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.
I Hold The Sound
The Thermals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The light out, we sleep now
The door locked, the door locked
We don't talk, we sleep now
I hold you
I hold the sound
We sleep now
It's safe now, we can move
The world is over, the world is over
It's early still, the sun is cold
The world is over, the world is over
I hold you
I hold the sound
I hold the sound
I hold the sound
We walk now, we can breathe
The earth is flat, the sky is round
It's early still, the moon is cold
We walk now, we walk alone
I hold you
I hold the sound
I hold the sound
I hold the sound
I hold the sound
The light out, we don't talk
The light out, we sleep now
The lyrics to The Thermals' song "I Hold The Sound" paint a picture of a world that has come to an end. It's a world where people don't talk anymore, where the doors are locked and they sleep most of the time. The singer seems to be holding onto something, perhaps a memory or a feeling, that helps him survive in this new world. He repeats the phrase "I hold the sound" throughout the song as a sort of mantra to keep himself grounded.
As the song progresses, there are hints that things might not be as bleak as they seem. The singer suggests that it's safe to move and that they can breathe now. He mentions that the earth is flat and the sky is round, which could be interpreted as a sign that things are returning to their natural state. However, there is still a sense of loneliness and isolation in the song. The singer walks alone and the moon is described as cold. It's a world where people are disconnected from each other and the environment around them, but the singer is able to find some solace in holding onto the sound.
Overall, "I Hold The Sound" is a reflective and introspective song that explores themes of grief, loss, and survival. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is something to hold onto that can help us get through.
Line by Line Meaning
The light out, we don't talk
We are in a situation where there is no light and we are not talking anymore.
The light out, we sleep now
As there is no light, we are going to sleep now.
The door locked, the door locked
The door has been locked to prevent any kind of disturbance.
We don't talk, we sleep now
We are not talking anymore and sleeping instead.
I hold you
I am holding onto you for comfort and affection.
I hold the sound
I am grasping onto the ambient sound of the current space for comfort and coziness.
It's safe now, we can move
As the situation has become safe, we can move around now.
The world is over, the world is over
Everything seems to be going wrong and coming to an end.
It's early still, the sun is cold
The morning is still, and the sun isn't warm yet.
I hold the sound
I am holding onto the ambient sound of the current space for comfort and coziness.
We walk now, we can breathe
We start walking now and can breathe freely.
The earth is flat, the sky is round
The surroundings feel unbelievable and out of place.
It's early still, the moon is cold
The night is still young, and the moon is chilly.
We walk now, we walk alone
We continue our journey, but we are doing it all alone now.
I hold the sound
I am holding onto the ambient sound of the current space for comfort and coziness.
I hold the sound
I am holding onto the ambient sound of the current space for comfort and coziness.
I hold the sound
I am holding onto the ambient sound of the current space for comfort and coziness.
The light out, we don't talk
We are in a situation where there is no light and we are not talking anymore.
The light out, we sleep now
As there is no light, we are going to sleep now.
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.