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.
the Glow pt. 2
The Microphones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
no one saw that the skin on my shoulders was golden
now it's not
my shirt's back on
i forgot my songs
the glow is gone
my gliding body stopped
i faced death
i went in with my arms swinging
but i heard my own breath
i had to face that i'm still living
i'm still flesh
i hold on to life with feelings
i'm not dead
there's no end
my face is red
my blood flows harshly
my heart beats loudly
my chest still draws breath
i hold it
i'm boiling
ooh oh oh
there's no end
In The Microphones's song The Glow Pt. 2, the artist reflects on the ebb and flow of life and the difficulty in holding onto the light and joy that seems to come and go so quickly. In the opening lines, the singer strips off his shirt in the yard to bask in the sun, but quickly realizes that the golden glow has faded from his skin and the moment has passed. He puts his shirt back on, and with it, his "songs" seem to have disappeared as well. We see the singer grappling with the passage of time and the fleeting nature of happiness, as he comes face-to-face with death and is forced to confront the fact that he is still alive, still flesh-and-blood.
The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer realizes that there is "no end" to life, that there is always the possibility of a new beginning, a new chance at joy and meaning. "My heart beats loudly, my chest still draws breath," he says, as he holds onto this feeling, this sense of potential, even as he boils with the intensity of the moment. The overall message of the song seems to be that life is full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, but that there is always hope for the future, always the possibility of renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
i took my shirt off in the yard
I exposed myself in a vulnerable state in a place where nobody could see me.
no one saw that the skin on my shoulders was golden
I revealed a side of me that is usually obscured, but nobody was there to witness it.
now it's not my shirt's back on
I hid my true self again and resumed my normal state of being, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
i forgot my songs
I lost the inspiration and motivation that usually keeps me going, and I find it hard to create something new.
the glow is gone
The excitement and energy that used to drive me is absent, and I feel uninspired and stuck.
my gliding body stopped
I can no longer move or create effortlessly; everything feels forced, and I struggle to find my rhythm or flow.
i could not get through september without a battle
I faced many obstacles and struggles during this time, and I found it challenging to overcome them.
i faced death
I had to confront my mortality and the idea that life is fragile and fleeting.
i went in with my arms swinging
I approached this difficult situation with confidence and determination, ready to confront whatever came my way.
but i heard my own breath
As I was facing these challenges, I became more aware of my own vulnerability and the fragility of life.
i had to face that i'm still living
Despite everything I've been through, I'm still alive, and I have to learn to live with the consequences of my experiences.
i'm still flesh
Despite my struggles and difficulties, I am still a human being with a physical body that is capable of experiencing both pain and pleasure.
i hold on to life with feelings
I find meaning and purpose in my emotions and connections with others, which help me hold on to my desire to live and thrive.
i'm not dead
Despite everything that has happened, I am still alive and have the potential to continue growing and evolving.
there's no end
Life is an ongoing journey, and there is no ultimate destination or endpoint that we can reach.
my face is red
I am experiencing strong emotions, which are causing my face to flush with color and intensity.
my blood flows harshly
My body is reacting physiologically to my emotional state, making my blood flow more quickly and forcefully.
my heart beats loudly
My body is in a heightened state of arousal and is responding to the stress and intensity of my emotional state.
my chest still draws breath
Despite the intensity of my emotional state, I am still alive and able to breathe, which is a reminder of my own resilience and strength.
i hold it i'm boiling ooh oh oh
I am trying to contain my emotions and keep them from boiling over, but they are bubbling up inside of me, and I am struggling to keep them under control.
there's no end
Life is an ongoing journey, and we must learn to live in the present moment and appreciate what we have while we have it.
Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@aubreylear
this is dreadful
@mappplesirrup8473
lovely
@nowherelift
In which sense?
@wesplay23
@Nowherelift in the best sense. it’s dreadfully amazing
@nowherelift
@WESPLAY hell yeah
@aubreylear
@Nowherelift yes.
@hihello-sx1sx
This happened to my buddy Eric
@jonahw5587
Ye me too when he went to the
@hihello-sx1sx
@Jonah Westberg him when he the
@jrdnsgrarchvs9163
Yeah he really did