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."
The End of Medicine
The New Pornographers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As we analyzed the accents
So look out you rock 'n rollers
Over 40 million served and that's a
Record for the master
It stood forever after
So, are we, are we, are we, are we facing
With common sense and courtesy
And all the things we thought would be
The end of us but now it won't
Allow us our intentions
Are the mother of invention
It's a pleasure to repeat the feeling
Are we, are we, are we, are we facing
The end of all the medicine we're taking?
Somewhere in the system
There's an open-ended list of all the
Lies we tell them thinking, thinking,
'Where could we be living?'
Is it life or is it even in the
realm of possibility?
You see it when you're missing
When you came to see it glistening
Even on and on and on.
The lyrics to The New Pornographers's song The End of Medicine speak to the idea of the end of medicine and the potential consequences of relying on drugs and medicine to fix our problems. The song starts with the line "The angel cried, 'You bastard!'" which can be interpreted as a commentary on the use of medication to combat mental health disorders. The lyrics then reference analyzing accents, perhaps suggesting the idea of analyzing and overthinking our problems to the point where we rely on medicine to solve them.
The chorus questions whether we are facing the end of all the drugs and medicine we are using, and whether this reliance on medication is actually causing more harm than good. The lyrics suggest that common sense and courtesy may be better solutions than drugs, and that the things we thought would be the end of us may actually lead to new inventions and discoveries.
The song closes with the idea of an open-ended list of lies we tell ourselves and others, and the possibility of finding something more meaningful beyond the realm of medicine. Overall, the lyrics seem to suggest a need for balance and moderation when it comes to the use of medication and the search for solutions to our problems.
Line by Line Meaning
The angel cried, "You bastard!",
Someone or something (possibly a divine being) expressed anger or frustration and insulted someone else.
As we analyzed the accents
While studying or examining the way people speak or pronounce words, we noticed something important or interesting.
So look out you rock 'n rollers
Be aware or cautious, musicians who play rock music, because something significant could be happening.
Over 40 million served and that's a
There were more than 40 million people who experienced or benefited from something, which is a significant number.
Record for the master
The person or people responsible for creating or providing this experience should receive credit or recognition for achieving a new milestone or high point.
It stood forever after
This experience or achievement will be remembered or have an impact for a very long time, even indefinitely.
So, are we, are we, are we, are we facing
We are questioning or considering the possibility that a major problem or situation is coming our way.
The end of all, of all the drugs we're lacing
We are concerned that we are approaching a time when we can no longer rely on or use drugs in the way we have been using them.
With common sense and courtesy
We thought that a solution or alternative to using drugs could be as simple as behaving sensibly and respectfully toward each other.
And all the things we thought would be
We had hoped or anticipated that certain things would happen, but they did not.
The end of us but now it won't
We thought that these things might be the cause of our downfall, but now we realize that they will not be.
Allow us our intentions
We hope that our ideas and goals will still be possible, but we are not sure if they will be.
Are the mother of invention
When we are faced with challenges or obstacles, we often come up with creative and innovative solutions to overcome them.
It's a pleasure to repeat the feeling
We enjoy experiencing positive emotions or sensations, and we like to relive or prolong them.
Somewhere in the system
There is a particular place or aspect of a larger organization or process that is relevant to our situation.
There's an open-ended list of all the
There is a seemingly infinite or indefinite collection of something that we are keeping track of or referring to.
Lies we tell them thinking, thinking,
We are lying or deceiving someone else, perhaps with the hope of achieving a particular outcome or hiding something from them.
'Where could we be living?'
We are wondering or pondering about alternative living situations or environments.
Is it life or is it even in the
We are questioning whether something we desire or imagine is actually possible or realistic.
realm of possibility?
We are uncertain if this thing we desire or imagine is within the range of what is feasible or achievable.
You see it when you're missing
You are most likely to recognize or appreciate something when it is absent or unavailable.
When you came to see it glistening
When you are able to observe or experience something directly, you are able to appreciate its beauty or value more fully.
Even on and on and on.
This process or situation continues without end or interruption.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Carl Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind