The Lucksmiths are noted for their simple melodies rich in humour and ironic verse. The majority of songs are written by Marty Donald. Although, both Tali White and Mark Monnone have written some of the band's finest songs. Many of their lyrics are based on the eccentricities of the everyday. Several songs also deal with the more usual pop-song issues of romance in relationships, but in a unique, gentle and easy-to-relate-to way.
There is also a persistent theme of Melbourne culture, most notably that of the inner city, as seen in frequent references to Melburnian placenames and themes. For examples, see the song The Sandringham Line, and many others. The Lucksmiths are also renowned for their creative use of language. English idioms and proverbs are referred to, played with and utilised to create poetically spontaneous verse. The songs virtually define clever lyricism. Whilst many of the idioms and references are distinctly Australian, their coupling of fantastic narrative lyrics with melody makes them so internationally accessible. Further, their songs almost always maintain a solid narrative with sensible and relevant choruses. When the narrative is abandoned, it is with good cause and in support of a more simple point (see T-Shirt Weather).
Marty Donald's lyrics in particular are filled with wordplay and puns, in particular the device of twisting a common phrase or cliché. In Frisbee, he says "that was the winter of my discount tent". "The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco" refers to "the non-specific northwest". Untidy Towns says "I got some mail I didn't open / It's an unread-letter day". Sometimes this can go a bit overboard, as in 'Synchronized Sinking', which contains the lines "why don't you let go of your boy and see / You've lost none of your bouyancy"; but that song also contains "Silhouetted in the smoke / From the shipwrecks at the bar / of the Anchor and Hope", which is, what many would refer to as poetic and skillful use of the English language.
Their musical setup, however, remains unusual and refreshing in a world of drum machines, synthesisers, and other elaborate gear. Tali sings and plays a minimal drum kit standing up at the front of the stage, with Marty to his right, Mark to his left, and Louis behind. This is often seen as a novelty, but nonetheless works perfectly, with their live performances being incredibly tight.
The Lucksmiths have been critically associated with indiepop, anti-folk and retro-pop. However, the band and their fans would consider The Lucksmiths as simply a pop band. This is a much fairer (and accurate) assessment.
In 2009 the band announced their breakup, with their final shows played in August.
Discography
Albums:
* First Tape (1993)
* The Green Bicycle Case (1995)
* What Bird Is That? (1996)
* A Good Kind Of Nervous (1997)
* Happy Secret (1999)
* Why That Doesn't Surprise Me (2001)
* Where Were We? (2002)
* Naturaliste (2003)
* Warmer Corners (2005)
* First Frost (2008)
EPs:
* Boondoggle (1994)
* Staring At The Sky (1999)
* A Little Distraction (2003)
* The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco (2005)
* A Hiccup In Your Happiness (2006)
Cassingles:
* Greatest Hits (?)
Mars
The Lucksmiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on Mars again
Keeping in touch with all my friends
I found a nice place
Why don't you come and visit?
It's not as red as you'd think
From looking at the pictures
And it's my home again
I stumbled across a gorgeous valley, love
Greener than even Ferntree Gully, love
I set up camp for a week
And witnessed every romantic vision from my dreams
And it's my home again
It's my home again
Human touch is beautiful indeed
But in my mind I've made up
With all the people that I'd see everyday
We'd avoid each other like the plague
But they're my best friends now
And when I think of them, that's how they'll stay
In this brave new world
I think about them everyday
In this brave new world
I think about you everyday
The Lucksmiths’s song “Mars” is a melodic tribute to solitude and the human need for connection. The singer is on Mars, presumably a metaphor for a state of isolation, and is reaching out to loved ones back home. The song delves into the beauty of finding a home in the unexpected, being it the red planet or in one's own skin.
The lyrics are laced with a strong sense of longing for real human contact. The singer admits that he has made up with the people he once avoided and now holds them dear in his heart. Despite the distance, he thinks about them every day, revealing the importance of human relationships and how they can hold a person together even when they’re physically absent. It’s a poignant message that highlights the universal human need for connection and its transformative power.
Overall, the song is an ode to the importance of connection and finding a sense of belonging. It’s about carving out a space to call your own in the midst of chaos and discovering the beauty in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi there dear,
The singer greets someone, possibly a loved one, in a friendly manner
I'm on Mars again
The singer is physically located on the planet Mars
Keeping in touch with all my friends
The singer is communicating with friends via technology, despite the distance
I found a nice place
The artist has discovered a pleasant location on Mars
Why don't you come and visit?
The artist invites someone to visit the nice place they found on Mars
It's not as red as you'd think
Contrary to popular belief, the singer's location on Mars is not entirely red in color
From looking at the pictures
The common depiction of Mars being solely red comes from photographs and images
And it's my home again
The artist has grown accustomed to being on Mars and feels a sense of belonging there
I stumbled across a gorgeous valley, love
The artist unexpectedly discovered a stunning valley on Mars and may be addressing a loved one
Greener than even Ferntree Gully, love
The valley is lush and vibrant, beyond the artist's expectations
I set up camp for a week
The singer stayed in the valley for a temporary period of time
And witnessed every romantic vision from my dreams
The beauty and serenity of the valley brought the artist's romantic ideals to life
Human touch is beautiful indeed
Physical touch and connection with others is appreciated by the singer
But in my mind I've made up
Despite the distance, the singer has come to terms with relationships and past interactions
With all the people that I'd see everyday
The singer reflects on people they used to see regularly, likely on Earth
We'd avoid each other like the plague
The relationships were strained or uncomfortable, leading to avoidance
But they're my best friends now
The artist now considers these people their closest friends, despite the previous discomfort
And when I think of them, that's how they'll stay
The singer doesn't want to lose their newly cherished friendships and values them deeply
In this brave new world
The singer is in a new, uncharted world (Mars) which presents new opportunities and challenges
I think about them everyday
The artist still thinks about their Earth relationships with fondness, despite being on Mars
And it's my home again
Reiterating their attachment to being on Mars, the artist affirms their comfort and belonging there
It's my home again
Ending on a note of reassurance, the artist reasserts their pride and contentment in their new home
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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