<… Read Full Bio ↴The Shins is an American indie rock band centered around James Mercer.
The band formed in 1997, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States as a side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner) and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who were both members of Flake Music. The band's original lineup was Mercer (vocals, guitar), Sandoval (drums), Marty Crandall (keyboards) and Dave Hernandez (bass). Neil Langford replaced Hernandez in 1998. Hernandez returned to the band in 2003, as Langford had left the band in 2001. Hernandez remained in the band until 2009. Fruit Bats keyboardist Eric Johnson joined the band in 2006.
Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was issued in 2001 and contained the singles "New Slang" and "Caring is Creepy", which were both featured in the 2004 film "Garden State". The band's next album, Chutes Too Narrow was released in 2003 and featured the single "So Says I". The band's third album Wincing The Night Away, was released in 2007 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts, the highest charting album in Sub Pop history until Arcade Fire's"The Suburbs" debuted at #1. After a short hiatus, Mercer announced in 2009 that the band was to record a new album and that Marty Crandall, and Jesse Sandoval were no longer members of The Shins. The band's new lineup included James Mercer, Eric Johnson, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer and Grand Archives keyboardist Ron Lewis.
Before the release of Port of Morrow, the band lineup changed once more with only Mercer and Plummer remaining from the previously announced lineup. The newly added members were announced as guitarist Jessica Dobson, bassist Yuuki Matthews (formerly of Crystal Skulls) and keyboardist Richard Swift.
The Simple Song Songfacts reports that "Simple Song." was the first single from the Port Of Morrow album, the band's debut release on James Mercer's Aural Apothecary record label. It was also the first offering to be heard from the band following the departure of Jesse Sandoval and Marty Crandall.
The current line-up for the live act is James Mercer (vocals, guitar), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Yuuki Matthews (bass), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums).
2017 - Fifth Album & World Tour
The band released their 5th studio album, "Heartworms" on March 10, 2017 on the Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records, together with a supporting world tour. "Heartworms" features Mercer's most diverse lyrical palette to date: From fictional character sketches ('Fantasy Island', 'Rubber Ballz'), autobiographical accounts ('Mildenhall'), to first single 'Name For You', a resounding call for female empowerment inspired by Mercer’s three daughters.
More information:
*http://www.theshins.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shins
Phantom Limb
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
White girls of the north
Filed past one, five and one
They are the fabled lambs
A Sunday ham
The ancient snow
And they could float above the grass
A latent power I'm known to hide
To keep some hope alive
That a girl like I could ever try
Could ever try
So we just skirt the hallway signs
A phantom and a fly
Follow the lines and wonder why
There's no connection
And weakened falling eyes
In cheap shots from the tribe
And we're off to Nemarca' porch again
Another afternoon
Of the goat-head tunes and pilfered booze
We wander through her Momma's house
The milk from the window lights
Family portrait, circa '95
This is that foreign land
With the sprayed-on tans
And it all feels fine
Be it silk or slime
So, when they tap our Monday heads
Two zombies walk in our stead
This town seems hardly worth our time
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme
Too far along in our crime
Stepping over what now towers to the sky
With no connection
So, when they tap our Sunday heads
Two zombie walk in our stead
This town seems hardly worth the time
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme
Too far along in our crime
Stepping over what now towers to the sky
With no connection
The lyrics to The Shins’ “Phantom Limb” paint a hauntingly vivid picture of life in a small town in the north. The opening lines describe “frozen” white girls, who pass by in a seemingly endless procession. They are the “fabled lambs,” a reference to their innocence as well as their vulnerability. The singer is struck by their otherworldly beauty, imagining that they could “float above the grass in circles” if they tried. This is a dream that seems impossible to him - a “latent power” that he “hides” to keep hope alive.
The second verse describes the singer’s daily routine. He and his friends “skirt the hallway signs,” trying to avoid any confrontation or interaction with the outside world. They are like phantoms or ghosts, “follow[ing] the lines” and wondering “why there’s no connection.” They are tired of the “cheap shots from the tribe” and the isolation that comes with living in a small town. They seek refuge in a friend’s house, where they listen to “goat-head tunes” and drink “pilfered booze.” Despite the drudgery of their existence, they find comfort in each other's company.
The chorus repeats twice, with slight variations each time. The first time implies that the singer and his friends are becoming increasingly numb to the world around them, almost like zombies. The second time suggests that they are ready to move on, to leave their small town behind and start a new life. The final lines seem to mirror the first verse, as if suggesting that their dreams are still unattainable in this place where there is “no connection.”
Line by Line Meaning
Frozen into coats
The white girls from the north are bundled up in their winter clothing.
White girls of the north
The girls mentioned are from a snowy, cold region.
Filed past one, five and one
They pass by in an orderly fashion, one after the other.
They are the fabled lambs
The girls are innocent and vulnerable like lambs.
A Sunday ham
This is a reference to a meal that is usually eaten on Sundays with family.
The ancient snow
The snow is old, possibly suggesting that it has been around for a while.
And they could float above the grass
The girls are carefree and light-hearted.
In circles if they tried
They are so carefree that they could even float around in circles if they wanted to.
A latent power I'm known to hide
The artist possesses an ability that he/she keeps hidden.
To keep some hope alive
The artist hides this ability in order to maintain a sense of optimism in his/her life.
That a girl like I could ever try
The singer doubts that they could ever use their hidden ability to accomplish something.
So we just skirt the hallway signs
The artist avoids the rules and expectations that are set for them.
A phantom and a fly
The singer feels invisible and insignificant.
Follow the lines and wonder why
The singer follows the path that is laid out for them but questions its purpose.
