<… 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
Red Rabbits
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The place where it's hot, love
You know it hurts to breathe in
And the watershed you balance on is begging it
Well did he ever know
Will he ever know?
The trees in the moonshine are a dark lattice
In a vacuum you are charged to record this
So you won't make it easy on me
I can't go into this no more
It puts too many thorns on my mind
And the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor
We've pissed on far too many sprites
And they're all standing up for their rights
Born on a desert floor you've the deepest thirst
And you came to my sweet shore to indulge it
With the wan and dreaming eyes of an orphan
But there was not enough
There is not enough
Out of a gunnysack fall red rabbits
Into the crucible to be rendered an emulsion
And we can't allow a chance they'd restore themselves
So we can't make it easy on you
Undaunted, you bathed in hollow cries
The boys with swollen sunburnt eyes
A reward for letting nothing under their skin
So help me, I don't know I might
Just give the old dark side a try
Don't cast your whirling eyes on the shore
'Til we even the score
I still owe you for the hole in the floor
And the ghost in the hall
Who decides who paddles over the falls
Yeah, who makes the call
Who makes the call?
Look, I know there's an eventual
Release from every scale of crime
But the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor
We've pissed on far too many good intentions
Held by clever sprites
And they're all standing up for their rights
The opening verse of Red Rabbits by The Shins refers to being hurtled into a hot, suffocating place – likely a metaphor for a stressful or uncomfortable situation. The idea of breathing in pain or discomfort is a common theme in the song, with the metaphorical “watershed” being a balance between coping and breaking under the pressure. The lyrics pose a question about whether the central figure of the song, who is experiencing these difficult circumstances, will ever understand the extent of the struggle they are grappling with.
The refrain of the song features a beautiful image of trees in the moonlight, which serves as a visual anchor for the singer. These trees are a “dark lattice”, creating a sense of mystery and perhaps even danger. The singer catalogs and notices every angle, as if holding onto a life raft in a turbulent ocean – the image of a vacuum suggesting emptiness or a void. It’s clear that the challenge before them seems insurmountable; “We’ve pissed on far too many good intentions,” they sing, feeling the weight of past failures creeping in.
Overall, Red Rabbits explores the idea that life is full of difficult and sometimes insurmountable challenges. The singer struggles with feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and even despair, vocalizing their frustration with “clever sprites” whose good intentions aren’t enough to mitigate the difficulties of living. The image of “red rabbits” suggests something wild and free, brought low and rendered down to an unrecognizable mass. There’s a sense of hopelessness to this picture, with the singer left unsure whether a situation that seems intractable can ever really be overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Hurled to the center of the Earth again
Thrown into the midst of a difficult situation once more
The place where it's hot, love
Referring to a heated environment, full of tension and conflict
You know it hurts to breathe in
Acknowledging the discomfort and pain in the situation
And the watershed you balance on is begging it
The critical point of the situation is in flux, unstable and vulnerable
Well did he ever know
Questioning whether anyone was aware of the gravity of the situation
Will he ever know?
Reflecting on whether anyone could understand the full extent of the problem
The trees in the moonshine are a dark lattice
Describing a dark, ominous setting, full of hidden danger
So you catalog any angle you notice
Being hyperaware and observant of every detail and aspect of the situation
In a vacuum you are charged to record this
Feeling a sense of duty and responsibility to document and remember all that is happening
So you won't make it easy on me
Anticipating resistance and difficulty in dealing with the situation
I can't go into this no more
Expressing an inability to keep enduring the situation
It puts too many thorns on my mind
The situation is mentally and emotionally taxing
And the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor
Something important has been destroyed or lost in the process of dealing with the situation
We've pissed on far too many sprites
The situation has involved disrespecting or ignoring something pure and innocent
And they're all standing up for their rights
Acknowledging the voices and perspectives of those that have been wronged or ignored
Born on a desert floor you've the deepest thirst
Describing an intense yearning or desire for something, despite challenging circumstances
And you came to my sweet shore to indulge it
Finding satisfaction or relief in something or someone that seems promising, but ultimately lacking
With the wan and dreaming eyes of an orphan
Referencing a sense of longing and vulnerability
But there was not enough
Expressing a sense of disappointment or disillusionment
There is not enough
Still feeling unsatisfied or unfulfilled
Out of a gunnysack fall red rabbits
Describing a surge of uncontrollable or unexpected consequences
Into the crucible to be rendered an emulsion
Being subjected to intense pressure and transformation
And we can't allow a chance they'd restore themselves
Taking steps to ensure that the situation cannot revert to a previous state
So we can't make it easy on you
Intending to provide resistance or difficulty in dealing with the situation
Undaunted, you bathed in hollow cries
Ignoring or disregarding others' concerns or emotions
The boys with swollen sunburnt eyes
Referencing those who have suffered and endured hardship
A reward for letting nothing under their skin
Recognizing those who have demonstrated toughness and resilience
So help me, I don't know I might
Using uncertainty to control or manipulate the situation
Just give the old dark side a try
Embracing a darker aspect of oneself or the situation
Don't cast your whirling eyes on the shore
Warning against relying on false hope or unrealistic expectations
'Til we even the score
Promising to address and resolve the current imbalance or unfairness
I still owe you for the hole in the floor
Acknowledging responsibility for a mistake or failure
And the ghost in the hall
Referencing a lingering and unresolved issue from the past
Who decides who paddles over the falls
Questioning the fairness or justice of the situation
Yeah, who makes the call
Raising the question of who has control or influence over the situation
Look, I know there's an eventual
Acknowledging the possibility of a future resolution or conclusion
Release from every scale of crime
Using a metaphor of justice to suggest forgiveness or redemption
But the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor
Recognizing the cost or sacrifice that must be paid to achieve justice or resolution
We've pissed on far too many good intentions
Recognizing the harm that can be done by disregarding or undermining well-meaning efforts
Held by clever sprites
Acknowledging the potential of clever or innocent things to make a difference
And they're all standing up for their rights
Recognizing the importance of standing up for oneself and one's beliefs
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wiseman457
Hurled to the center of the Earth again,
The place where it's hot, love,
You know, it hurts to breathe in,
And the watershed you balance on is begging it,
Well did he ever know,
Will he ever know?
