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'
Night Crawler
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ruined kids again
Put their light out
It's all dark again
And what about parents?
Lost their kids again
And their answer?
Holding hands again
Whoa the children
Falling down a hole
They pull their lives out
Now they're in a hole
What if we're cancelled?
No so good right now
And what about future?
Without kids around
The lyrics to "Night Crawler" by Thee Oh Sees are quite thought-provoking and open to interpretation. The song appears to be addressing the issue of children being negatively influenced by societal problems and the failure of adults to protect them. The idea of a "subtle slayer" creating problems for children implies a more insidious force lurking within society, rather than an outright enemy. This force is corrupting and ruining the lives of children, leading them down a dark path.
The lyrics continue by addressing the role of parents in protecting their children. Sadly, it suggests that parents have failed, as the kids have been lost again. The idea of holding hands again implies that they are trying to protect each other, since the parents have not provided adequate protection. The second verse expands on the idea of children falling down a hole and their lives being ruined. The lyrics suggest that if children continue to be neglected, their future is bleak, and a world without children is not a desirable one.
In conclusion, "Night Crawler" by Thee Oh Sees seems to be expressing concern about the influence of societal problems on children and the failure of adults to protect them. The bleak lyrics suggest that without intervention, the future may be bleak.
Line by Line Meaning
Subtle slayer
The negative influence that creeps up on people's minds slowly and steadily, gradually leading them towards their downfall.
Ruined kids again
The children have been victimized and harmed by an external force, resulting in their current shattered state of being.
Put their light out
The force responsible for harming these kids extinguished their hopes, dreams, and aspirations, leaving them in darkness and despair.
It's all dark again
The situation appears bleak and hopeless, and there seems to be no end to the darkness and suffering that the victims are experiencing.
And what about parents?
The parents of these hurt children are also affected by their plight, and their hearts are breaking as they struggle to alleviate their pain.
Lost their kids again
The children went astray, leaving their parents feeling helpless and alone, with no knowledge of when (or if) they will return.
And their answer?
The parents have no clear answer or solution to the predicament that they find themselves in, leaving them feeling hopeless and uncertain about the future.
Holding hands again
Despite the pain and darkness surrounding them, the parents find solace in each other's company and take comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their struggle to cope.
Whoa the children
An exclamation of shock and anguish caused by the distressing state of the victimized children.
Falling down a hole
The children are metaphorically falling into an abyss that keeps dragging them deeper and deeper into darkness, where they are lost and alone.
They pull their lives out
The children struggle to find a way out of their current state of darkness and despair, relentlessly fighting against the negativity and adversity trying to pull them down.
Now they're in a hole
Despite their best efforts, the children are still stuck in the hole created by external forces, and have yet to find a path out of their turmoil.
What if we're cancelled?
The singer contemplates the possibility of being ostracized or losing their voice in the face of the same negative forces that are causing the plight of the children and their parents.
No so good right now
The current state of affairs is dire, and there is little or no hope for a quick resolution to the problems that are affecting many lives in a deep and profound manner.
And what about future?
The singer wonders about the long-term consequences of the current situation, and contemplates the potential loss of a brighter, more hopeful future due to the harm and suffering being caused now.
Without kids around
The song references the potential loss of innocence, hope, and optimism for the future that comes with harm and violence inflicted on children, resulting in a bleak and empty world without their presence.
Contributed by Scarlett Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ramón Jr. Benavides
Subtle slayer
Ruined kids again
Put their light out
It's all dark again
And what about parents?
Lost their kids again
And their answer?
Holding hands again
Whoa the children
Falling down a hole
They pull their lives out
Now they're in a hole
What if we're cancelled?
No so good right now
And what about future?
Without kids around
Ramón Jr. Benavides
Subtle slayer
Ruined kids again
Put their light out
It's all dark again
And what about parents?
Lost their kids again
And their answer?
Holding hands again
Whoa the children
Falling down a hole
They pull their lives out
Now they're in a hole
What if we're cancelled?
No so good right now
And what about future?
Without kids around
Hertz to Hear Records
I had to hit repeat more than once. The whole album is bad ass, but this one in particular really stands out.
screamwall
This song is definitely going into my nighttime driving playlist. Such an amazing song.
kringkingen
This is just incredible!
Started listening to the Floating Coffin album today at work and this track just blew my mind!
badluckcity
yeah, it's really the fucking best.
panzercat39
God I love a sinister sounding song.
michael garcia
+panzercat39 check out fugazi-" long distance runner"
BungumScraggs
Oh cool, he's usually singing a bit higher, so nice to hear a different style on this one. The vocals suit the song mood most excellently :)
ANIMAL GLUE
great great work! respect to them!
Derf Gerps
This was so the best era of Thee Oh Sees