There's no connection
The singer feels disconnected and out of place.
And weakened falling eyes
The artist feels tired and defeated.
In cheap shots from the tribe
The artist is being insulted by their peers.
And we're off to Nemarca' porch again
The singer is taking a break from reality by going to a friend's house.
Another afternoon
This is just like every other day.
Of the goat-head tunes and pilfered booze
The artist and their friends are listening to music and drinking alcohol that they stole.
We wander through her Momma's house
The group is aimlessly wandering around their friend's mother's house.
The milk from the window lights
The moonlight is shining through the window.
Family portrait, circa '95
A picture of the friend's family from 1995 is hanging on the wall.
This is that foreign land
The neighborhood or town where the friend lives is unfamiliar to the artist.
With the sprayed-on tans
The people in this area have fake tans, possibly suggesting that they are trying too hard to be something they're not.
And it all feels fine
Despite the singer's discomfort, everything seems okay.
Be it silk or slime
This line suggests that everything is either extremely luxurious or repulsively unpleasant.
So, when they tap our Monday heads
When reality sets back in on Monday morning.
Two zombies walk in our stead
The group has become mindless and dull like stereotypical zombies.
This town seems hardly worth our time
The singer is unhappy with their current situation and feels like they're wasting their time.
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme
The singer is tired of following a set routine and doesn't want to conform anymore.
Too far along in our crime
The group has been doing the same thing for too long and feels stuck in their ways.
Stepping over what now towers to the sky
The artist is ignoring the important things in life that they should be paying attention to.
With no connection
The artist has lost their sense of belonging and feels disconnected from the world around them.
So, when they tap our Sunday heads
When the freedom of the weekend ends and it's back to work/school on Monday.
Two zombies walk in our stead
The group has lost their sense of individuality and are just going through the motions of everyday life.
This town seems hardly worth the time
The singer feels disillusioned with their surroundings and doesn't find anything worth investing their time in.
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme
The group is breaking away from the routine and repetition that they've become so accustomed to.
Too far along in our crime
The group has been living their lives in a negative way for too long.
Stepping over what now towers to the sky
The artist is ignoring the larger problems in their life and is simply going through the motions.
With no connection
The artist feels isolated and disconnected from their peers and the world around them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tesorosdetomas
Foals in winter coats,
White girls of the North,
File past one, five and one,
They are the fabled lambs,
Of Sunday ham,
The E.H.S. norm.
And they can float above the grass,
In circles if they tried,
A latent power I know they hide,
To keep some hope alive,
That a girl like I could ever try,
Could ever try.
So we just skirt the hallway sides,
A phantom and a fly,
Follow the lines and wonder why
There's no connection.
A week of rolling eyes,
And cheap shots from the trite,
And we're off to Nemarcas' porch again,
Another afternoon with the goat head tunes,
And pilfered booze.
We wandered through her mama's house,
And the milk from the window lights,
Family portraits circa ninety-five,
This is that foreign land,
With the sprayed on tans,
And it all feels fine,
Be it silk or slime,
So, when they tap our Monday heads,
Two zombies walk in our stead.
This town seems hardly worth the time.
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme,
Too far along in our climb,
Stepping over what now towers to the sky,
With no connection.
So, when they tap our Sunday heads,
Two zombies walk in our stead.
This town seems hardly worth the time.
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme,
Too far along in our crime,
Stepping over what now towers to the sky,
With no connection.
Songwriters: James Mercer
@marahrose1386
[Verse 1]
Foals in winter coats
White girls of the north
File past; one, five, and one
They are the fabled lambs
Of Sunday ham
The ancient snow
[Verse 2]
And they could float above the grass
In circles if they tried
A latent power I know they hide
To keep some hope alive
That a girl like I
Could ever try
Could ever try
[Chorus 1]
So we just skirt the hallway sides
A phantom and a fly
Follow the lines
And wonder why
There's no connection
A week of rolling eyes
And cheap shots from the tribe
And we're off to Nemarca's porch again
[Verse 3]
Another afternoon
Of the goat-head tunes
And pilfered booze
We wander through her Momma's house
The milk from the window lights
Family portrait, circa '95
[Verse 4]
This is that foreign land
With the sprayed-on tans
And it all feels fine
Be it silk or slime
[Chorus 2]
So, when they tap our Monday heads
Two zombies walk in our stead
This town seems hardly worth our time
And we'll no longer memorize or rhyme
Too far along in our crime
Stepping over what now towers to the sky
With no connection
[Bridge]
Oh, oh-oh, oh-ohh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-ohh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-ohh, ohh
@elizabethjolly2335
I can't believe this song is 17 years old. It seems like just yesterday I was looking up the lyrics so I could sing along. Such a perfect song from an amazing band.
@paulmartos7730
I heard it a month ago on my car radio. I'd heard it many times but realized how much I missed this band's gorgeous music. It's a damned shame they aren't played more often.
@juliejerkoff
Hard to believe this song is older than my kid!! Because it makes me feel like a kid tbh
@lukecasio9810
The Indie heyday was a glorious time to be young
@aquacrimefighter2368
Luke Brunet Yes it was. So thankful for my teenage years, but what I wouldn’t give to go back...
@cactaceous
Wasn't the indie prime heyday in the late 80's- early 90's? This is when indie was already mainstream.
@derekfisher8571
The late 90's was indies best time in my opinion, but The Shins are amazing in this time period
@blitzkrieg459
Good times back them, can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would love to go back to that time. I was 18 then and if only I did things differently.
@Nikki_garsonne
The album was released in 2007... Not in the late 90's
@Ghoopty
One of the most gifted songwriters to come out of America.