The Thermals' sixth LP and debut for Saddle Creek, Desperate Ground, was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in Hoboken, NJ. Agnello and The Thermals completed the record and evacuated the studio just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, a fate quite fitting when you consider the product. Desperate Ground is a true scrappy and scratchy return-to-form for The Thermals, with all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP's so insanely enjoyable. Lyrically, Desperate Ground is a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death. A dark and yet joyous affair, Desperate Ground tells the (murky) tale of a lone rogue in the night. One man, one path, one sword. An unceasing urge to destroy. A never-ending battle against the forces of nature. A destiny impossible to avoid.
In early 2013 The Thermals signed to Saddle Creek, a label they've known and admired for many years. The Thermals and Saddle Creek have a long history of sleeping on floors together: The Thermals have toured with Cursive and Ladyfinger, and Hutch and Kathy organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland way back in 1999.
The Thermals were most famous for turning down $50,000 from Hummer, discovering the elusive fourth chord in punk rock (F#m) and for soundtracking that scene in Weeds where Mary-Louise Parker jumps in the pot-filled pool in her underwear.
The Thermals announced they were splitting in April 2018.
The Thermals lineup was Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass.
An Ear for Baby
The Thermals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time to inspect the subjects
Lose your intentions, lose your common sense
It's time to groom you for judgment
Stick to a numb stare, strip to your underwear
It's time for you to be cleansed
Keep your eyes straight for Christ's sake
Good luck getting over the fence
Good luck putting even a dent in
The mission, the plan
Just breathe, you don't need to understand
Can you hear me? The siren's on
Let the water run, leave the lights on
An ear for baby if you need it
Can you hear me? I'll repeat it
Draw the bridges, dig the ditches deep
We're gonna need a new border
Get thyself in line, it's time for reassignment
Time for a new first world order
We got a job to do, we don't ask, we tell you
Work is freedom, sloth is sin
So pull out your dead roots, pull out your best suit
You know, the one they're gonna bury you in
Good luck getting God on the phone
Good luck getting even a tone
You can trust me, it's not a test
I won't leave you with the mess, any questions?
Can you hear me? The siren's on
Let the water run, leave the lights on
An ear for baby if you need it
Can you hear me? I'll repeat it
Good luck getting over the fence
Good luck putting even a dent in
The mission, the dream
The body, the blood, the machine
Can you hear me? The siren's on
Let the water run, leave the lights on
An ear for baby if you need it
Can you hear me? I'll repeat it
The lyrics of The Thermals' song "An Ear For Baby" are cryptic and layered with meaning. The first verse speaks about the need to shed one's past and put on a mask or persona to be judged or scrutinized. The second verse talks about division and creating borders that require harsh measures and a new world order. The chorus repeats "Can you hear me?" reminding the listener to pay close attention as the sirens blare, the water runs, and the lights remain on, ready for anything.
The song seems to be an indictment of societal structures and the systems that people get trapped in. The chorus could be interpreted as a message of hope or warning, someone who is both comforting and ominous but assuring the listener that they're not alone. The phrase 'ear for baby' could be interpreted as an allusion to the pure and uncorrupted perspective of a child. In essence, it might be saying that we should re-envision our society from the perspective of the innocent.
One interpretation is that the song is a commentary on capitalism or consumer culture, where the subject is forced to wear a mask or persona to succeed, and are trapped within societal borders, unable to escape without burning their roots. The line "Work is freedom, sloth is sin" is a reversal of the famous saying at Auschwitz, "Work sets you free," which could be a comment on the exploitation of workers and the dehumanization inherent in the system of production.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull out your dead roots, pull out your best suit
Get rid of the things that don't serve you and present yourself at your best.
It's time to inspect the subjects
We need to examine everyone and everything to ensure they fit into our plan.
Lose your intentions, lose your common sense
Don't think for yourself - just follow our lead and do what we say.
It's time to groom you for judgment
We are preparing you to be judged by our standards.
Stick to a numb stare, strip to your underwear
Don't show any emotion or resistance while we strip away your identity.
It's time for you to be cleansed
We will purge you of everything that makes you unique or different.
Keep your eyes straight for Christ's sake
Stay focused on what we want, and don't question anything we tell you in the name of religion.
Remember we're your friends
Trust us, even when we do things that seem harmful or wrong.
Good luck getting over the fence
It will be difficult to escape our control and break free from our plan.
Good luck putting even a dent in the mission, the plan
Trying to stop our plan will be impossible.
Just breathe, you don't need to understand
Don't worry about what we're doing, just go along with it and breathe.
Can you hear me? The siren's on
I'm trying to reach you, and there is danger or urgency.
Let the water run, leave the lights on
I want you to do something specific when you hear the siren, but leave everything else on.
An ear for baby if you need it
I am offering to listen or help you, especially if you're vulnerable like a baby.
Draw the bridges, dig the ditches deep
We need to fortify our defenses and create stronger boundaries.
We're gonna need a new border
We need to create a new system with new rules and restrictions.
Get thyself in line, it's time for reassignment
Follow our orders and prepare to adapt to new roles and responsibilities.
Time for a new first world order
We are creating a new world order where we are in control and everyone else follows our lead.
We got a job to do, we don't ask, we tell you
We have a mission to accomplish and you need to do it without question or hesitation.
Work is freedom, sloth is sin
We believe in a strict work ethic where laziness or lack of productivity is seen as a sin.
You know, the one they're gonna bury you in
Wear your best suit because it's the one that you will be buried in.
Good luck getting God on the phone
You won't be able to find any help or guidance from a higher power.
Good luck getting even a tone
No one will respond or help you when you reach out for assistance.
You can trust me, it's not a test
I am someone you can rely on to help you.
I won't leave you with the mess, any questions?
I will take care of any problems or issues that arise, and do you have any questions?
The mission, the dream, the body, the blood, the machine
These are the key components of our plan and how we will control and maintain power.
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stef Penfield
Love this so much.
Rodrigo de Souza
O punk não morreu.
Alec Lyrae
LOUDER!!!! For the folks in the back!!!
Brain4Zombie
Singer looks like Sheldon Cooper...