Thee Oh Sees are no doubt the lightest of his excursions, but in contrast to the rest of his resume one could surmise that there are significant reasons for the change.
Thee Oh Sees have a lo-fi electric-acoustic sound that's usually soaked in reverb, making it as if you can hear and see the exact room they recorded in. It creates a very distinct mood that seems to fit their style, lyrics, and melodies.
What most people focus on is that Mr. Dwyer is in the band. While it's certainly a notable quality, the recent band members bring so much more to the table. The earliest recordings are Dwyer's solo recordings, mostly single instrument/vocal ditties that you can hear him working out. They're an intimate portrait of John, but without the recent material, the portrait would simply be incomplete.
Thee Oh Sees don't subscribe to any one style.
With the addition of Brigid Dawson, Petey Dammit, and a rotating cast of drummers, the sound has grown into the landscape that one man couldn't create alone. Brigid's soprano voice brings an almost hauntingly sensitive aspect to the lyrics and melodies, while Petey and Mike's pounding and insistent backline (and additional drums from Lars Finberg of The Intelligence on recent recordings) complete the frame in its entirety. Their energetic, sweat-laden shows coupled with their prolific recording schedule has garnered them a growing, dedicated fan base.
The catalog that this band has put together is growing and growing, albeit under several different monikers, and several different labels.
in 2017 it was announced that the band would change its name to simply 'Oh Sees'
in November of 2019, the band announced that they would be changing their name yet again to simply 'Osees'
A Flag In The Court
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's so easy to call out in the courtyard
Oh, trainer lay your lash on me
Trainer, lai it on me
It's so easy to fall like an unfurling flag
It's so easy to fall down in the courtyard
The opening lyrics of Thee Oh Sees' song A Flag In The Court is a beautiful acknowledgement of how easy it is for us to call out and make a scene. It's as easy as unfurling a flag - a simple and effortless act that catches everyone's attention. The song speaks to the idea of how easy it is to get caught up in the drama of a situation and to be heard, even when it might not be the best thing for us or for those around us. It's almost as though we're being implored to think twice before we speak, to consider the impact our words might have and to choose them carefully.
The repetition of the phrase "Trainer, lay your lash on me" has a particularly powerful effect. The word "trainer" implies a relationship of power, with one person in control and the other at their mercy. To ask that person to "lay their lash" on us is to acknowledge that we are submitting to their control, that we have no choice in the matter. It speaks to the idea of giving up our agency, of letting someone else make the decisions for us. And yet, it's something that we are willing to do, perhaps because it's easier than taking responsibility for our own actions or decisions.
Overall, A Flag In The Court is a haunting track that speaks to the complex emotions that we all experience as we navigate relationships with others. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they speak powerfully to the idea of control, submission and sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so easy to call like an unfurling flag
It's effortless to voice my thoughts to the world, just like a flag unfurls with ease.
It's so easy to call out in the courtyard
Expressing oneself openly in a public space is a simple task, like yelling out in a courtyard.
Oh, trainer lay your lash on me
I'm willingly putting myself through painful training to improve myself, so please push me harder.
Trainer, lay it on me
I welcome the challenge of being pushed harder in my training, and request that you give it your all.
It's so easy to fall like an unfurling flag
Just as a flag can fall easily to the ground, so too can I stumble or fail in my endeavors.
It's so easy to fall down in the courtyard
Falling down or failing in the public eye is an effortless thing to do, just like collapsing in a courtyard.
Contributed by Vivian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.