The fact that there’s even a new Prids record is a miracle. In March of 2015 bassist-vocalist Mistina La Fave suffered a brain hemorrhage the night before the band was scheduled to enter the studio. The recovery was physically and mentally taxing, and La Fave is lucky to be alive, let alone playing and performing again. The Prids’ 22 years have been marked with death, sickness, divorce, and a near-fatal van crash that cut a tour short and left members bloody and broken—but they survive through the friendship and bond of founding members La Fave and guitarist-vocalist David Frederickson. While those events have invariably made their way into the band’s narrative, the two simply chalk it up to life.
They met in La Fave’s small hometown of Saint Joseph, Missouri, in 1995, not long after Frederickson had moved there from Southern California. They started a relationship (they divorced in 2001, not long after they married), formed The Prids, and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, before settling in Portland, Oregon, in 1999. In that time they’ve released four full-lengths and a trail of EPs, toured all over the world, while gaining the respect of bands throughout Portland for their tenacity and longevity (The Prids are one of the longest-running active bands in the city). They continue to make music for the right reasons—with or without a label, for themselves. A few years ago they brought in drummer Gordon Nickel and multi-instrumentalist Tim Yates, their sturdiest lineup to date. These four individuals are what make Do I Look Like I’m In Love? such a special record.
Throughout it all The Prids have remained completely DIY (the band even launched its own label/artist collective This-a-Way Records in 1996). Their videos and album art are as brilliantly conceived as the music itself. And in 2017 the Prids are playing with the same ardor they did 20 years ago. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this band is the embodiment of that.
Break
The Prids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turns us into stone
You'll be alright
There was something else that I wanted to see
Break
Almost every day
That's what they all say
I won't sleep tonight, you're welcome to stay
Yeah
Uh-huh
Take
Everyone you know
Refusing to let go
Of one more thing, we'll never be
Safe
From days we can't repair
Of longing for elsewhere
We won't last long, I'll struggle to care
Yeah
Uh-huh
Yeah
Uh-huh
Yeah
Uh-huh
Still
Always more to see
It don't mean much to me
And with all this blood we're just bound to bleed
Wait
Don't you ever cry?
"I do, but it's just style"
Spending my life getting good at goodbye
Uh-huh
Yeah
Uh-huh
Yeah
Uh-huh
Yeah
Uh-huh
The lyrics to The Prids’ song “Break” are intriguing and ambiguous, leaving plenty of room for interpretation. Starting with the opening lines, “Time turns us into stone, you’ll be alright,” the theme of time and the passage of it is evident. The line “you’ll be alright” almost seems dismissive, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that everything will be fine despite the challenges that come with aging and the inevitable changes that come with it. The singer then goes on to say there was “something else” they wanted to see, suggesting a longing for something beyond the present moment.
The chorus, “Break almost every day, that’s what they all say, I won’t sleep tonight, you’re welcome to stay,” is enigmatic. The reference to breaking could mean various things, such as breaking habits, breaking free from expectations, or even breaking down emotionally. Regardless, the singer acknowledges that it’s a common occurrence and implies that they won’t be able to sleep because of it. Yet, they invite someone to stay with them, possibly seeking comfort or connection.
The second verse takes a darker turn, with the line “take everyone you know, refusing to let go,” suggesting a theme of loss and sorrow. The singer then questions the idea of safety, especially from the damage that can’t be undone, and longs for a place they can’t be. The verse ends with the lament, “We won’t last long, I’ll struggle to care.”
Overall, “Break” seems to be about grappling with the ups and downs of life, coming to terms with the passage of time, and looking for a place to belong. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic, but the melancholic tone rings true for anyone who’s experienced heartbreak, loss, or loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Time
As time passes, we grow increasingly stagnant and unchanging like stone.
Turns us into stone
The passage of time transforms us into unyielding creatures, resistant to change.
You'll be alright
Despite the harshness and difficulties life brings, you will persevere.
There was something else that I wanted to see
There remains something unfulfilled, something that has yet to be experienced.
Break
Shatter the confines of conformity and routine, embrace new ways of living and seeing the world.
Almost every day
Almost every day we are confronted with the mundane, the unremarkable, the everyday.
That's what they all say
People are inclined to spout platitudes, empty phrases devoid of real meaning or empathy.
I won't sleep tonight, you're welcome to stay
Unable to find rest or solace, one invites others to share in the discomfort.
Take
The many people in our lives and the many opportunities presented to us.
Everyone you know
All the people we hold dear or significant in some way.
Refusing to let go
Our refusal to release possessions, people or memories that no longer serve us well.
Of one more thing, we'll never be
Despite all our acquisitiveness, we will never be free of the desire for more, the longing for fulfillment.
Safe
We are not immune to pain, suffering, and the upheavals of life.
From days we can't repair
Certain experiences are irreversible and can never be changed or amended.
Of longing for elsewhere
The wish to be somewhere else or to experience something different from what is happening in the present.
We won't last long, I'll struggle to care
We will inevitably pass away, and in the face of this undeniable fact, one struggles to muster any real concern or motivation.
Still
Despite our struggles and tribulations, there is always more to experience and see.
Always more to see
The world is a vast and complex place, full of wonders and mysteries yet to be explored.
It don't mean much to me
Despite all the richness of our experiences, they ultimately feel empty and insignificant.
And with all this blood we're just bound to bleed
No matter how we try to escape pain, it remains an inherent part of our existence and will eventually visit us all.
Wait
Pause and reflect on the moment, the present which is always fleeting.
Don't you ever cry?
A sense of detachment from the world, of emotional distance from others.
"I do, but it's just style"
Crying is seen as fashionable or trendy, rather than an expression of genuine feeling or distress.
Spending my life getting good at goodbye
The recurrent experience of saying farewell or losing something we care about, and how this habituates us to the pain of letting go.
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ClauneckGames
infection was the first song I heard from The Prids surprisingly it was on Pandora. now making my way through your channel I feel inspired to get back on my bass and believing in my own lyrics. you guys are amazing!!
Love from Florida
@worldinside
Fantastic video. The new album has been on repeat ever since I saw The Prids in Atlanta last month.
@margieanthony
this song is so beautiful, it makes me cry. i love The Prids.
@MarkusGrandpre
Still one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing.
@bubbledorval6255
found this band last week and can't stop listening . this song in particular is my fav.. turned on my bandmate within moments. love from western Massachusetts
@thingwraith
This. Is. FANTASTIC. I love it. :)
@thomasrainbow
Great song and video!!!
@ScaryLadySarah
THE PRIDS are playing for FREE on Sunday, 7 August, 2011 at Darkroom Bar in Chicago! :)
@zazazalu
Love this video.
@wefadetogray
perfectly lovely