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'
Meat Step Lively
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he thinks about himself
No one can save him lost in a fog
And outside in when he wishes he wish
To rebegin but that is far from
The truth at the start he
Couldn't find the heart
To up and bear the fruit
The lyrics to Thee Oh Sees's song Meat Step Lively touch on themes of self-centeredness, struggling to find oneself, and feeling lost in a metaphorical fog. The line "Scratched up and busy he's overrated" paints a picture of someone who is constantly moving, but not necessarily progressing. This person thinks only of themselves and is unable to see beyond their own needs and desires. They feel lost, like they are wandering aimlessly in a fog without any clear direction or purpose. Despite wishing to start over and find a new path, this person feels trapped and unable to take the necessary steps to move forward.
The lyric "To up and bear the fruit" suggests that the singer of the song is struggling to achieve some sort of personal growth or success. They are unable to "bear the fruit" of their endeavors, perhaps because they lack the motivation or the drive to see things through to completion. Their inability to take action leaves them stuck in a state of stagnation and self-doubt.
Overall, the lyrics to Meat Step Lively seem to be a meditation on the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, particularly when one feels lost or disconnected from their own sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Scratched up and busy he's overrated
He tries to seem busy and important, but in reality, he is worn out and not as valuable as he appears.
And he thinks about himself
He is self-absorbed and only considers his own interests.
No one can save him lost in a fog
He is confused and directionless, and no one can help him find his way.
And outside in when he wishes he wish
He desires to fit in and be accepted, but struggles to connect with others.
To rebegin but that is far from
He longs to start fresh and make changes, but it seems like an unattainable goal.
The truth at the start he
Initially, he was not honest with himself or others.
Couldn't find the heart
He lacked the courage and motivation to pursue his goals.
To up and bear the fruit
He was unable to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Contributed by Ryan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eric Kolkey
One of the greatest bands ever! Their live shows are always fantastic. You cannot go wrong with Thee Oh Sees. No one has ever or will ever sound exactly like Thee Oh Sees. True originals. Please do not talk about how nothing will take the place of 60s garage rock. I love that stuff, but nothing in the 60s sounds exactly like Thee Oh Sees. I ffel the same way about The Cramps.
cpokith
Mic drop man...still holds up...sick beat, bass, and flute solo - great song to run to. And don't shoot me, but a TOS & Lizzo collab...using this song and adding in a vicious rap and giving her the flute solo...it may be the cross-over nobody's asking for - but I can hear it and I don't even follow rap or Lizzo.
TheTrent08
No matter where you are, at any point in time there IS great music out there! you just have to find it..
please tell me that you love me
No matter where you are, at any point in time there IS John Dwyer out there! you just have to find him..
Andrea Haverkamp
Still fresh nearly 10 years later.
twentymooseman
Yeah, definitely go if you ever get the chance. I just happened upon them at a festival last year and they blew me away. They put on a hell of a live show.
felfelfelicus
i'm so stoked this is on youtube now. their 4000 shows during sxsw were amazing and these pictures bring back some great memories. thanks to whoever made this, its fucking sick. 0:46 after homeboy got decked.
chinary8
No sweat! Yeah, I really dig em. Them and Thee Oh Sees would be my dream concert.
Timothy Spratt
good thing we're living in 2012. why is it necessary to capture the 'beauty of the 60s'? the whole reason revivalists work are to put a modern day spin on the classic sound, and i think they're doing a fucking brilliant job of it
lashlimed
Why do I get nostalgia from this video, i havnt heard of this band until 2017 and I still get nostalgia. It's not even the song, I've listened to it heaps before watching this and havnt felt nostalgia but it's just specifically this video