred to here, but the implication is that this person or thing has met an unfortunate fate. The combination of these images and emotions creates a sense of dread and unease, as though we are witnessing the end of something.
Line by Line Meaning
Your life is gone
You have already lived your life and it is now over.
Your youth is over
You are no longer young and have aged beyond your prime.
Years of cheer
You had many happy years in the past.
Reduced to this
You are now in a degraded state compared to your earlier life.
A crumbling mess
Your life is falling apart and disintegrating.
On a September morn
This is happening on a specific morning in September.
Your blood flows by
Your blood is flowing out of your body.
Like a meandering stream
It is flowing in a winding, unpredictable way.
Bubbling
Your blood is making a bubbling sound.
Gurgling
Your blood is making a gurgling sound as it moves.
Brook-like
Your blood is flowing like a small stream.
Baking in the midday sun
Your body is exposed to heat and sunlight.
Hard on the outside
Your external appearance is strong and tough.
Soft on the inside
Internally, you are vulnerable and easily affected.
(That's a nice contrast)
This is an interesting juxtaposition between external and internal states.
I saw you there
The singer is observing something or someone.
Sioux City bound
The person is traveling toward Sioux City.
In a cornfield
The person is located in a field of corn.
I saw you there
The singer is reiterating their observation of the person.
Stinking
The person has a strong and unpleasant odor.
Contributed by Alaina W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.