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.
There's No Invincible Disguise That Lasts All Day
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can sing a love poetic
And in my songs I can claim a voice prophetic
And then somehow from caching be exempt?
(no)
What?
So I can see a glow, a glimmer
And feast on fruits of all the singers
(no)
So supposedly I'm strong
and I cultivate a luscious lawn
But my crops can fail, I can also be wrong.
I can woo a distant beauty
but hopeless missing always rules me.
There's no invincible disguise that lasts all day.
Painful storms will always come to blur my way
And conversely blurry storms will go their way.
There's no invincible disguise that lasts all day.
The act is sweet but it casts a shadow just the same.
The lyrics of The Microphones' song There's No Invincible Disguise That Lasts All Day reflect on the idea of invincibility and the inability to truly hide from the pain and struggles of life. The singer acknowledges that even though he may write love poetry and claim to have a prophetic voice, he cannot escape the hardships of life. He desires to bask in the glory of the fruit of singers and avoid the sting of yearning but realizes that even this is impossible. Despite his strength and seemingly luscious life, his crops can still fail and he can be wrong. He may be able to attract a distant beauty, but the pain of missing them will always rule over him. The singer ultimately concludes that there is no invincible disguise that can last all day. Painfulstorms will always come, blurring his way, and blurry storms will go their way.
The lyrics reflect on the fact that no matter how much we try to avoid pain and struggles, we cannot entirely do so. Just like how an invincible disguise cannot last all day, life will eventually expose our vulnerabilities and bare our pain. The sweet act of pretending to be invincible is bound to have its shadows, and we must learn to acknowledge and embrace them as part of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
What?
Why do I think that just because I can sing about love and sound wise in my lyrics, I will be spared from the pain of life?
So I can sing a love poetic
I believe that writing beautiful songs about love is enough to protect me from heartbreak and disappointment.
And in my songs I can claim a voice prophetic
I act like my writing is full of wisdom, as if I know everything that will happen in the future.
And then somehow from caching be exempt? (no)
I hope that by writing about love and life, I can avoid experiencing the pain that comes with them. However, this is not possible.
So I can see a glow, a glimmer
I am hopeful and focus on the positive aspects of life, even though I know that I might be disappointed in the end.
And feast on fruits of all the singers
I enjoy listening to songs that sound wise and comforting, as if they have all the answers I need.
But not be stung somehow by yearning's stinger. (no)
Despite my efforts to be optimistic and focus on the positive, I know that I can still be hurt by unfulfilled desires and yearnings.
So supposedly I'm strong
I try to appear confident and unbreakable, as if I can handle anything that comes my way.
and I cultivate a luscious lawn
I take care of and nurture my life, surrounding myself with beauty and comfort.
But my crops can fail, I can also be wrong.
Despite my efforts to cultivate the good things in life, there are always unexpected failures and disappointments that I cannot prevent or control.
I can woo a distant beauty
I can be attracted to someone who is far away or unattainable, hoping that they will bring me happiness and fulfillment.
but hopeless missing always rules me.
Despite my efforts, I am often overwhelmed by longing and sadness when I cannot have what I desire.
There's no invincible disguise that lasts all day.
No matter how hard I try to protect myself or hide my vulnerabilities, I know that there will always be situations that will expose my weaknesses.
Painful storms will always come to blur my way
I know that there will always be difficult times in my life that will test my resilience and strength.
And conversely blurry storms will go their way.
In the same way, there will be times when everything seems uncertain and unclear, but eventually the clouds will clear and things will become more manageable.
The act is sweet but it casts a shadow just the same.
Despite the sweetness and beauty of life, there is always a darker side and a risk of disappointment or pain that must be acknowledged and accepted.
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.