<… 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 Waltz Is Over
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just a glimpse of another life
Are barely missed by some stupid collection
Life's random dominoes, if they'd only been more aggressive.
Oh and it burns me up.
My friends might as well have pissed in my cup.
Cause they knew and they never spoke up.
Is there something I'm failing to see?
A message in the stars
Secrets lying hidden from me
Not sure what they are
But they're keeping us apart
She had Wilson Pickett's best on 45
And one night you know she gave me ride
To a place and we were all alone.
But still neglected to mention.
Is there something I'm failing to see?
A message in the stars
Secrets lying hidden from me
Not sure where they are
Tell me, am I always to be, watching from afar
Cause your image breaks my heart.
Now the waltz is over
Passed into the clover
Now the waltz is over
Passed into the clover
Cause the day will finally come
When time will have rendered me numb.
Maybe then I can put it down.
Let me linger for a moment now.
Collect some details to recall
Some part of life before it all
Fades into the darkness.
Is there something I'm failing to see?
A message in the stars
Secrets lying hidden from me
Not sure where they are
Tell me am I always to be, watching from a far
Cause your image breaks my heart.
"The Waltz Is Over" by The Shins is a poignant and melancholic song that revolves around the theme of missed opportunities and the feeling of regret. The opening lines of the song, "That hue in the sky Just a glimpse of another life," allude to a fleeting moment of opportunity that the singer missed due to the "random dominoes" of life. He regrets not being more "aggressive" in pursuing his dreams and wonders if there is something he's "failing to see" that could change his situation. The use of the metaphor of "dominoes" underscores the idea of cause and effect and how seemingly insignificant events can alter the course of one's life.
The song also touches on the theme of betrayal by friends. The singer feels betrayed by his friends who "knew and they never spoke up" about his missed opportunity. He feels that they "might as well have pissed in [his] cup" and can't forgive them for not supporting him in his pursuit of his dreams. The repetition of the line "Is there something I'm failing to see?" highlights the sense of confusion and uncertainty that the singer feels and the desire for clarity.
The last two stanzas of the song offer a sense of acceptance and resignation. The waltz is over and has "passed into the clover," and the singer is coming to terms with the fact that time will eventually render him numb to the pain of missed opportunities. He wants to "collect some details to recall some part of life before it all fades into the darkness" and hopes to find some solace in memories.
Line by Line Meaning
That hue in the sky
The color of sunset represents a glimpse of another life.
Just a glimpse of another life
The beauty of the sunset reflects the potential of a different life.
Are barely missed by some stupid collection
People often miss the beauty in everyday experiences.
Life's random dominoes, if they'd only been more aggressive.
The choices we make in life determine our fate.
Oh and it burns me up.
I'm incredibly upset.
My friends might as well have pissed in my cup.
My friends betrayed me.
Cause they knew and they never spoke up.
My friends knew something important and didn't tell me.
You wanted the same as I did and I never will forgive them.
My friends' betrayal has caused me great pain and I will never forget it.
Is there something I'm failing to see?
I feel like there is something I am missing.
A message in the stars
The universe holds secrets that I am unaware of.
Secrets lying hidden from me
There are things I don't know that could be important.
Not sure what they are
I am uncertain about what I am missing.
But they're keeping us apart
Whatever is keeping us apart is something I am unaware of.
She had Wilson Pickett's best on 45
She had a great record collection.
And one night you know she gave me ride
She drove me somewhere.
To a place and we were all alone.
We were alone together in a private place.
But still neglected to mention.
She kept something important from me.
Now the waltz is over
This chapter of my life has ended.
Passed into the clover
The end of this chapter is now in the past.
Cause the day will finally come
One day, I will finally let go.
When time will have rendered me numb.
Eventually, I will stop feeling the pain.
Maybe then I can put it down.
Once I numb myself to the pain, I can move on.
Let me linger for a moment now.
For the time being, I want to hold onto my emotions.
Collect some details to recall
I want to remember everything about this experience.
Some part of life before it all
This moment of my life is significant.
Fades into the darkness.
This moment will one day become a distant memory.
Tell me, am I always to be, watching from afar
Will I always be an observer, never an active participant?
Cause your image breaks my heart.
Thinking of you brings me great pain and sadness.
Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.