Osees (formerly 'Oh Sees') are a band from San Francisco, California, USA. … Read Full Bio ↴Osees (formerly 'Oh Sees') are a band from San Francisco, California, USA. The group began as an outlet for John Dwyer to release his instrumental, experimental home recordings, and over the course of several albums evolved into a full band. The band is noted for both its prolific album releases, energetic live shows, and their whimsical visual aesthetic that juxtaposes cartoon imagery and horror. The band has changed its name several times, being known as Orinoka Crash Suite, OCS, Orange County Sound, The Ohsees, Thee Oh Sees. Some say John Dwyer (of Coachwhips, Pink & Brown, OCS, Landed, Yikes, Burmese, The Hospitals, Sword & Sandals, Superpit, The Drums, The Trawgs, Zeigenbock Kopf and Dig That Body Up It's Alive!) is in Thee Oh Sees and he seems to be making this band the most serious project. He's done everything from noise to death metal to punk and now Thee Oh Sees.

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'

Ticklish Warrior
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Loose your arrows
There's a hole in the sky
Bring your axes down
Though you know not why

Screaming forces
There's a hole in the Earth
Bring your horse around

Because they know not what life's worth
Arianna
There's a hole in your head
Roll your eyes around
One last glance before you're dead

Screaming forces
There's a hole in the Earth

Bring your horse around
Because they know not what life's worth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Thee Oh Sees's "Ticklish Warrior" is a cryptic call to arms. It expresses the senseless violence of war, where people are shot down for no apparent reason. The lines "Loose your arrows, there's a hole in the sky, bring your axes down, though you know not why" suggests a chaotic scene of arrows flying in the air with no clear target. The phrase "screaming forces" hints at a battle cry, which is followed by the line "there's a hole in the Earth," suggesting the devastation caused by warfare. The words "bring your horse around" implies a need to regroup and attack again, regardless of whether the attack is justified or not.

The mention of "Arianna, there's a hole in your head, roll your eyes around, one last glance before you're dead" sounds like a brutal death, where someone has been shot in the head. It could be a reference to a specific person, or perhaps a metaphorical figure, representing the many lives lost in war. The last line, "Because they know not what life's worth," speaks of the senselessness of war and how often, the people who wage war don't understand the value of life, and the destruction it causes.

Line by Line Meaning

Loose your arrows
Start taking action and making moves

There's a hole in the sky
A sense of emptiness and unknown that needs to be filled

Bring your axes down
Be forceful and determined in your actions

Though you know not why
Even if you don't fully understand the reasoning behind it

Screaming forces
Intense emotions and energy

There's a hole in the Earth
A feeling of emptiness and uncertainty in life

Bring your horse around
Take control and direction in your life

Because they know not what life's worth
Others may not understand the value of life and the importance of making the most of it

Arianna
A direct reference to someone or something significant to the artist

There's a hole in your head
A sense of confusion or lack of understanding

Roll your eyes around
Take a moment to reflect or assess the situation