Formed in the summer of 1997, The Mercury Program started as a three-piece … Read Full Bio ↴Formed in the summer of 1997, The Mercury Program started as a three-piece consisting of Dave LeBleu, Sander Travisano, and Tom Reno. After releasing 2 self-recorded 7"s on Boxcar Records, their self-titled full-length was released in 1999, also on Boxcar. In late 1999, The Mercury Program signed to the New York City-based indie startup Tiger Style Records. During this time, they added an additional member, Whitney Travisano, and turned the trio into a more dynamic quartet. The sound of the band changed dramatically with the addition of a fourth member as the vibraphone and Rhodes piano began to play a more significant role in the song writing.
In early 2000, the new line-up hit the studio with Andy Baker. The result was their sophomore effort, From the Vapor of Gasoline, which was released by Tiger Style Records later that Spring. The record received a tremendous amount of positive press, including the first national exposure for the band with an 8 out of 10 rating in Spin Magazine. From the Vapor of Gasoline was quickly followed up in 2001 by the All the Suits Began to Fall Off EP, which demonstrated the band’s maturation and comfort as a quartet. Unlike previous releases, this EP doesn’t include any of the usual sparse bits of vocals; instead, All the Suits Began to Fall Off marks the band's departure into a new all-instrumental direction.
In 2002, The Mercury Program released their most critically acclaimed record to date, A Data Learn the Language . This record shows significant progress in the band's songwriting, as well as the addition of electronic and computer instrumentation. Amidst a full U.S. tour supporting the record's release, the band was invited to play on Nic Harcourt’s "Morning Becomes Eclectic" radio show on KCRW in Los Angeles. Besides the Tiger Style label, A Data Learn the Language was also licensed and released by Japanese label Stiff Slack in 2003, and the band did a tour of Japan that summer to support the release.
After returning from tour in support of A Data Learn the Language , the band went into the studio with Andy Baker again to record three songs for The Confines of Heat , a split CDep/EP with friends and tour mates Maserati. The Confines of Heat was originally released on Kindercore Records, which dissolved shortly after the release. It was then re-released by Hello Sir! Records, an Athens, Georgia-based record label in 2004. The Mercury Program took a much-needed break from touring, writing, and recording after release of The Confines of Heat . During this break, the band members spent a significant amount of time dispersed between Gainesville, New York City, South Florida, and Vermont. With the increased distance and ever increasing personal obligations, the band spent the next several years working on new material in a much more relaxed manner.
The result of this composed approach is Chez Viking , a seven-song CD/LP released by the band's new label, Lovitt Records, in November of 2009. Again, the band chose to work with long-time engineer and friend Andy Baker. Mixes were done by Jeremy Scott at Civil Defense in Brooklyn, and Bob Weston handled mastering at Chicago Mastering Service in Chicago.

This Hits Home
The Mercury Program Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Moving

Your attention span

Headed downtown

Right-front clipped

Adjust my hands

This hits home

This hits home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Mercury Program's song "This Hits Home" can be interpreted in numerous ways, but one possible interpretation is that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and disoriented in his surroundings. The first two lines suggest that the singer is having trouble focusing, perhaps due to stress or anxiety. The next line, "headed downtown," could indicate that the singer is physically moving through a crowded or chaotic area. The line "right-front clipped" could be a reference to a minor collision, which would only add to the singer's sense of confusion.

The following line, "adjust my hands," seems to suggest that the singer is trying to regain control or composure. Finally, the repetition of the line "this hits home" emphasizes the intensity of the situation and the fact that it is having a profound impact on the singer. Overall, the lyrics suggest a feeling of being lost or overwhelmed, but also a desire to keep moving forward and regain control.

Line by Line Meaning

Moving
Taking action, making a change in my life

Your attention span
Your ability to focus on things and stay committed

Headed downtown
Going towards the center of activity, where things are happening

Right-front clipped
A sudden, unexpected disruption or obstacle in my path

Adjust my hands
Regaining control and making small changes to navigate the disruption

This hits home
This situation is deeply personal and affects me directly

This hits home
Reinforcing the significance and impact of the previous lines

Contributed by Zoe J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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