The Strange Boys began as a duo (Hammer and the younger Sambol) in 2003. The other two joined in 2005 and the band has been on tour non-stop ever since. Since 2003 the Boys have recorded a wealth of material which was passed around at shows and to friends, but never officially released. In 2007, Dusty Medical Records put out the Nothing EP, and in 2008, In The Red released the Woe Is You and Me single. Now, finally, the band's proper debut album is seeing the light of day. It's easy to imagine The Strange Boys And Girls Club, a sixteen-track beast, blasting out of any stereo system between The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators and Wire's Pink Flag.
The Strange Boys were the backing band for Mighty Hannibal (the '50s R&B recording artist); were main support for Roky Erickson and the Explosives at the Chaos in Tejas festival; have played South by Southwest the last four years, the Fuck Yeah Fest the last three years, Austin City Limits, Festival in Music Fest Northwest, and Bamalama (all in 2008); shared bills with Daniel Johnston, Black Lips, Reigning Sound, The King Khan and BBQ Show, Jay Reatard, Mika Miko, No Age, and BRMC; have toured with The Black Angels, Fucked Up, The Carrots, and Crystal Antlers[a/rtist]; and will tour with Darker My Love and Mika Miko in '09.î
In 2010, Indierockcafe.Com listed Austin indie band The Strange Boys Be Brave, LP on their "Best Albums of 2010 (So Far)" and "Artists and Bands" favorites list.
Who Needs Who More
The Strange Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then you know
You've gone and cut your hair too short
And got me a blanket
When it got cold
Cut a hole in the middle
Now I wear it as a coat
Who needs who more
If I tip some statues I make a mess
Don't tip you as a waitress
But i'll buy you a new dress
Who needs who more
The rolling pin or the dough
The Strange Boys's "Who Needs Who More" is a beautifully poetic song that speaks to the dynamics of relationships and the complexities of dependency. The lyrics appear to be describing a relationship where one person is more reliant on the other, but it's not always clear who needs who more. The opening line, "You go to shake your head and then you know", creates a sense of uncertainty and hesitation, as if the singer is unsure about what comes next. The line "You've gone and cut your hair too short" suggests that the other person is making life-changing decisions without considering how they may affect the singer. It's almost as if the other person is taking control of their own life, leaving the singer feeling left behind.
The bizarre imagery of "cutting a hole in the middle of a blanket and wearing it as a coat" seems to symbolize the singer's resourcefulness and ability to adapt to harsh conditions, even though they are not ideally suited for them. The line "Who needs who more, the rolling pin or the dough" suggests that the singer is unsure which person in the relationship is the more important part of the equation. Is one person simply an instrument to be used by the other, or are they both essential parts of a larger whole? The line "If I tip some statues I make a mess, don't tip you as a waitress, but I'll buy you a new dress" speaks to the idea that people are not easy to categorize or define. The singer may be clumsy and careless in some situations, but that doesn't mean they don't care deeply about the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to shake your head
You try to deny your feelings
And then you know
But ultimately, you can't hide from your true emotions
You've gone and cut your hair too short
You've made a rash decision that you now regret
And got me a blanket
Yet, you also have a nurturing and caring side
When it got cold
You act on your instincts to provide comfort in times of need
Cut a hole in the middle
You are resourceful and able to make do with what you have
Now I wear it as a coat
You adapt to situations and find solutions to problems
Who needs who more
The relationship between two people is never equal, but rather a constant balance of give and take
The rolling pin or the dough
A metaphor for the power dynamic within a relationship
If I tip some statues I make a mess
You have a wild streak and can't be tamed
Don't tip you as a waitress
You don't conform to societal norms and expectations
But i'll buy you a new dress
Yet, you also have the desire to make others happy and fulfill their needs
Who needs who more
Reiterating the underlying theme of the song - that relationships are a constant ebb and flow of dependence and independence
The rolling pin or the dough
A continued metaphor for the power dynamic within a relationship
Contributed by Victoria P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brohan Sexy
Woe is you and me 0:00
They're building death camps 2:10
Should have shot Paul 5:00
MLKs 6:54
This girl taught me a dance 8:43
For lack of a better face 11:51
Heard you wanna beat me up 15:00
No way for a slave to behave 17:10
Poem party 20:18
To turn a tune or two 22:10
Most things 24:33
A man you've never known 26:29
Then 28:08
Who needs who more 30:18
Probation blues 32:35
Death and all the rest 34:48
Esteban Moctezuma
Such an underrated band. This album is perfect.
Brohan Sexy
Woe is you and me 0:00
They're building death camps 2:10
Should have shot Paul 5:00
MLKs 6:54
This girl taught me a dance 8:43
For lack of a better face 11:51
Heard you wanna beat me up 15:00
No way for a slave to behave 17:10
Poem party 20:18
To turn a tune or two 22:10
Most things 24:33
A man you've never known 26:29
Then 28:08
Who needs who more 30:18
Probation blues 32:35
Death and all the rest 34:48
goff667
God bless you
Do Mi FaSol
buen ser de la vida!
Kristian Stanley
how is this album so perfect wtf
nevetsnolog
dig their cool sound, too short a ride for the strange boys
Mauricio Priego
I really like this album.
Gail Arnold
Love this. For sure underrated.
Nicholas Kania
This album rips so hard...buncha youngins’ from Texas just rippin n philosophizing....I mean who does need who more...that dough or the rolling pin?....cheers!!
Matt Amick
Man I wish they were still around.