<… 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
The Celibate Life
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over the floor and your brown legs
The gold plated legs of my rival
Whose eyes have no reason to fall
You've led a celibate life
No skirt while chemicals danced on your head
You stole the keys to this ride and your fables are falling tonight
Because of your struggle to make them
Their taste for your past time is fading
Remember the girls in the middle
are always the first to fall off
You've learned to live like a mouse
Searching the cracks in the floor to remember
All of the dregs in the crowd you barely recall
You've led a celibate life
No skirt while chemicals danced on your head
You stole the keys to this ride and you're falling tonight
The Celibate Life is a song by The Shins that explores the aftermath of a four-day affair that has left the singer reeling. The lyrics describe how the remnants of the affair are still visible, manifesting as dust that has settled all over the floor and the brown legs of the singer. Meanwhile, the legs of the rival are described as being gold-plated, a symbol of their perceived superiority. However, their eyes have "no reason to fall," indicating that they do not understand or acknowledge the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing.
The singer has "led a celibate life," indicating that they have not allowed themselves to be vulnerable to others after experiencing heartbreak. Despite this, they have been caught up in the world of chemicals and parties, stealing the keys to a ride that they have no control over. However, their fables are "falling tonight," suggesting that they are slowly realizing the futility of their actions.
The singer's struggle to make others understand them has resulted in their pastimes losing their appeal to others. They remember how the girls in the middle are always the first to fall off, highlighting their own vulnerability. The singer has learned to live like a mouse, forever searching for something that they can barely recall. The song ends on the note that the singer is falling tonight, alone and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
The dust from a four-day affair is now landing
The remnants of a four-day fling are now physically present and apparent
All over the floor and your brown legs
Observed on the floor and your skin
The gold plated legs of my rival
The metaphorical wealthy and elevated standards of my competition
Whose eyes have no reason to fall
Their eyes do not betray any emotions
You've led a celibate life
You've abstained from sexual relations
No skirt while chemicals danced on your head
You didn't partake while others indulged themselves in chemical substances
You stole the keys to this ride and your fables are falling tonight
You're losing control of the situation you've created through deception and made-up stories
Because of your struggle to make them
Due to your effort in impressing others
Their taste for your past time is fading
Their interest in your activities and hobbies is decreasing
Remember the girls in the middle
Recall the girls who are neither popular nor outcasts
are always the first to fall off
Are the ones who lose their sense of self and their motivations
You've learned to live like a mouse
You've adapted to a life of being small and unnoticeable
Searching the cracks in the floor to remember
Seeking memories in obscure and insignificant details
All of the dregs in the crowd you barely recall
You can hardly remember the least important people in your social group
You stole the keys to this ride and you're falling tonight
You took control of this situation and now it's unraveling around you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind