The story actually begins deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, where band member Nick Krill was rummaging through the personal effects of his late grandfather, the guitar player Roy Spinto. For years, Roy had penned lyrics on the inside of Cracker Jack boxes, and in one simple juxtaposition of time and fate, Nick found the lyrics that would inspire the creation of the Spinto Band. And they hit the ground running. The energy was undeniable, and it wasn't long before Jon Eaton, Thomas Hughes, Nick Krill, Joe Hobson, Sam Hughes, Jeff Hobson and Albert Birney (who has since left the band to pursue the visual arts) found themselves with a massive musical proliferation at hand.
Eight years and seven self-released albums later, the Spinto Band is in the prime vein of musical prowess. Utilizing an indie-pop sensibility that brings to mind the Flaming Lips and Pavement, their songs can send you careening into the heights of lysergic bliss or provide the catchiest vibes to shake your tail feather to. Either way, this six-piece outfit has the goods to deliver us all from the doldrums of banality.
Currently teamed up with Nashville producing duo, Robin Eaton and Lij (of Alex the Great recording studios), and preparing a May release through Bar-None Records, the band's sound exudes a finesse that belies their youth (their ages range from 20-25). With rich, textured guitars, and multiple-part vocal harmonies, the Spinto Band's repertoire is a maelstrom of indie perfection. It's quirky, energetic, radiant, and aptly engaging.
The Spinto Band has performed with such acts as the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, and Of Montreal. It's an inevitable transgression beyond the words on this page; the Spinto Band excels. Thank you, Roy.
Keep Them Alive
The Spinto Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scare you first
If I could scare you first
Then I wouldn't have tried
To get up the nerve to
Open the closet
Or to reach up and to find the bullets to the gun
To find the bullets to this gun
If I could damage it
Then I Wouldn't have lied
To Emily's father
About how the window broke
I told him we were just playing a game of catch
We were just playing a game of catch
And just after explaining
That I couldn't take it back
I couldn't give it back
I shoulda take back take back tell you that
We will keep them alive (2x)
We take the high tide
We keep them alive
I happened to be
At the pavilion when
At the pavilion
When it was returned to the lake
Under the aspen
Follow the anchor check the cooler buckets and
Since you know for sure
Not saying unless you know for one
I wanted to know if I could bury first
IF I could dare say worse
Worse is coming this is the worst
Over the aspen
This piece of fire does it match
This piece of fire does it match
And just after explaining that I couldn't take it back
I couldn't give it back
I shoulda t-t-tell you that
We will keep them alive (2x)
We take the high tide
We keep them alive
(background 'ah')
The song "Keep Them Alive" by The Spinto Band tells a story of someone who seems to be struggling with guilt and the consequences of their actions. The lyrics suggest that the singer has done something wrong, possibly breaking a window or even using a gun, and trying to cover up their actions with lies. There is a feeling of regret and a sense of wanting to go back and undo what they've done, but at the same time, they seem to be scared and unsure of what to do next.
The chorus of the song, "We will keep them alive, we take the high tide", may suggest that the singer is determined to keep their actions a secret and avoid getting caught. The repetition of the phrase "We keep them alive" also creates a sense of unease, as if the singer is trying to keep something hidden or buried.
Overall, the lyrics to "Keep Them Alive" are cryptic and open to interpretation. They paint a picture of someone struggling with guilt and trying to keep their secrets buried, but the exact nature of their actions is left up to the listener's imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted to know if I could
I wanted to test my power over the situation
Scare you first
I wanted to intimidate you
If I could scare you first
So that I wouldn't have to face my fears
Then I wouldn't have tried
To confront the situation directly
To get up the nerve to
Face my fears and take action
Open the closet
To look for something
Or to reach up and to find the bullets to the gun
To prepare to commit violence
I wanted to see if I could damage it
I wanted to test the limits of my power
If I could damage it
I wouldn't have to take responsibility for my actions
Then I Wouldn't have lied
Because I wouldn't have had to cover anything up
To Emily's father
To someone I care about
About how the window broke
To avoid getting in trouble
I told him we were just playing a game of catch
To cover up the truth
And just after explaining
I realized how wrong it was
That I couldn't take it back
That I couldn't undo what I had done
I couldn't give it back
I couldn't make things right
I shoulda take back take back tell you that
I wish I could take back what I've done and tell the truth
We will keep them alive (2x)
We'll make sure they don't die
We take the high tide
We'll do what it takes to succeed
I happened to be
I was there by chance
At the pavilion when
At a specific location
When it was returned to the lake
When it was put back where it belonged
Under the aspen
In a specific place
Follow the anchor check the cooler buckets and
Take specific steps
Since you know for sure
Because you have knowledge
Not saying unless you know for one
Don't speak unless you have valid information
I wanted to know if I could bury first
I wanted to know if I could get away with something
IF I could dare say worse
To see how far I could push things
Worse is coming this is the worst
Things are getting worse and worse
Over the aspen
In a specific location
This piece of fire does it match
Is this the same thing?
We take the high tide
We'll do what it takes to succeed
We keep them alive
We'll make sure they don't die
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
furseiseki
not as powerful as their other songs, but it still has that flavor I've grown to love that is Spinto Band
Tana Akers
I love how like "personal" the Spinto Band's music videos are.
Max Tew
Loved 'Shy Pursuit' up and down, great album. One note, though. It's a common mistake: fella says "find the bullets to this gun" -- you never refer to ammunition that way, it's inaccurate. Bullets are only one part of the cartridge. You have to say "rounds" or "ammo" or something to make that line accurate. Alright, there's my gun nerdiness, all outta the way. Sorry.
Ardenella
homemade salsa, boxers AND cherry tomatos!?! This video is too related to my life this summer.
Ned Ullrich
This brings back Big Dig memories
deathbyzen
I only disliked this so I could be the first one... I actually love this.
I Shouldn't be awake
Is this the kind of stuff people did before the internet?