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'
Maria Stacks
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you got them even in jail
I see ya, i see ya
Speed freaks working out in there
I see ya got them even in jail
Maria, maria. You dig a hole with words in there
I see you got them even in jail
Thee Oh Sees's song "Maria Stacks" is a mysterious and enigmatic piece that is open for interpretation. The lyrics seem to be referencing a woman named Maria who the singer has some kind of history with. In the first verse, the singer mentions getting their first lolita from her, which could refer to a particular style of fashion or perhaps a certain type of drug. The line "I see you got them even in jail" seems to suggest that Maria has ended up in prison for some reason.
Next, the lyrics mention speed freaks working out in jail, which could be a reference to drug use, but could also be interpreted more broadly as referring to prisoners who are using their time behind bars to improve their physical fitness. The final line of the verse once again brings up Maria, suggesting that she has a powerful way with words that can influence and manipulate those around her.
Overall, the meaning of the song is somewhat unclear, but the lyrics evoke a sense of danger, darkness, and intrigue that is compelling in its own right.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria, maria. I got my first lolita there
A reference to a person or place where the singer first encountered a young and sexually precocious girl
I see you got them even in jail
There are still young and sexually precocious girls even in jails and prisons
I see ya, i see ya
The singer is acknowledging the existence of someone or something
Speed freaks working out in there
There are drug addicts in the place or situation being described who are exercising to combat the effects of drug use
Maria, maria. You dig a hole with words in there
A reference to a person or place where words are used to manipulate or deceive others
I see you got them even in jail
There are people who use manipulative language even in jails and prisons
Contributed by Jayden W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.