<… 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 Rifle
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You pour your life down the rifle's spiral
And show us you've earned it.
Cleric's fog will recede right before your eyes.
So long to this wretched form.
Down gray eyes on the subway.
Long before you were born
Straight to their heart.
Listen, now, we won't tell anyone.
But you're gonna tell the world.
So life ain't then any fun.
May this rail unfurl.
As you rise; rise from your burning fiat,
Go, go get my suitcase, would you?
You've thoroughly blown their mind.
And now I must have passage on the lines
To the veins from your heart.
You're not invisible, now.
You just don't exist.
Your mother must be so proud.
You sublimate yourself, drowning us of rich.
Primitive mirror on the wall,
To fortify your grim resolve.
And made the glitz of a shopping mall
Another grain of indigent salt for the sea.
Go back to this wretched form
All them gray eyes on the subway
So long before you were born
You were always to be a dagger floating
Straight to their heart.
The Shins's song "The Rifle" is a complex and thought-provoking ballad about the human experience, specifically about the struggle to find meaning amidst societal pressures and personal demons. The opening lines of the song, "Dead land's collided / You pour your life down the rifle's spiral," suggest a sense of hopelessness and desperation, as though the subject of the song is trapped in a world that is void of life and meaning. The reference to "the rifle's spiral" is significant, as it suggests a downward spiral towards destruction and death, perhaps as a result of the subject's own choices or circumstances.
Despite this bleak outlook, there are glimmers of hope within the song, such as the line "Cleric's fog will recede right before your eyes." This could be interpreted as a metaphorical clearing of the mind, a moment of clarity in which the subject is able to see past the confusion and chaos of their surroundings. However, it is unclear whether this moment of clarity is ultimately transformative or simply fleeting, as the lyrics continue to suggest a struggle between personal agency and outside forces.
The final verse of the song emphasizes this tension, with the lyrics "You're not invisible, now / You just don't exist / Your mother must be so proud / You sublimate yourself, drowning us of rich." Here, the subject is both recognized and invisible, simultaneously present and absent within their own life. This could be interpreted as an indictment of societal pressures to succeed and conform, which can lead to a sense of alienation and loss of self.
Overall, "The Rifle" is a poignant and introspective song that grapples with complex themes of identity, agency, and the search for meaning. Through its powerful lyrics and haunting melodies, it speaks to the human experience in a way that is both relatable and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead land's collided.
The barren and hopeless world has come to an end.
You pour your life down the rifle's spiral
You sacrifice yourself to the destructive power of the weapon.
And show us you've earned it.
You prove to others that you deserve the honor or reward you seek.
Cleric's fog will recede right before your eyes.
The confusion and doubt caused by religion will disappear as you gain clarity.
So long to this wretched form.
Goodbye to this miserable physical state or embodiment.
Down gray eyes on the subway.
Saddened and hopeless eyes on a train or underground transport.
Long before you were born
Many years or generations ago, even before your existence.
You were always to be a dagger floating
You were destined to be a sharp, deadly weapon moving through the air.
Straight to their heart.
With the intention of causing emotional or physical harm to someone.
Listen, now, we won't tell anyone.
We will keep your secret safe.
But you're gonna tell the world.
You will reveal your truth to everyone.
So life ain't then any fun.
Your life will become less enjoyable after you reveal your secret.
May this rail unfurl.
May this journey or mission be successful and bring progress.
As you rise; rise from your burning fiat,
As you ascend or become powerful from a destructive act or decision.
Go, go get my suitcase, would you?
Retrieve my belongings for me, please.
You've thoroughly blown their mind.
You have profoundly shocked and surprised them.
And now I must have passage on the lines
Now I need to travel or move forward with my plans.
To the veins from your heart.
To the core or source of your emotions and passions.
You're not invisible, now.
You are no longer unnoticed or ignored.
You just don't exist.
You are not really present or meaningful, just a temporary illusion.
Your mother must be so proud.
Sarcastic remark about a supposed accomplishment that is not admirable.
You sublimate yourself, drowning us of rich.
You suppress your true self, preventing us from experiencing richness or depth in life.
Primitive mirror on the wall,
Simple or basic reflector or device used for self-reflection or examination.
