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.
Section 17
The Polyphonic Spree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The days went softly, suitcase calling me to the needs of our fond memories.
The days went softly, suitcase calling me to the needs of our fond memories of our love. In the moment, a sparkled sky. It's amazing we all know. It's the coolest waterslide. It's amazing we will show. What would you do to keep yourself holding on?
And what would you say to keep yourself holding on too?
When the light comes today I'll show my face. It's the seasons that keep me hanging on. It's the reason it keeps me strong. It keeps me hanging on and on and on.
When the mood gets me so far, then you go.
The places, you take me. It seems like it's always better until my heart starts to show. The places, you take me. It seems like it's always better until my heart starts to grow. It's the feel good time of day. You gotta go.
Too late to stay.
You got no place to play.
It's the reasons that keep me strong. They keep me hanging on and on and on. When the mood gets me so far, then you go.
Time to feel the softest blow. Waited for days for this night to get colder.
Time to feel the softest blow. Waited for days for this night, for this day to grow.
For this day to grow.
The lyrics to "Section 17: Suitcase Calling" by The Polyphonic Spree speak of a person who is ready and willing to show their true self. The line "Entirely for you. Soon you will see that there's more there to me I will show" suggests that the person is holding back some part of themselves that they are ready to reveal. The idea of a "suitcase calling" implies that the person is ready to move on and make a change, but they are still tied to the memories of their past love. The line "It's the seasons that keep me hanging on. It's the reason it keeps me strong" shows that the changing of seasons and the passage of time give the person the strength to hold on.
The song speaks of the power of memory and nostalgia, but also the need to move forward and embrace new experiences. The line "The places, you take me. It seems like it's always better until my heart starts to grow" suggests that while new experiences can be exciting, they may also reveal a deeper emotional connection to the past. The line "When the mood gets me so far, then you go" implies that the person may be struggling to reconcile their emotions with the desire for change. Overall, the song speaks of the complexity of human emotion and the importance of moving forward while also carrying the memories and experiences of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Entirely for you. Soon you will see that there's more there to me I will show.
I am doing everything for you and soon you will see my true self and what else I have to offer.
The days went softly, suitcase calling me to the needs of our fond memories.
The days passed peacefully but my suitcase reminded me of our happy memories together.
In the moment, a sparkled sky. It's amazing we all know. It's the coolest waterslide. It's amazing we will show.
We all know how amazing the sparkling sky and cool waterslide are, and we will show it to the world.
What would you do to keep yourself holding on?
What actions would you take to hold onto something or someone that you want to keep in your life?
And what would you say to keep yourself holding on too?
What words would you use to encourage yourself to hold onto something or someone that you want to keep in your life?
When the light comes today I'll show my face. It's the seasons that keep me hanging on. It's the reason it keeps me strong. It keeps me hanging on and on and on.
When morning comes, I will reveal myself. The changing seasons and all they represent keep me going and give me strength to continue on.
When the mood gets me so far, then you go.
When my emotions take me to a certain point, then you leave.
The places, you take me. It seems like it's always better until my heart starts to show.
When you take me places, it always seems better until my true feelings and emotions start to surface.
It's the feel good time of day. You gotta go.
It's the time of day when we feel good, but unfortunately, you have to leave.
Too late to stay.
It's too late to remain where you are.
It's the seasons that keep me on and on and on. You got no place to play.
It's the changes of the seasons that keep me going, but you no longer have a place here to stay and play.
It's the reasons that keep me strong. They keep me hanging on and on and on. When the mood gets me so far, then you go.
It's the reasons behind my actions that keep me strong and persistent. But when my emotions reach a certain point, then you leave again.
Time to feel the softest blow. Waited for days for this night to get colder. For this day to grow.
It's time to experience the gentlest impact and I have been waiting for days for this night to become colder, for this day to mature and evolve.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY NEWTON DE LAUGHTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind