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'
The Dream
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A bloody dream in which I said, "I'm not dead, oh, dead"
I lie awake until I sleep
I see sky tear and then it weeps, I was scared, so scared
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The lyrics to Thee Oh Sees' song "The Dream" describe a vivid, frightening dream that the singer had. They begin by stating that it was a "bloody dream," indicating that there was violence and perhaps gore present in the dream. Despite this, the singer insists that they are not dead, as if to reassure themselves that their experience was only a dream. The line "I lie awake until I sleep" suggests that the singer is struggling with insomnia or anxiety, unable to fall asleep easily after the dream. They then describe a surreal moment where the sky rips open and begins to cry, which indicates that the dream was full of strange imagery and symbolism that is difficult to comprehend. The sense of fear that pervades the dream is palpable through the lyrics, with the repeated phrase "so scared" emphasizing the intensity of the experience.
However, the most intriguing aspect of the lyrics is their fixation on the idea that the dream is seeping into real life. The singer repeats the phrase "the dream, it seems is peeking into real life" several times, suggesting that they are struggling to separate what was real in their dream from what is real in their waking life. The line "the sun can't burn that dream from my eyes" implies that the singer is haunted by the dream, unable to simply shake it off and move on. By the end of the song, the dream seems to have become something of an obsession, with the repeated refrain of "the dream, seeking, peeking, real life" implying that the singer cannot help but search for connections between their dream and their waking world.
Overall, "The Dream" is a haunting exploration of the boundaries between reality and dreams, and of the way that our subconscious can impact our waking lives. The imagery and symbolism used throughout the song create a vivid sense of atmosphere that draws the listener in and leaves them questioning the nature of their own dreams and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream, a dream I said
I experienced a dream which I am about to share
A bloody dream in which I said, "I'm not dead, oh, dead"
In that dream, I uttered "I'm not dead" amidst bloody scenes
I lie awake until I sleep
I am wide awake till I finally fall asleep
I see sky tear and then it weeps, I was scared, so scared
In that sleep, I witness the sky tearing apart and shedding tears, leaving me very frightened
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The dream feels very real, as if it is crossing over into my reality
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
I cannot shake off this dream, it lingers in my mind
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The dream is searching, appearing in brief glimpses in my waking life
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The dream keeps creeping up, as if trying to merge with my reality
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
I cannot forget this dream, it is still very vivid in my memory
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The dream is seeking to manifest itself in my real world
The dream, it seems is peeking into real life
The dream appears almost tangible, blending with my everyday experiences
The sun can't burn that dream from my eyes
I can't shake off this dream, it persists in haunting me
The dream, seeking, peeking, real life
The dream continues to seek expression in reality
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@aidanlynch1694
I decided to listen to this song while driving. My court date is set in 3 weeks.
@ronnierockit4468
How'd that work out for ya?
@benjaminfifer864
This song is crack
@grazianostefanutti4442
Ahahahahaha
@janeemkay7484
@@benjaminfifer864 It certainly is. I'm hooked
@paulbobaggins554
You made me cry. Thank you so very much.
@farhanmahalludin
Holy crap this live version makes the studio version sounds like it's moving at a snail's tempo
@rileybobbert6527
seems like a lot of bands play their live songs quicker
@errorinn8834
Once I saw heard this live version there's no going back
@kenscapes
Dear KEXP, I'm in my 50's now. you're gonna kill me with these artists. Thankyou!!! thee oh sees, king gizzard, meat bodies....