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 Reclusive Hero
The Ladybug Transistor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And from where I sit, the view's just the same.
Over the garden now, we turn on down your street.
This is where you live, but there's no home I see.
Thought that was all you desired,
A reclusive hero for hire.
Just put one back on the shelf,
In a crowded room, there's not much room to breathe.
It seems the kitchen now is quite the scene.
The words came off my wrist, washed by the rain
Of a thousand tears that came too late.
They couldn't spell out your name,
Living beneath feeling pain,
Thought that was all you desired,
A reclusive hero for hire.
Now you're beginning to tire,
A desperate hero for hire.
Just put one back on the shelf,
Knowing that you won't sleep well.
I'm walking down the street, absorbed by this maze.
"The Reclusive Hero" by The Ladybug Transistor is a song that explores the idea of fame and the desire for privacy. It tells the story of a hero who is sought after by crowds but chooses to remain reclusive, and how this affects their mental and emotional state. The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey the sense of isolation and loneliness that comes with fame, and the toll it takes on the individual.
The song begins with the pilot's chair and the first seat of the plane, highlighting the position of power and control that the hero holds. However, as the plane flies over the gardens and streets, the hero realizes that despite the adoration of the crowds, there is no true home for them. The chorus reflects on the hero's desire for isolation and how it may not have been the best choice for their well-being. The second verse delves deeper into the idea of the hero's pain and how it goes unnoticed by those around them, despite being hidden in plain sight.
The song ends with the hero walking down the street, absorbed in a maze of their own creation. This final image conveys a sense of hopelessness and uncertainty, as the hero seeks to escape the pressures of fame.
Line by Line Meaning
In the pilot's chair, in the first seat of the plane,
The singer is in a position of power or control, but it doesn't matter from this vantage point.
And from where I sit, the view's just the same.
No matter where he is, things look the same.
Over the garden now, we turn on down your street.
The singer is in a plane flying over the street where the person he is addressing lives.
This is where you live, but there's no home I see.
The person the singer is addressing resides here, but it doesn't feel like home to him.
Thought that was all you desired,
The singer assumes that the person he is addressing wanted to live a reclusive life.
A reclusive hero for hire.
The person the singer is addressing wanted to lead a solitary life to help others.
Just put one back on the shelf,
Instead of pursuing this path, the person should pick something else.
Knowing that you won't sleep well.
If the person continues down this path, he won't be able to rest easy.
In a crowded room, there's not much room to breathe.
In a place with a lot of people, it's difficult to feel comfortable.
It seems the kitchen now is quite the scene.
Something is going on in the kitchen, possibly chaotically or tumultuously.
The words came off my wrist, washed by the rain
The singer tried to express something, but it was obscured by something outside of their control.
Of a thousand tears that came too late.
There has been much regret or sadness that was felt too late to do anything about.
They couldn't spell out your name,
Other people didn't understand the pain or problems the person was facing.
Living beneath feeling pain,
The person is suffering in silence.
Now you're beginning to tire,
The singer thinks the person's lifestyle is starting to wear on them.
A desperate hero for hire.
The person isn't just reclusive, but also desperate to help others.
Just put one back on the shelf,
The singer thinks the person should abandon this lifestyle as it's not healthy.
Knowing that you won't sleep well.
If the person continues on this path, they won't be able to rest easy.
I'm walking down the street, absorbed by this maze.
The singer is in a maze-like situation.
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.