The two dozen members often take to the stage costumed in flowing robes or military style uniforms, an appropriate backdrop for their happy and uplifting musical message that's a mix of catchy pop minimally laced with gospel. Fans have compared them to both the Flaming Lips and the Beach Boys, with a smidgen of lively Godspeed-like attitude thrown into the mix.
The Polyphonic Spree was founded by Tim DeLaughter, who led Dallas, Texas based alternative rock band Tripping Daisy (best known for their 1996 minor hit "I Got A Girl") until 1999, when Wes Berggren(founding member and guitarist) died of a drug overdose. Tripping Daisy posthumously released a self-titled record on Sugar Fix records and called it quits.
DeLaughter and other surviving members of Tripping Daisy regrouped as the Polyphonic Spree in 2000, adding about 20 more members. They put together a demo titled The Beginning Stages of...The Polyphonic Spree and distributed it to fans during performances. The album was subsequently released on DeLaughter's own imprint, Good Records and picked up by 679 Recordings.
The fluctuating group boasts a choir, a pair of keyboard players, as well as a percussionist, bassist, guitarist, flautist, trumpeter, trombonist, violinist, a French horn player, a theremin player, and an electronic effects wizard. DeLaughter holds the post of musical director and contributes lead vocals.
Tours require more than a dozen full-sized vans, but the band's spectacular shows in intimate clubs and gigs as big as 2003's Reading Festival generate the feeling of a gospel revival meeting. Single "Light and Day" was featured in Volkswagen commercials, an episode of Scrubs and on the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack, earning the Polyphonic Spree even more exposure. Their proper first album Together We're Heavy was released jointly by Good Records and Hollywood Records in summer 2004. New music was released in the form of the soundtrack for the film 'Thumbsucker' in 2005.
In the autumn of 2006, The Polyphonic Spree released the Wait EP, which features covers of Nirvana's "Lithium" and "Sonic Bloom" by DeLaughter's former band, Tripping Daisy. For the band's last album, The Fragile Army, (released June 2007) the entire band swapped their trademark robes for dark coloured military-style uniforms.
The return of The Polyphonic Spree was announced with the release of the 'Bullseye' App, an interactive music video which is a collaboration between The Polyphonic Spree and Moonbot Studios.
Light
The Polyphonic Spree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because all
My feelings are more
Than i can let by
Or not
More than you've got
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're done
Just follow the seasons and find the time
Reach for the bright side
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the seasons and find the time
Reach for the bright side
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
The Polyphonic Spree's song "Light" is an uplifting and inspirational piece that encourages listeners to seek the best that life has to offer. The opening line, "Light and day is more than you'll say," suggests that there is more to life than what can be put into words. It speaks of the idea that personal experience and emotion cannot be fully expressed through language alone. The next line, "Because all my feelings are more than I can let by or not," reinforces this idea, implying that the singer is holding back something important.
The verses that follow encourage listeners to "follow the day" and "reach for the sun." The repetition of the phrase "just follow the day" suggests that the path to happiness and fulfillment is found by enjoying the present and embracing what each day has to offer. It's almost as if the song encourages listeners to take life one day at a time and not get too bogged down by what has already happened.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of positivity and looking on the bright side of things. The lines "you don't see me flyin' to the red" suggest that the singer is at peace with the world and is not rushing to make a bad situation worse. The song's overall message is one of hope and perseverance, reminding listeners that every day is a new opportunity to make something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Light and day is more than you'll say
The essence of life is more profound than one could express through words
Because all
This understanding exists
My feelings are more
Emotions are deeper
Than i can let by
Difficult to express
Or not
May be acknowledged or not
More than you've got
Deeper than what is understood by someone else
Just follow the day
Let the natural process unfold
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Embrace life and strive for happiness
You don't see me flyin to the red
You don't see me giving up
One more you're done
One more attempt could be the last
Just follow the seasons and find the time
Embrace the changes of life and prioritize what's important
Reach for the bright side
Seek out positivity
You don't see me flyin to the red
You don't see me giving up
One more you're nuts
One more attempt could be deemed irrational
Just follow the day
Let the natural process unfold
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Embrace life and strive for happiness
Just follow the day
Let the natural process unfold
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Embrace life and strive for happiness
Just follow the day
Let the natural process unfold
Follow the day and reach for the sun!
Embrace life and strive for happiness
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Timothy Delaughter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ColonelAuctioneer
It’s been quite a few years since I saw them live. The last time was at a very small venue. It was a basement bar under a restaurant in St. Louis. That might it snowed several inches and the sold out show only had about 30 people show up. My wife and I were a part of something great that night. Despite the low turn out they played for hours and sat around with us at tables and played and included us all. It was a night I will never forget.
@mrfonch
lucky man
@moon_mint
I last saw them at their anniversary show in Dallas like 5 years ago, SUCH a freaking blast. Happiest vibes on the planet were in that room. And most of us were blazed lmao.
@denverrandy7143
That's awesome!!! pretty cool it was sold out already so they still got a little money to put in their pocket.🤘🤪👍
@benjaminepstein5856
That's such an amazing experience.
@KoolKeithProductions
@@moon_mint Been wondering this for 20 years. Are they a cult? lol
@Tiktokmashupsandcompilations
I cry every time I hear this. It releases such joy in me. I’ll sign up for their cult any day 🙏🏽
@ignitechurchneosho
This is MY feel good song. No matter what happens in life when I listen to this.. it all does not matter.
@patops34
I love this band playing in Scrubs :) It was the one of the best episodes!
@teizle1
When I first saw these guys it was on scrubs, and I thought it was a joke band, I was cracking up. Then I googled them and found out that this was actually a group.