The Thermals were an indie rock trio from Portland, Oregon. The band was fo… Read Full Bio ↴The Thermals were an indie rock trio from Portland, Oregon. The band was formed in 2002 and released seven records and toured at least fifteen countries.

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.

How We Fade
The Thermals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've seen a ceiling of screens
Shaped like clouds in the sky
I saw a wall, it was all between me
And where I'll lie
I laid on a bed with my head
Spinning zero and one into two
Dreaming of you
And how we fade

I laid in a shower of color and numbers
And numbers and words
I opened my eyes and my ears and my eyes
And I saw and I heard
I opened my mouth, nothing came out
Nothing at all I could do
Dreaming of you
And how we fade

I dug a hole
It was only as deep
As the ground I had known
I fell asleep
Just so I wouldn't be left to die all alone
I opened my mouth, hoping to shout
Hoping the words were true

Dreaming of you

Dreaming of you
And how we fade

Overall Meaning

The Thermals' song How We Fade appears to be a song of existential questioning. The lyrics seem to be describing a state of disorientation and confusion as the singer delves into thoughts about reality and existence. The use of computer metaphors such as "ceiling of screens...spinning zero and one into two" suggests a contemplation of simulated reality or the idea of living in a constructed environment that is not necessarily a complete and truthful reflection of the true world. The singer's sense of isolation and disconnect is highlighted by the reference to "a wall" that separates them from where they will ultimately "lie" - a possible allusion to death or the afterlife.

The second verse finds the singer still lost in thought, this time using sensory metaphors. "I laid in a shower of color and numbers" could signify a heightened awareness of the sensory inputs that flood our consciousness, but also suggest that modern life is less about reality than virtual constructs. Eventually, this existential crisis leads the singer to dig a hole - a symbolic act of trying to find one's place in the world. The sense of desperation and fear of oblivion or isolation is evident in the line "Just so I wouldn't be left to die all alone."

Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the concept of a comprehensible existence in a world that can be complex and confusing. It could be interpreted as a lamentation about the all-encompassing power of technology and the idea that humans are becoming more machine than human. Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the impermanence and mystery of existence, and the fear that humans feel about their own eventual dissolution.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen a ceiling of screens
The singer has witnessed a ceiling that is filled with screens

Shaped like clouds in the sky
The screens resembles clouds in the sky

I saw a wall, it was all between me And where I'll lie
The singer is blocked by a wall from where they want to end up

I laid on a bed with my head Spinning zero and one into two Dreaming of you And how we fade
The artist is laying down and contemplating binary code and the idea of fading away with someone

I laid in a shower of color and numbers And numbers and words
The artist experienced a deluge of colors, numbers, and words

I opened my eyes and my ears and my eyes And I saw and I heard
The singer used their senses and observed their surroundings

I opened my mouth, nothing came out Nothing at all I could do Dreaming of you And how we fade
The singer wanted to speak but couldn't, and was once again thinking about the concept of fading away with someone

I dug a hole It was only as deep As the ground I had known I fell asleep
The artist dug a shallow hole and fell asleep in it

Just so I wouldn't be left to die all alone I opened my mouth, hoping to shout Hoping the words were true
The artist was afraid of being alone and tried to shout for help, hoping that someone would hear them

Dreaming of you Dreaming of you And how we fade
The artist continues to dream about fading away with someone, which is comforting to them

Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: HUTCH HARRIS, KATHLEEN MICHELLE FOSTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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