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'
Toe Cutter
Thee Oh Sees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cry, sounds from far below
Run, 'cause is far away
Drums, cover up the sound
Splash, blood upon the ground
Boom, harken to the sound
Sun, silence all around
The lyrics to "Toe Cutter / Thumb Buster" by Thee Oh Sees depict a violent scene that is unfolding. The song opens up with the line "Sun, we upon a cloud," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for a carefree attitude or feeling on top of the world. However, the lyrics quickly shift towards a darker tone with the lines "Cry, sounds from far below" and "Run, 'cause it's far away." These lines suggest that the singer is witnessing or encountering something they wish to avoid or escape from.
The song's chorus features the lines "Splash, blood upon the ground / Boom, harken to the sound / Sun, silence all around / One, no one around." The violent imagery continues with the sound of "drums, cover up the sound." These lyrics paint a picture of a gruesome scene where violence has taken place, but there is nobody around to witness or hear it. The repetition of the line "no one around" adds to the eerie feeling of isolation and abandonment.
Overall, "Toe Cutter / Thumb Buster" is a dark and intense song that leaves the listener with a sense of unease and mystery.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun, we upon a cloud
We feel safe and isolated from the world, like we are floating on a cloud on a sunny day.
Cry, sounds from far below
We can hear the screams and cries of people who are far away from us and in pain.
Run, 'cause is far away
We feel the need to run away from the cries and screams we hear, because they seem like they are distant and not our problem.
Drums, cover up the sound
We use the pounding sound of our drums to drown out the cries and screams that we hear, so we can continue feeling safe and secure.
Splash, blood upon the ground
Despite our efforts to ignore the world around us, we are reminded of its harsh reality when we see blood on the ground.
Boom, harken to the sound
the sound of the drums and our own heartbeat are the only things we can hear and they amplify our sense of anxiety and fear.
Sun, silence all around
The isolation we previously felt has been replaced with an eerie silence.
One, no one around
We now realize that we are completely alone and there is no one around to protect us—not even ourselves.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pepeduffel
Sun, we upon the cloud
Cry, sounds from far below
Run, 'cause it's far away
Drums, cover up the sound
Splash, there's blood upon the ground
Boom, harken to the sound
Sun, silence all around
One, no one around
lol k
The video is so perfectly suited for the song. Such a great band; truly original with talent that shines in their rawness.
DAZ 431
Gods, I do love that primitive, fuzzy, grindy, early rock n roll surfy sound!!!! So glad I just found this sound at my local pub!
Plaintiff's Ex
This guitar groove and bass line are the real killers! F'ing fantastic.
sabmanshar
They were sooooo amazing. I want to relive that a thousand times. So good. Words can't describe. They did play this song a bit faster too, and I loved it.
Jordan Gurdler
When I crank this song up in my car, people look at me like I am up to something. I fucking love it.
jacob m
pro tip: if you see a serial killer moving a body dont just stand there and look at him
Redeyed Jedi
Pro tip: if someone pulls a plastic bag over your head, just poke a hole into your mouth.
Jordan Kidd
Also make sure not to IMMEDIATELY FALL DOWN AS WELL!!!! Hahahahhhaaa
Armand Potgieter
Offer a hand, it's heavy enough as is.
Javier Garcia
Unless you know you wanna die