THE PONYS' debut LP, Laced With Romance, was recorded with Jim Diamond in Detroit and released in February 2004 to great acclaim, NME calling it "a dirty-sounding mess of post-punk choppiness, ear-searing Farfisa organ and timeless teenage snarling."
After months of constant touring, they slipped into Chicago's Electrical Studios with Steve Albini for Celebration Castle, released in May 2005. Even more varied than their debut, Celebration Castle seemed to accentuate the band's physical power and precise dynamics. Rolling Stone said, "While other indie bands fuss themselves into a lather straining to redefine the templates of 'garage rock' or 'post-punk,' The Ponys just get it the hell done."
Just before the release of Celebration Castle, however, Ian decided that touring life was not for him, and he was replaced by guitarist and local charmer Brian Case. His addition reinvigorated the band and led them towards a more ballsy sound; indeed, some of the artier forays that Ian brought to past records have been replaced on Turn The Lights Out by pure sonic density.
Matador finally got their hands on THE PONYS and, dragging them off the road for a while, got them in Electrical Studios and Brooklyn's Headgear Studios in September 2006 with John Agnello (http://www.johnagnello.com) to record Turn The Lights Out. With their most brilliant batch of songs to date, plus the luxury of being able to take their time in the studio, THE PONYS turned in an ambitious, but wholly addictive, record. Sexy and exuberant, this is a sound which references so many of the great twin-guitar bands of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, but resists definition.
Today
The Ponys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then I don't be late
I take my pills
I walk myself down the street
And it's always the same around here
Nothing to do, nothing to eat
And he wants to borrow money from me
But I can't help him and I'm just so broke
Barely pay my bills, barely buy my smokes
And I ain't ever gonna break out of here
And I ain't havin'
It anymore today
And everyday I take a good luck around
The media's crazy, people looking up and down
And they don't even know their names
What a joke, what a tease
And I just keep on moving around
'Cause I don't want to die anymore
I know it's crazy but I want what's mine
I feel so empty so come inside
My mind's eating me alive
And I ain't havin'
It anymore today
When the sun begins to die
And the demons say stand in line
They're watching over you
'Cause the moon, it cries for the night
Ghost and goblins working overtime
Hundreds of people in the checkout line
And they all want to look the same
With their cool hair, and their smooth lines
And I can't
But you know
'Cause in your mind, you never get to strut
Don't take no shit from some two-bit thug
And always look before you cross the street
And I ain't havin' it anymore today
Today, today, today
The Ponys' song "Today" talks about the monotony and hopelessness of everyday existence. The singer starts the day by taking his pills and walking down the street where there's nothing to do and nothing to eat. He encounters a guy who wants to borrow money, but he's unable to help him because he's barely making ends meet himself. The singer feels trapped in his situation, with no hope of breaking out. The media is crazy, people are lost and confused, and the singer is just trying to survive.
The song also touches on the theme of identity and feeling lost. The singer wants what's his and feels empty inside. His mind is eating him alive as he feels stuck and unable to move forward. The song concludes with a realization that even though life can be tough, you have to keep going and never take any crap from anyone.
Overall, "Today" is a poignant and introspective song about the struggles of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
I get out of bed
I wake up and start my day
And then I don't be late
I make sure to be punctual
I take my pills
I take my medication
I walk myself down the street
I walk to my destination
And it's always the same around here
My surroundings are monotonous
Nothing to do, nothing to eat
There is a lack of activities and food options
There's this guy down on the street
A person on the street is in need of financial assistance
And he wants to borrow money from me
The person is requesting money from me
But I can't help him and I'm just so broke
I am unable to provide financial support due to my own financial struggles
Barely pay my bills, barely buy my smokes
I can barely afford to pay my expenses, let alone indulge in an expensive habit
And I ain't ever gonna break out of here
I feel trapped and unable to escape my current situation
And I ain't havin'
I cannot tolerate
It anymore today
The current circumstances are unbearable
And everyday I take a good luck around
Everyday I survey my surroundings
The media's crazy, people looking up and down
The media is chaotic and people are judgmental
And they don't even know their names
People are so impersonal that they do not even know each other's names
What a joke, what a tease
The situation is ridiculous and deceitful
And I just keep on moving around
I continue to move from place to place
'Cause I don't want to die anymore
I have a newfound appreciation for life
I know it's crazy but I want what's mine
I know it may be unreasonable, but I want what I deserve
I feel so empty so come inside
I feel a sense of emptiness and desire to fill that void
My mind's eating me alive
My thoughts are consuming me to the point of mental torment
When the sun begins to die
As the day comes to a close
And the demons say stand in line
Internal struggles are overwhelming
They're watching over you
Negative forces are watching and waiting for an opportune moment
'Cause the moon, it cries for the night
The moon represents sadness and melancholy
Ghost and goblins working overtime
Negative entities are more prominent than ever
Hundreds of people in the checkout line
A multitude of people are waiting in line to complete their purchases
And they all want to look the same
People value conformity and uniformity in appearance
With their cool hair, and their smooth lines
The physical appearance of individuals is prominent
And I can't
I am unable to
But you know
You understand
'Cause in your mind, you never get to strut
One's thoughts disallow the ability to confidently walk
Don't take no shit from some two-bit thug
One should not tolerate disrespect from unimportant individuals
And always look before you cross the street
Always be cautious and aware of surroundings
And I ain't havin' it anymore today
The current events are intolerable and I refuse to put up with them any longer
Today, today, today
It needs to change immediately
Contributed by Katherine N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.