Carl Newman, who writes most of the band's material, has said, "When I seriously started to try to write songs, my main influences were, like, Burt Bacharach, Jim Webb, and Brian Wilson. Those were the guys I kinda looked at their music and went, 'What the hell are they doing here?' I was just fascinated by the structures and the harmonics."
The melody of the first and eponymous track on their second album Electric Version, for instance, begins with an arpeggiated diminished triad --- a rare and strange opening flourish for a pop song.
The band have released a series of well-received albums: Mass Romantic (2000), Electric Version (2003), Twin Cinema (2005), Challengers (2007), Together (2010), Brill Bruisers (2014) and Whiteout Conditions (2017). In 2019 they released In the Morse Code of Brake Lights.
The band members include:
- Carl Newman - vocals, guitar, ebow, synthesizer, harmonica, pump organ, xylophone
- Dan Bejar - vocals, guitar, synthesizer, melodion
- Kathryn Calder - vocals, piano
- Neko Case - vocals, tambourine
- John Collins - bass, guitar, synthesizer, ebow, vocals
- Kurt Dahle - drums, percussion, vocals
- Todd Fancey - guitar
- Blaine Thurier - synthesizer
The New Pornographers are frequently referred to as an indie supergroup because of the following members' associations:
- Carl Newman, solo artist (as A.C. Newman), also of Superconductor and Zumpano
- Dan Bejar of Destroyer,Swan Lake and Vancouver Nights.
- Kathryn Calder of Immaculate Machine.
- Neko Case, solo artist, also of Maow and cub
- John Collins of The Evaporators
- Kurt Dahle of Limblifter and Age of Electric
- Todd Fancey of Fancey
- Blaine Thurier, independent filmmaker
Newman, however, doesn't care for the term: "I'm really tired of that supergroup label, and I wish people would stop using it. None of us were known at all outside of Canada --- I just don't think it's accurate."
Myriad Harbour
The New Pornographers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took a train
(Ah, who cares, you always end up in the city)
I said to Carl
look up for one
(See just how the sun sets in the sky)
Do you think the girls here
(Ever wonder how they got so pretty?)
Oh well I do
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
All the boys
with their home-made microphones
(Have very interesting sounds)
All the girls falling to ruin
dropping out of school, breakin' daddy's heart
(Just to hang around)
I walked into the local record store
and asked for an American music anthology
It sounds fun
They tore my skirt, then
Stuck it on the walls at PS 1
I took a plane
I took a train
(Ah, who cares, you always end up in the city)
Stranded at Bleecker and Broadway
Looking for something to do
Someone somewhere asked me is there anything in particular I can help you with?
(All I ever want to help with was you)
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
The lyrics of Myriad Harbour by The New Pornographers appear to be a reflection on the city life, particularly New York City, and the variety of experiences one can have in it. The singer describes taking a plane and train into the city, but notes that it doesn't really matter, as one always ends up in the city. The first verse continues with the singer asking two other individuals, Carl and Jon, to notice the sunset and the beauty of the girls in the city. This may highlight the idea of people finding beauty in urban life despite its flaws.
The chorus then instructs the listener to look out upon the Myriad Harbour, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the diverse and constantly changing experiences that can be had in the city. The second verse continues this theme, with the singer observing various people in the city, including the boys with homemade microphones and the girls who drop out of school and break their father's hearts. The singer then goes into a record store and asks for an American music anthology, which seems to delight him or her. However, upon exiting, they discover their skirt has been torn and stuck on the walls of a school.
The final verse describes the singer being stranded at Bleecker and Broadway, a busy intersection in New York City, and looking for something to do. The singer is then approached by someone who asks if they need any help, and the person seems to want to help with something specific rather than just being a general offer of help. The song ends with a reiteration of the chorus.
Overall, the lyrics of Myriad Harbour seem to be a love letter to the city life, acknowledging both its flaws and its beauty, and encouraging the listener to embrace all that it has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a plane
I travelled by air
I took a train
I travelled by train
(Ah, who cares, you always end up in the city)
(but it doesn't matter which mode of transportation I choose, I'll always end up in a city)
I said to Carl
I spoke to Carl
look up for one
look at the sunset
(See just how the sun sets in the sky)
(enjoy the beauty of the sunset)
I said to Jon
I spoke to Jon
Do you think the girls here
Have you ever thought about why the girls here
(Ever wonder how they got so pretty?)
(are so attractive and beautiful?)
Oh well I do
Well, I have wondered about it
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Take a look at the beautiful view of Myriad Harbour
All the boys
All the male musicians
with their home-made microphones
who use self-made microphones
(Have very interesting sounds)
(produce unique and fascinating music)
All the girls falling to ruin
All the young women who are getting into trouble
dropping out of school, breakin' daddy's heart
quit school and disappoint their fathers
(Just to hang around)
(for the sake of just being idle)
I walked into the local record store
I entered a nearby music store
and asked for an American music anthology
and requested a collection of American music
It sounds fun
It seemed interesting
They tore my skirt, then
They ripped my skirt, and
Stuck it on the walls at PS 1
hung it on the walls at Public School 1
Stranded at Bleecker and Broadway
Stuck at Bleecker and Broadway
Looking for something to do
Searching for an activity
Someone somewhere asked me is there anything in particular I can help you with?
A person asked if I needed any specific help
(All I ever want to help with was you)
(but all I really needed help with was finding you)
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Take another look at the stunning view of Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
One more glimpse of the breathtaking Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Admire the Myriad Harbour once again
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Keep looking at the beautiful Myriad Harbour
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Daniel Bejar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wilo Polis
To this day still one of my favorite indie rock albums
V W
Hell yeah, Challengers was sweet.
Wilo Polis
@Larry Kippings How do you do this :0000
Larry Kippings
@Wilo Polis 13 months ago, 13 likes
Wilo Polis
3 months ago, 3 likes lol
Austin Lucas
When I started watching some of this band's music videos, I noticed something about them. They were beautiful in one way or another but now I've watched this one, I know what it is about them: Art.
Justin Simmons
Dan Bejar the man, the myth, the absolute fuckin legend
Roger Harvey
I can’t help but think it must be a shit load of fun to be involved in any project associated with the New Pornographers! Thanks for sharing your vision guys and girls. Ya’ll never cease to invoke a smile, even on the darkest days. Thanks!
jakestar09
Right so I've liked this song for ages now and wanted to listen it again right now because I'm high af and I like this song, Spotify couldn't find it so I resorted to YouTube and oh my fucking God. This video is so fucking scary but awesome at the same time, I really have no idea what is going on but it makes me happy about life!!!...... Maybe that's the meaning......
Emily
Never gets old