The band was started in 1995 by Gary Olson, Edward Powers and Javier Villegas with an album called "Marlborough farms". Adding and subtracting a couple of members they have recorded five albums since then:
With Jeff Baron and Jennifer Baron added to the lineup they released Beverley Atonale in 1997.
Powers left the band, and the remaining members, with San Fadyl and Sasha Bell of The Essex Green and solo act Finishing School, embarked on a United States tour.
With a more stable lineup, the band released The Albemarle Sound in 1999, as well as added violinist Julia Rydholm, also of The Essex Green, to the lineup. In 2001, Argyle Heir was released, and the band released a self-titled album in 2003, which was recorded in their own Marlborough Farms studio.
In April 2006, Fadyl began fighting serious asthma attacks. On the 26th of April 2007, he passed away due to one such attack.
The band released their sixth album, Can't Wait Another Day, on June 5, 2007.
The Automobile Song
The Ladybug Transistor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you sleep, you dream of automobiles
Out in the darkness, desire casts light
On a parking green stretching infinitely
A fantasy fulfilled when the engine fires
A rumble underneath you in the early hour
Racing forward, speeding back
When you're not talking, I hear what you say
When you laugh, your hood opens wide
And all of this heartache could never deny
That your new love rests behind the wheel
The Ladybug Transistor's song "The Automobile Song" speaks to the emotional significance attached to cars. The first verse, "When I'm out walking, I hear what you think. When you sleep, you dream of automobiles. Out in the darkness, desire casts light. On a parking green stretching infinitely," seems to capture the obsession that some people have with cars, the way they think about them even when they're not around. The line "desire casts light on a parking green stretching infinitely" suggests the allure of the open road, the sense of infinite possibility that a car can bring.
The second verse shifts to the physical sensations of driving a car: "A fantasy fulfilled when the engine fires. A rumble underneath you in the early hour. Racing forward, speeding back. You will only rest when the morning's gone." The sound of the engine and the physical sensation of the car moving are described as a "fantasy," a completely fulfilling experience that keeps driving the person forward well into the early morning.
The final verse seems to suggest that the car has become a kind of rival for the singer's affection. "When you're not talking, I hear what you say. When you laugh, your hood opens wide. And all of this heartache could never deny that your new love rests behind the wheel." The car has become the source of the person's joy, their new love that has replaced the singer in their affections.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm out walking, I hear what you think
I can sense your thoughts and your current fascination when I'm outside taking a stroll
When you sleep, you dream of automobiles
You are so obsessed with cars that even when you are asleep, you dream about them
Out in the darkness, desire casts light
Your intense passion and desire for automobiles shines brightly even in the darkest of places
On a parking green stretching infinitely
Your love for cars extends infinitely as if it's parked on a never-ending green field
A fantasy fulfilled when the engine fires
You feel your dream has come true when you finally start your car's engine
A rumble underneath you in the early hour
You can feel the vibration of the car's engine early in the morning
Racing forward, speeding back
You love driving fast, both forwards and backwards
You will only rest when the morning's gone
You won't stop driving until dawn breaks
When you're not talking, I hear what you say
I can sense your unspoken words and your love for cars even when you're not speaking
When you laugh, your hood opens wide
You are so happy and proud of your car that when you laugh, you show it off by opening the hood
And all of this heartache could never deny
Despite all the pain you may feel, your love for cars cannot be denied
That your new love rests behind the wheel
You believe that your true love is the car that you drive
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.