Born of a series of sleepless nights and countless songs in late 2001, Andrew Paley, Adam Meilleur, and other members began playing local shows under the name The Static Age in Burlington, Vermont in 2002. Not even a band for a full six months, the band self-released the full-length demo The Cost Of Living which quickly sold out of its first pressing and was picked up by a Boston-based indie, who ended up selling over 2,000 more copies in 2003. A buzz had started in New England and The Static Age soon found themselves playing with such artists as Hot Hot Heat and Interpol. From the strength of their first recording, they were chosen by AFI to open their Canadian tour. Also around this time, the band took time out to record The Past and Now single with Kurt Ballou of Converge.
The result of all this momentum was the band's proper debut full-length Neon Nights Electric Lives, produced by Matt Squire, which saw a tour-only release in late 2004, but a fully-distributed release on the art-centric Tarantulas Records in 2005. The critically-acclaimed album also boasted bonus remixes by Jade Puget of AFI and Daz of The Explosion. The Static Age's momentum could not be stopped even when their drummer bowed out of the band's rigorous touring schedule in the last half of 2005 -- Coby Linder of Say Anything filled in for the band on multiple tours into the fall.
Following up on Neon Nights Electric Lives and a year in the van, the band spent a good deal of early 2006 working on a new record (in between a few shorter tours). The result was Blank Screens, out on ReIgnition Recordings. After the album's release, Carlson joined up with the band for the subsequent tours on guitar. Blank Screens garnered high praise from critics and fans alike, and the band hit the road again, spending over half of 2007 on tour with the likes of Tiger Army, Street Dogs, Theo and the Skyscrapers, and others.
Currently, The Static Age is writing and demoing towards its next release, while releasing a series of videos built around the themes explored on the "Blank Screens" record. The trilogy of videos complement the "Cherry Red" video (released to MTV/Fuse, etc in 2006) and are being released only online. A new episode debuts every month at SeventeenScratches.com.
*Bio taken directly from thestaticage.com. For more information visit thestaticage.com or
myspace.com/thestaticage.
Saltsick
The Static Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more it tastes like blood
When every word rings
useless and indifferent
There's a street where she can't sleep
And all she does is dream
Have I been talking my...?
Every word rings
useless and indifferent
She's everything I've done for you.
The more I call your name
The more it tastes like blood
Some things never change
Saltsick the tears of doves
There's a dream that she can't shake
It chases her to sleep
Through every corner of this house
Through every sick and sound belief
She's everything I've done for you.
Forever and ever.
There's a street where she can't sleep
But all she does is dream
And I'm beginning to believe
That all she can believe is me
She's everything I've done for you
The lyrics of the song Saltsick by The Static Age express the pain and confusion of unrequited love. The more the artist calls out to their beloved, the more painful it becomes. The imagery of blood represents the intensity of these emotions, as well as the feeling of being drained and exhausted by the futile pursuit. The phrase "useless and indifferent" points to the sense of hopelessness that can come with unrequited love, as one realizes that their efforts are not being acknowledged or reciprocated.
The second verse introduces a character who is unable to sleep because they are plagued by dreams. The repetition of the line "she's everything I've done for you" suggests that this character is also in love with the same person as the artist. The specific times mentioned in the lyrics - 5, 5, 9, and 3 - are unclear in their meaning, but could perhaps be an allusion to a significant date or event.
The chorus repeats the idea that the more the artist loves someone, the more painful it becomes. The image of "saltsick tears of doves" combines the idea of tears with the metaphor of birds representing freedom, suggesting that the artist feels trapped and helpless in their love. The final verse brings the focus back to the character who cannot sleep, suggesting that their only solace comes from believing in the artist. The repetition of "she's everything I've done for you" reinforces the idea of sacrifice and unrequited love.
Overall, the lyrics of Saltsick capture the angst and despair of unfulfilled longing. Through vivid imagery and repetition, the artist conveys the intensity of their emotions and the sense of hopelessness that comes with them.
Line by Line Meaning
The more I call your name
The repetitive act of calling out for you yields a sensation of metallic taste, like blood, in my mouth.
The more it tastes like blood
Continuously calling out for you gives rise to a feeling that is commonly associated with bleeding, hence the metallic flavor in my mouth becomes more intense with each utterance.
When every word rings useless and indifferent
Despite calling out for you repeatedly, your absence renders my effort fruitless and emotionless due to your lack of acknowledgement.
There's a street where she can't sleep
A particular avenue seems to have restrained her from experiencing peaceful slumber, causing her troubled nights.
And all she does is dream
During her restless nights, her mind is consumed with vivid and continuous thoughts, resulting in her being wholly absorbed in her thoughts.
Have I been talking my...?
The singer is unsure about their communication, and questions whether they are in the right or not.
It comes at 5, 5, 9, and 3.
There is a constant repetitive disturbance to the usual order of events by the inexplicable arrival of an entity at 5:00, 5:30, and later 9:00 and 3:00.
She's everything I've done for you.
Her influence on the artist has caused them to do everything for you and it appears to be a heavy burden on their shoulders.
Some things never change
Despite the efforts to make alterations, certain circumstances continue to persist.
Saltsick the tears of doves
The state of feeling sick, when tears of a dove are shed, is being compared to the feeling of being alone, lost and helpless even when around other people.
There's a dream that she can't shake
A dream that haunts her even while she's asleep, preventing her peace of mind.
It chases her to sleep
The particular dream she experiences constantly pursues her even while she slumbers, making it difficult for her to have a restful sleep.
Through every corner of this house
The particular dream she experiences seeps into every part of her existence, making it difficult for her to carry out the simplest of tasks.
Through every sick and sound belief
Even during the times where she is in a fit state of mind or struggling with mental illness or doubts, the dream becomes all-consuming.
Forever and ever.
On an enduring basis, until the end of time, despite the hardships mentioned, the singer’s connection with you is unwavering in immortality.
But all she does is dream
In contrast to the artist who is plagued by their communication problems with you, the mentioned subject dwells within their mind, deep in a world of their own making.
And I'm beginning to believe
The artist is starting to understand the influence that the mentioned subject has on their own thoughts and feelings.
That all she can believe is me
The singer has become the only clear and reliable tether for the subject to grasp onto, and puts their trust solely in the singer's hands.
She's everything I've done for you
The singer has done everything for their feelings towards you, and subconsciously this has led to a connection with the subject who relies solely on the singer.
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.