Brooklyn's Nick Chiericozzi, Chris Hansell, and Mark Perro formed the Men as a scuzzy post-punk trio in 2008. Before recruiting drummer Rich Samis, they self-released the albums We Are the Men and Immaculada, as well as a few tapes. The band recorded in Python Patrol studio for its Sacred Bones debut, Leave Home, which was released in 2011. They returned the following March with Open Your Heart (their first album to include Samis as well as bassist Kevin Faulkner), expanding their musical palette to meld country, psych, and surf influences with their caustic, aggressive rock.
Their fourth album, New Moon, as well as their Campfire Songs EP, arrived in 2013; by this point, engineer Ben Greenberg (Hubble, Zs) had begun his brief tenure in the band. The Men continued their musical evolution, as well as their prolific streak, with their fifth album, Tomorrow's Hits, which found them moving further away from their hardcore roots toward the earnest blue-collar rock of artists like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. In 2016, the group revisited its noisy, more experimental side with the self-released Devil Music. Returning to Sacred Bones in 2018, the Men released Drift, their most eclectic album yet. Also that year, the group gathered tracks from early releases as well as previously unreleased material on the collection Hated: 2008-2011. 2020's Mercy was influenced by styles ranging from country to '80s arena rock. New York City, released by Fuzz Club Records in 2023, was a return to noisy, abrasive rock & roll.
Biography by Jason Lymangrover
There are other artists with the same name:
2. The Human League used the pseudonym to release the Chic-influenced single I Don't Depend On You in 1979, following pressure from their label to justify their large advance signing fee. The track resurfaced in 2003 with the re-release of Travelogue.
3. The Men is a Vietnamese pop music duo – Lê Hoàng and Tiến Dũng. Tiến Dũng rose to fame in the early 2000s as member of boy band Weboys. He left Weboys after his contract with Wepro Company was over in 3/2009. Hoàng used to be member of boy band B.O.M, he also left his band just a few months before The Men was formed.
4. 'The Men' are a Mod / R&B band from Sweden.
5. 'The Men' were an early 1990s Southern California rock group best known for the track "Church Of Logic, Sin, & Love." Two members of the group were, ironically, female.
6. 'The Men' were the psychedelic backup band for Shin Jung-hyun (신중현) during the early 70s. Their most notable album was 'It's A Lie' (거짓말이야), which included a blistering 20-minute rendition of the title track. They also appeared on a split LP with Jang Hyeon (장현).
I Built My House This Way
The Men Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wearing silk and gold
Drive me to the airport
Eating well, I'm told
A well achiever, true believer
To small-town cries of shame
My life astounds, the cynics frown
And I built my house this way
Made some friends in little cubed office spaces
I had to keep up, that was the way
Sunday barbecues on fire with property values
Rising like smoke away
A strong competer, wife mistreater
Head in my hands today
I walked upon the knives of boredom
I bit too much off, the cake was so tough
I built my house this way
Oh, I built my house this way
Little dreams are little dreams
And little dreams mean everything
Walking bravado, parent of the new generation
Keep your kids cool, make them believe
That big cars, wet bars, and swimming pools just come along
With what you'd love to make me
My lust for life lives in a condo
The kids have moved away
I even cry at stupid commercials
And wipe the tears, remember the years
I built my house this way
Oh, I built my house this way
Little dreams are little dreams
And little dreams mean everything
I built my house this way
Oh, I built my house this way
The Men's song "I Built My House This Way" is a reflection on the pursuit of the American Dream and the consequences of that pursuit. The song opens with the lyrics "Playing like I made it, wearing silk and gold, drive me to the airport, eating well, I'm told" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is someone who has achieved success, but at what cost? He's living in a world of materialism and status symbols, but he's also aware that he's being judged by people who haven't achieved the same level of success.
The following verse talks about the sacrifices he's made to achieve this success. He's made friends in "little cubed office spaces" and he's keeping up with the Joneses. But the cost of that success has been high. He's become a strong competitor and a wife mistreater, always putting his career first. And now he's realizing that he's built his life around work and status symbols and he's not sure if it's all been worth it.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on how his desire for material possessions has overshadowed what really matters in life. The song ends with the lyrics "Little dreams are little dreams, and little dreams mean everything. I built my house this way." The singer has come to the realization that his pursuit of the American Dream has come at a cost, and that the small things in life are really the most important.
Overall, "I Built My House This Way" is a powerful commentary on the American Dream and the sacrifices people make to achieve it. The lyrics are poignant and the melody is soulful. It's a song that will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned the true cost of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Playing like I made it
Confidently presenting myself as a success, even if I am not yet
Wearing silk and gold
Dressing extravagantly to showcase my success and wealth
Drive me to the airport
Having others do the mundane tasks for me as I am too important for that
Eating well, I'm told
Indulging in luxurious foods and meals that contribute to my lifestyle
A well achiever, true believer
A person who has accomplished many things and believes in their own abilities
To small-town cries of shame
Despite coming from a small town where success is not common, I have achieved it
My life astounds, the cynics frown
Many people are amazed by my success, but some do not believe in my accomplishments
I took my wife, and I moved my life
I left my hometown and moved with my wife to start a new life based on success
And I built my house this way
I created a lifestyle based on the achievements and successes that I have made
Made some friends in little cubed office spaces
I have made friends in the corporate world, where everyone is striving to be successful
I had to keep up, that was the way
I felt the need to keep up with my peers in the corporate world to maintain my image
Sunday barbecues on fire with property values
Hosting lavish events at my home that showcase my wealth and success
Rising like smoke away
My property values, much like smoke, are on the rise and fleeting
A strong competer, wife mistreater
I am a fierce competitor, but in the process, I may have been ignoring my wife
Head in my hands today
I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed, thinking about the future
I walked upon the knives of boredom
I have become restless and bored with my luxurious lifestyle
I bit too much off, the cake was so tough
I may have overextended myself and taken on more than I can handle
Oh, I built my house this way
I have built my lifestyle and success in a certain way and cannot go back now
Walking bravado, parent of the new generation
I have become a symbol of confidence and success for the younger generation
Keep your kids cool, make them believe
I advise others to stay calm and confident, even if they are not yet successful
That big cars, wet bars, and swimming pools just come along
I suggest that success and wealth will naturally follow if one follows my example
With what you'd love to make me
Others aspire to be like me and follow in my footsteps to become successful
My lust for life lives in a condo
My life is confined and limited despite my success and wealth
The kids have moved away
My children have grown up and moved out, leaving me feeling alone
I even cry at stupid commercials
My emotions are heightened and I am more sensitive than I used to be
And wipe the tears, remember the years
Despite these emotions, I still cherish the memories of my success and lifestyle
Oh, I built my house this way
I cannot change the way I have built my success and lifestyle
Little dreams are little dreams
Small aspirations may seem insignificant, but they can mean everything
And little dreams mean everything
Small successes and achievements can be just as important as big ones
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.