In 2004, Elverum abandoned the "Microphones" name to begin recording as Mount Eerie, briefly returning in December 2007 when he began selling a new 7" single by the Microphones ("Don't Smoke" / "Get Off the Internet") on his website and at concerts.
In 2020, Elverum returned to the Microphones name once more to release the project's 14th album Microphones in 2020. Microphones members/collaborators include Karl Blau, Dennis Driscoll, Kyle Field aka Little Wings, Mirah, Khaela Maricich aka The Blow, Adrian Orange aka Thanksgiving, Adam Forkner and K Records' founder, Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and the Halo Benders.
II. Solar System
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want what I see
You, fireball, have rolled away and shaded valleys
So here I am the creekbed
So here I feel my way in the dark
What wonder?
What treasure map?
What breaking of day?
Let the flash flood begin
Wash me down the canyon
Quicksand pull me in!
Blow over me solar wind!
(La-da-da-da)
You're vultures in trees
I know you're out there
You're lanterns on lakes
I know you're out there
You're soccer balls on knees
And through your skirt I see
Your legs gracefully
I know you're out there
You're swaying and pleased
I know you're out there
You're vultures in trees
I know you're out there
You're vultures in trees
I know you're out there
Your mountainous peaks
Don't let gravity win
Blow over me solar wind
I know you're out there
The Microphones' song "Solar System" is a haunting track that explores feelings of inadequacy, lost love, and the mysteries of the universe. The opening lines, "Oh no! I am lacking, I want what I see," set the melancholic tone of the song as the singer longs for something he cannot have. The fireball that has rolled away represents the loved one that is no longer there, and the shaded valleys are the gaps that they have left behind.
As the singer wanders through the creekbed, he feels his way in the dark, searching for something that he cannot name. He wonders about the treasure map that might lead him to what he seeks, but he is left with only dusty decay. The flash flood that he longs for represents a cleansing of his emotions, a washing away of the pain and confusion that he feels.
The chorus of "Solar System" is a plea for connection to something greater than himself: "Blow over me solar wind!" The singer is desperate to be part of the natural world, to feel the wind and the rain and the sun on his face. He sees vultures in trees, lanterns on lakes, and soccer balls on knees, and imagines that somewhere out there, someone is swaying and pleased. His final cry of "I know you're out there" is a plea for someone, anyone, to hear him and see him and understand his pain.
Overall, "Solar System" is a powerful meditation on loneliness and the human need for connection. The song's spare, haunting arrangement and poetic lyrics create a sense of otherworldliness that makes it a standout in The Microphones' catalog.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no! I am lacking
I feel incomplete, like something is missing in my life
I want what I see
I desire what I perceive in the world around me
You, fireball, have rolled away and shaded valleys
The sun has set, casting shadows over the landscape
So here I am the creekbed
I feel small and insignificant, like a dry creekbed
So here I feel my way in the dark
I am uncertain and navigating through life blindly
What wonder?
What amazing things might I encounter in life?
What treasure map?
What path should I follow to find my purpose in life?
What breaking of day?
What new beginnings might I experience?
What stream used to flow here, and now what dusty decay?
What used to be here, and what happened to lead to its deterioration?
Let the flash flood begin
Let the tide of change wash over me
Wash me down the canyon
Carry me forward towards new experiences
Quicksand pull me in!
Engulf me in the unknown and unexpected
Blow over me solar wind!
Carry me away on the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces of the universe
(La-da-da-da)
An expression of excitement and anticipation
You're vultures in trees
There are external factors and obstacles that I must contend with
I know you're out there
I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead
You're lanterns on lakes
There are small pockets of hope and beauty that exist
You're soccer balls on knees
There is simplicity and joy that can be found in everyday life
And through your skirt I see
There are unforeseen opportunities and perspectives that I can gain by keeping an open mind
Your legs gracefully
There is beauty and elegance in the world
You're swaying and pleased
There is contentment and happiness to be found
Your mountainous peaks
There are grand and awe-inspiring elements of the world
Don't let gravity win
Don't let the weight of negativity or hopelessness bring me down
Blow over me solar wind
Allow me to explore and experience the vastness of the universe
I know you're out there
There is so much more to discover and explore
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind