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 (?)
The Cassingle Revival
The Lucksmiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least you had the decency to say “I'll see you later”
The streets are wider here
I watched you disappear
Such a simple thing became so complicated
And I watched my shadow shorten
Ankle-deep in autumn
Remember when I said you were too young
To start a story with “Remember when…”?
Well that was then, and this is appalling
But in the dappled sunshine
Underneath the clothesline
I spent this afternoon nostalgic for this morning
From certain angles
The skyline untangles
And your loyalties are divided
Between digital and vinyl
But I'm biding time
Until the cassingle revival
Because you promised when it happens
You'll return
The Lucksmiths' song, The Cassingle Revival, speaks of missing someone who left without notice, leaving feelings of regret and nostalgia. The song starts with the reflection on how quickly time passes, and how oblivious we can be to it when we're preoccupied with life. The lyrics "Another summer slipped away without me noticing" show how the singer's summer has passed by quickly, without them realizing it. However, the one they miss, at least, had the decency to say goodbye, which they appreciate.
The singer has mixed feelings about their memories of the past. They remember telling someone they were too young to reminisce in the present tense, but now they find themselves doing precisely that. This contradiction creates a sense of disappointment within the singer, which they illustrate by saying “this is appalling.” Yet, they can't help but feel sentimental for those moments shared, even the seemingly insignificant ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Another summer slipped away without me noticing
I did not even realize that the summer passed by.
At least you had the decency to say “I'll see you later”
You were kind enough to say goodbye before leaving.
The streets are wider here
The roads are larger in this place.
I watched you disappear
I saw you vanishing from my sight.
Such a simple thing became so complicated
A straightforward matter became more intricate than it should be.
And I watched my shadow shorten
I noticed that the length of my silhouette became smaller.
Ankle-deep in autumn
I was standing in autumn leaves that were up to my ankle level.
Remember when I said you were too young
Do you recall the time when I mentioned you were not old enough?
To start a story with “Remember when…”?
Beginning a sentence with the words 'Remember when..' was not appropriate.
Well that was then, and this is appalling
But now things are different, and the current situation is terrible.
But in the dappled sunshine
Nevertheless, while standing under the flickering sunlight,
Underneath the clothesline
Beneath the hanging clothes,
I spent this afternoon nostalgic for this morning
I longed for the morning from earlier today as I spent my afternoon in a wistful mood.
From certain angles
When viewed from particular viewpoints,
The skyline untangles
The outline of the cityscape becomes clearer.
And your loyalties are divided
Your devotion is split.
Between digital and vinyl
You cannot decide between digital music or vinyl records.
But I'm biding time
However, I am waiting patiently,
Until the cassingle revival
For a resurgence of cassingles.
Because you promised when it happens
You pledged that when it occurs,
You'll return
You will come back.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mick Rafferty
just one of many great tunes from The Lucksmiths,thanks.
Oded Fried-Gaon
Gooooooooood, and excellent bassist.
#OdedMusic #OdedFriedGaon #Audioded
stuffington
ditto