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'
Island Raiders
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
pointed uphill
they climb up walls
and over sills
and grease our floors
with scores and scores
of random kill
torch-light raider
stuck our swords
I will kill
Mound to mountain
Keeping it vile
so we build a city
on top the pile
and try to start
a life anew
we wait for the raiders
me and you
torch-light raiders
we probably will
stuck our swords
I will kill
we hold each other
and repent
and yet in love,
a world affair
we reclimb in
the shade of young
only in heaven
is the work done
torch-light raider
we probably will
stuck our swords
I will kill
The lyrics of Thee Oh Sees' song Island Raiders tell the story of a group of people building a city on top of a pile of dead bodies, left behind by the raiders who climb up walls and over sills, greasing the floors with scores and scores of random kills. The inhabitants of the new city acknowledge that they will probably become raiders themselves, stuck in a cycle of violence and destruction. However, they also hold each other and repent, trying to start a new life in the shade of young trees. The song ends with the bittersweet realization that only in heaven is the work done.
The lyrics of Island Raiders can be interpreted in several ways. One possible interpretation is that the song comments on humanity's tendency to destroy what it creates, and to repeat the same destructive patterns over and over again. The image of a city built on top of a pile of corpses suggests that the cycle of violence and destruction is an inherent part of the human experience. At the same time, the song suggests that there is hope for redemption, as the inhabitants of the city try to break the cycle of violence and start a new life.
Overall, the lyrics of Island Raiders are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song leaves many questions unanswered, such as who the raiders are, why they are attacking the city, and what the inhabitants of the city hope to achieve. However, the haunting melody and intense vocals of the song create a sense of urgency and drama that invites listeners to imagine their own interpretations.
Line by Line Meaning
island raider
A group of people who invade and conquer islands
pointed uphill
They are determined to climb up to the top of the hill despite the obstacles in their way
they climb up walls
They use any means necessary to reach their goal, even scaling walls
and over sills
They are so focused on reaching the top that they are willing to overlook any small details or obstacles in their path
and grease our floors
Their conquest brings with it destruction and chaos, leaving behind a mess
with scores and scores
They have killed many and left chaos and destruction in their wake
of random kill
Their killings are indiscriminate and without any specific motive
torch-light raider
They use torches to light their way in the dark
we probably will
The artist acknowledges the inevitability of their own invasion and conquest
stuck our swords
They are prepared to use violence to conquer and defend their territory
Mound to mountain
They have built a huge pile of conquered land and resources, like a mountain
Keeping it vile
Their conquest and rule are marked by cruelty and evil deeds
so we build a city
They have established a settlement on the conquered land
on top the pile
The city is built on the conquered land, on top of the pile they have created
and try to start
They are attempting to build a new life and society on the conquered land
a life anew
They hope to create a better life for themselves and their people
we wait for the raiders
They live in constant fear of another invasion and conquest by other island raiders
me and you
The singer and their loved one are in this precarious situation together
we hold each other
They find comfort and security in each other's arms
and repent
They acknowledge the harm and destruction caused by their own violent conquests
and yet in love,
Despite the violence and destruction, their love for each other endures
a world affair
Their love transcends the chaos and destruction of their conquered world
we reclimb in
They continue to strive for a better life and society, believing that they can rebuild
the shade of young
They draw hope and inspiration from younger generations
only in heaven
The perfect society they seek can only exist in an ideal realm beyond their current reality
is the work done
Their work towards creating a better life and society is never truly done, but must continue to be pursued
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.