To fortify your grim resolve.
To strengthen and support your unwavering determination and pessimism.
And made the glitz of a shopping mall
And turned the superficial glamour of commercial spaces or materialism
Another grain of indigent salt for the sea.
Another minor addition to the world's problems or suffering.
Go back to this wretched form
Return to this miserable state of being.
All them gray eyes on the subway
All the hopeless and dull gazes of people on public transportation.
So long before you were born
Many years or generations ago, even before your existence.
You were always to be a dagger floating
You were destined to be a sharp, deadly weapon moving through the air.
Straight to their heart.
With the intention of causing emotional or physical harm to someone.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@espritmort3184
Lyrics:
Dead lungs command it.
You pour your life down the rifle's spiral
And show us you've earned it.
Cleric's fog will recede right before your eyes.
So long to this wretched form.
Them grey eyes on the subway
Long before you were born
You were always to be a dagger floating
Straight to their heart.
Listen, now, we won't tell anyone.
But you're gonna tell the world.
So life ain't then any fun.
Let your viscera unfurl
As you rise; rise from your burning fiat,
Go, go get my suitcase, would you?
You've thoroughly blown their minds.
And now I must have passage on the lines
To the veins from your heart.
You're not invisible, now.
You just don't exist.
Your mother must be so proud.
You sublimate yourself, granting us a wish.
Primitive mirror on the wall,
to fortify your grim resolve.
And made the glitz of a shopping mall
another grain of indigent salt for the sea.
Good night to these wretched forms
All them gray eyes on the subway
So long before you were born
you were always to be a dagger floating
straight to their heart.
@beatton5148
Thes are the Lyrics provided by Genius (probably true):
Dead lungs command it
You pour your life down the rifle's spiral
And show us you've earned it
Your Clerics fog will recede right before your eyes
So long to this wretched form
Them gray eyes on the subway
Long before you were born
You were always to be a dagger floating
Straight to their heart
Listen, now, we won't tell anyone
But you're gonna tell the world
This whole life ain't been any fun
Now your viscera unfurls
As you rise, rise from your burning fiat
And go, go get my suitcase, would ya?
You've thoroughly blown their mind
And now I must have passage
Only life's two veins from your heart
You're not invisible, now
You just don't exist
Your mother must be so proud
You sublimate yourself, granting us a wish
Primitive mural on the wall
To fortify your grim resolve
Amid the glitz of a shopping mall
Another grain of indigent salt for the sea
Goodnight to these wretched forms
All them gray eyes on the subway
So long before you were born
You were always to be a dagger floating
Straight to their heart
@wasup1193
Dead lungs command it.
You pour your life down the rifle's spiral
And show us you've earned it.
Cleric's fog will recede right before your eyes.
So long to this wretched form.
Them grey eyes on the subway
Long before you were born
You were always to be a dagger floating
Straight to their heart.
Listen, now, we won't tell anyone.
But you're gonna tell the world.
So life ain't then any fun.
Let your viscera unfurl
As you rise; rise from your burning fiat,
Go, go get my suitcase, would you?
You've thoroughly blown their minds.
And now I must have passage on the lines
To the veins from your heart.
You're not invisible, now.
You just don't exist.
Your mother must be so proud.
You sublimate yourself, granting us a wish.
Primitive mirror on the wall,
to fortify your grim resolve.
And made the glitz of a shopping mall
another grain of indigent salt for the sea.
Good night to these wretched forms
All them gray eyes on the subway
So long before you were born
you were always to be a dagger floating
straight to their heart.
@wamlythecrabgod2199
Imagine just chilling with the bois and all of a sudden some asshole steals your rabbit
@backstabboi4559
Yep
@catgamingftw8239
Yep
@ShenkoIlya
Yep
@wamlythecrabgod2199
Yep
@just_me1232
Yep
@breezebuilder_
At 1:27, the one-eyed man uses a telescope, while the other two use binoculars. Neat.
@A_Fringe_Wizard
@@CatawbaWX. GOOD EYE 😂😂😂
@yabl
Ну а хули им.
@jordanezell5132
Breezebuilder
Well of course. How did I not notice that?