Over time, formed in Davis, United States in 1984, the band retained on singer-songwriter and guitarist Guy Kyser and guitarist Roger Kunkel, with a changing lineup of drummers and bass guitarists. It was noted for its twin guitar attack (compare Television), innovative use of feedback structures and oblique lyrics. The Rough Guide to Rock called Thin White Rope "one of the few worthwhile traditional American guitar rock bands of their era. While most of the essential groups of the time were pushing back the limits of the form, Thin White Rope had the distinction of managing to breathe new life into the genre."
The band contributed a cover of Roky Erickson's Burn the Flames to the 1990 Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye tribute album.
Thin White Rope disbanded in 1992. The double live LP The One That Got Away chronicles its epic last show in Ghent, Belgium, on 28th June of that year.
Mother
Thin White Rope Lyrics
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Seeing my friend in her old place
Just something stupid I felt in high school
Now I go gliding from face to face
And I should say what I know;
It's hard to say as to go
Like a mortician under county review
You never lose what you don't extend
So curl up and let the wind bury you
And I should say what I know;
It's hard to say as to go
I hate this business of visiting my hometown
Moving the corpse from place to place
Just something stupid I felt in high school
Should leave the sand smooth on your harsh face
And I should say what I know;
It's hard to say as to go
The song "Mother" by Thin White Rope is a poignant reflection on the feelings of nostalgia and unease that can accompany a return to one's hometown. The singer expresses a sense of discomfort with revisiting old friends and familiar places, as if he is engaged in a pointless ritual that only serves to dredge up unpleasant memories. Even the act of moving from place to place feels like a burden, as if the past is weighing down on him and preventing him from moving forward with his life.
At the same time, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance in the lyrics. The singer recognizes that there is something important about this ritual, even if he can't quite articulate what it is. He notes that it's hard to say what he knows, as if he is struggling to put into words the deeper emotions and insights that are driving his ambivalence about returning home.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet nature of nostalgia, which can be both comforting and painful at the same time. The singer's conflicting emotions reflect the complexity of our relationships with the places and people of our past, and the difficulty of reconciling our present selves with the ghosts of our former selves.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate this business of visiting my hometown
I despise the act of returning to my place of origin
Seeing my friend in her old place
Encountering an acquaintance in her former residence
Just something stupid I felt in high school
A teenage emotion that evokes foolishness
Now I go gliding from face to face
Currently, I move effortlessly between individuals
And I should say what I know;
I must speak the truth I possess;
It's hard to say as to go
Although it is challenging to express and depart
You seem so desperate to show me your friends
You appear to be anxious to introduce your acquaintances
Like a mortician under county review
Similar to an undertaker under official examination
You never lose what you don't extend
Everything which you keep to yourself is never lost
So curl up and let the wind bury you
Therefore, relax and permit the wind to cover you
I hate this business of visiting my hometown
I loathe the experience of returning to my birthplace
Moving the corpse from place to place
Migrating the deceased from one location to another
Just something stupid I felt in high school
A teenage emotion that appears brainless
Should leave the sand smooth on your harsh face
It is best to leave the beach sand soft and smooth on your rugged facial features
And I should say what I know;
I must speak the truth I possess;
It's hard to say as to go
Although it is challenging to express and depart
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIERRA SWAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind