The Morning Benders is a band from Berkeley, California, formed in 2005, consisting of Julian Harmon, Tim Or, Jonathan Chu, and Christopher Chu. In 2008, they released their debut album Talking Through Tin Cans on +1 Records. The band has toured in support of Broken Bells (Spring/Summer 2010), Grizzly Bear (Fall 2009), The Kooks and Death Cab for Cutie (Summer 2008), Ra Ra Riot (Fall 2008), The Black Keys (Summer 2010), and has also played with Yo La Tengo, MGMT, Grand Archives, Yeasayer, Two Gallants, The Rosebuds, Au Revoir Simone, We Are Scientists, and White Rabbits. They also toured with The Submarines in 2009. Having shared the stage with other bands such as Beach House, MGMT, Ra Ra Riot, Grizzly Bear and Girls, these boys are seasoned vets. Don’t let their age deceive you.
In December 2008, iTunes deemed Talking Through Tin Cans the best indie/alternative album of 2008.
The Morning Benders recorded their 2010 album Big Echo in San Francisco and mixed it in Brookyln. Chris Chu and Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear) produced it in eleven days. On the twelfth day they rejoiced. There are 10 tracks on Big Echo, which The Morning Benders think is an ideal length for an album.
In March of 2012 the band announced that they would be changing their name to POP ETC.
Hand Me Downs
The Morning Benders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
so nothing grows back in its place
don't keep it alive when it touches the air
let it die cold in the summer day
when we fall
when we fall
when we fall far away
every day
when it's time for the first breath
let it be one smooth sail
cut up real
let me see the inside
selfish claims love at first sight
when we hand
when we hand
when we hand down our hopes
oh, who will be the first to realize
they're all alone
when we fall
when we fall
when we fall far away
oh, when their bony children will cause seasons to change
rip it out, deep from the ground
so nothing grows back in its place
don't keep it alive when it touches the air
let it die cold in the summer day
when it's time for the first breath
let it be one smooth sail
cut up real
let me see the inside
selfish claims love at first sight
The lyrics of The Morning Benders's song "Hand Me Downs" mostly revolve around the idea of letting go and moving on. The opening lines, "rip it out, deep from the ground / so nothing grows back in its place" suggests a need to completely remove something from one's life without the possibility of it returning. This could be interpreted as a physical object, a past memory, or perhaps a toxic relationship. The phrase "let it die cold in the summer day" adds to this idea of finality and moving on, using the contrasting images of death and summer to emphasize the permanency of letting go.
The chorus, repeating "when we fall far away / oh, when their bony children will cause seasons to change" paints a vivid imagery of the ripple effect that one's actions can cause. Falling "far away" could refer to emotionally drifting apart or physically leaving, while the image of "bony children" causing seasons to change evokes a sense of the cyclical nature of life and how our choices can have long-lasting consequences.
The second verse introduces the idea of "handing down" one's hopes and dreams, perhaps to children or future generations. The lines, "let me see the inside / selfish claims love at first sight" suggests a desire for transparency and authenticity in relationships or experiences, rather than superficial claims of love. The ending lines repeat the same message of letting go and moving forward, emphasizing the importance of a smooth transition and release.
Overall, "Hand Me Downs" is a poetic exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the importance of letting go of the past in order to move forward and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
rip it out, deep from the ground
Take it out forcefully and thoroughly from the source
so nothing grows back in its place
Remove it completely to prevent any regeneration
don't keep it alive when it touches the air
Do not sustain it when it's exposed to the world
let it die cold in the summer day
Let it die a lonely death without any warmth or care
when we fall
When we fail or falter in life
when their bony children will cause seasons to change every day
When their descendants will have a lasting impact on the world
when it's time for the first breath
When something new is born or created
let it be one smooth sail
Let it happen effortlessly without any hindrances
cut up real
Be honest and truthful about it
selfish claims love at first sight
Self-centered desire for instant gratification
when we hand down our hopes
When we pass on our aspirations to the next generation
who will be the first to realize they're all alone
Who will be the first to understand their isolation and loneliness
Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.