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'
Pleasure Blimps
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It rolls over you and me
Striping skin and plowing flesh aside
Wicked dreams are around
They all wispers a hissing sound
This sinks and remix cloud the view
La la la la la la la
Fla-la la la la la la le la
Fa-la la la la lala la
La la la la la la la
Fla-la la la la la la le la
Ohhhhhhh
Oohhhhhhh
Our love is extra fine
Spills out all the time
And floats lightly on the breeze
It is flowers in the field
It is a rock that can simply kneel
It bound to start all over again
Wo wo wo
Pleasure Blimps float up stream
It rolls over you and me
Striping skin and plowing flesh aside
Wicked dreams are around
They all whispers a hissing sound
This sinks and remix cloud the view
Fa-la la la la lala la
La la la la la la la
Fla-la la la la la la le la
The song Pleasure Blimps by Thee Oh Sees is a surreal and dreamy interpretation of love, pleasure and loss. The lyrics use a floating metaphor of “pleasure blimps” that roll over the couple, stripping their skin and plowing their flesh aside, suggesting they are lost in a moment of pure ecstasy or perhaps addiction. The hissing sounds that the wicked dreams around them make could mean either the voices of detractors or the hissing sounds of the things that accompany the pleasure blimps. The chorus is a repetition of the “Fa-la la la la” lines that bring a sense of whimsy, and almost ritualistic meaning to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Pleasure Blimps float up stream
The song begins by referencing something that appears to be floating along effortlessly, yet working against the natural flow of things.
It rolls over you and me
This entity, the “pleasure blimps”, is not only unnoticed, but also has the power to drastically change the course of human lives.
Striping skin and plowing flesh aside
As this mysterious force moves along its own path, it causes destruction and chaos to anything in its way.
Wicked dreams are around
The second verse implies that this pleasure-seeking entity is associated with ominous dreams and ideas.
They all whispers a hissing sound
These thoughts, whispered like a hiss, may not be conscious, but still have an impact on people’s behavior and choices.
This sinks and remix cloud the view
These dark influences have the power to distort reality, and obscure people’s vision of the future.
Fa-la la la la lala la
This refrain seems to suggest a lightheartedness that contrasts with the ominous tone of the rest of the lyrics.
La la la la la la la
This repetition of nonsense syllables suggests a sense of abandonment, as though the singer is giving up on trying to make sense of the world around them.
Fla-la la la la la la le la
This slight variation on the refrain seems to convey a feeling of playful exploration, as though the singer is still trying to find meaning in the world around them.
Our love is extra fine
The third verse suggests that even in the face of destructive forces, love is still capable of bringing beauty and light into our lives.
Spills out all the time
Love flows freely, and cannot be contained or blocked by any external forces.
And floats lightly on the breeze
Love is not burdened by the weight of the world, but instead is a carefree force that moves effortlessly through our lives.
It is flowers in the field
The metaphor of flowers in a field suggests that love is a natural force that is always present, even when we are not conscious of its existence.
It is a rock that can simply kneel
This metaphor suggests that while love is a powerful force, it is also capable of being humble and yielding in difficult situations.
It bound to start all over again
Just as the pleasure blimps continue their endless journey against the stream, love is a force that is always renewing itself, and constantly moving forward no matter what obstacles it faces.
Wo wo wo
This repetition of nonsense syllables seems to suggest a sense of awe or wonder, as though the singer is recognizing the power of the forces at work in the world around them.
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.