The trees in the moonshine are a dark lattice,
So you catalog in the angle you notice,
In a vacuum you recharge to record this,
So you won't make it easy on me.
And I can't go into this no more,
It puts too many thorns on my mind,
And the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor,
We've pissed on far too many sprites,
And they're all standing up for their rights.
Born on a desert floor, you've the deepest thirst,
And you came to my sweet shore to indulge it,
With the wan and dreaming eyes of an orphan,
But there is not enough,
There is not enough.
Out of a gunnysack for red rabbits,
Into the crucible to be rendered an emulsion,
And we can't allow a chance they'd restore themselves,
So we can't make it easy on you.
Undaunted, you bathed in hollow cries,
The boils were swollen, sunburned eyes,
A reward for letting nothing under their skin,
So help me, I don't know, I might,
Just give the old dark side a try.
Don't cast your warring eyes on the shore,
Did we even the score?
I still owe you for the hole in the floor,
And the ghost in the hall,
Who decides who paddles over the falls?
Yeah, who makes the call,
Who makes the call?
Well, I know there's an eventual
Release from every scale of crime,
But the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor,
We've pissed on far too many good intentions held by clever sprites,
And they're all standing up for their rights.
MEbrickCo
So good. Everything about this song and this album are perfect. Absolute perfection. Beautiful.
Black Cat Moto
this song deserves more attention
FooeyMcgooey
kujo1978lol its my favorite song on this album
what else is on
@FooeyMcgooey Second that, though I love each one..
I used to get wasted and listen to this song reflexively as a means to cry. Of course it wasn't long before that was doing more harm than good. But it certainly felt good.
But in the end it's like the line from A Comet Appears "Still to come the worst part and you know it is: There is a numbness in your heart and it's growing."
wiseman457
Hurled to the center of the Earth again,
The place where it's hot, love,
You know, it hurts to breathe in,
And the watershed you balance on is begging it,
Well did he ever know,
Will he ever know?
The trees in the moonshine are a dark lattice,
So you catalog in the angle you notice,
In a vacuum you recharge to record this,
So you won't make it easy on me.
And I can't go into this no more,
It puts too many thorns on my mind,
And the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor,
We've pissed on far too many sprites,
And they're all standing up for their rights.
Born on a desert floor, you've the deepest thirst,
And you came to my sweet shore to indulge it,
With the wan and dreaming eyes of an orphan,
But there is not enough,
There is not enough.
Out of a gunnysack for red rabbits,
Into the crucible to be rendered an emulsion,
And we can't allow a chance they'd restore themselves,
So we can't make it easy on you.
Undaunted, you bathed in hollow cries,
The boils were swollen, sunburned eyes,
A reward for letting nothing under their skin,
So help me, I don't know, I might,
Just give the old dark side a try.
Don't cast your warring eyes on the shore,
Did we even the score?
I still owe you for the hole in the floor,
And the ghost in the hall,
Who decides who paddles over the falls?
Yeah, who makes the call,
Who makes the call?
Well, I know there's an eventual
Release from every scale of crime,
But the necessary balloon lies a corpse on the floor,
We've pissed on far too many good intentions held by clever sprites,
And they're all standing up for their rights.
Knightscroft Squire-Muldoon
Thank you!
R 0 G⚕️
Close enough...
Funny ive never seen a completely correct recitation of so many of Mercers lyrics online.. Every website I notice they always get the same parts wrong and in different ways. Some changing the meaning entirely..
Copywritten Ambulance Project
i would argue it's the hole in the floor and the ghost in the hole, a paradoxical rabbit hole type thing.. but i do not know. and also, thanks for the rest of the lyrics even though we disagree on like maybe one thing i guess. I'll hear it my way and u hear it your way; you say tomato, i say to-mah-to, let's call the whole thing off.
Jane Doe
Great lyrics, vocals, and songwriting.
Lunatec x
Its hot its a summer and this still hits like a truckload