The band is composed of Lonesome Wyatt (vocals, guitar) and The Minister (banjo, bass, percussion, backing vocals). They are secretive and reveal very little information about themselves.
Growing up, Lonesome Wyatt vaguely described his childhood as very isolated,[4] having few friends at school and "going the whole summer" without seeing them, and that his parents "were insane".[5] He attended Stoughton High School (Wisconsin),[6] graduating in 1997. Inspired by Nick Cave and Johnny Cash, he began to record music in his parents' basement, where he began a solo gothic folk project called Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks before disbanding it in 2002,[7][5] although the group was revived in 2010.
While looking for a band name in the early 2000s, Wyatt discovered the phrase "those poor bastards" in a book, and decided to use it as the name for his band formed with another unidentified member known as The Minister.[8] In late 2005, his father was alleged to have contacted him for fear that he was a werewolf because he could not remember where he gotten mud on his shoes. Wyatt has been questioned about the incident in various interviews.[9][5] The Minister veils his face in all official band photography, does not perform live and has not revealed his identity.[4] For live performances, Wyatt performs with a third musician, Vincent Presley, on drums, moog, and keyboard. At live shows, Presley is known to play the moog or keyboard with drums simultaneously.
Their song Pills I Took was covered by Hank Williams III on his landmark 2006 release, Straight to Hell.
Everything Is Temporary
Those Poor Bastards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing here will last
Breathe the dust around you
It's the future it's the past
Nothing that you do
WIll be remembered or remarked
You're just a loathsome stranger
Everything is temporary
There is nothing we can do
When I think of death, honey
I th-th-th-th-think of you
Nothing that you do
WIll be remembered or remarked
You're just a loathsome stranger
Clutching, struggling in the dark
Everything is temporary
Buddy you will fade away
Watch the path you're walking
This could be your worst and final day
Nothing that you do
WIll be remembered or remarked
You're just a loathsome stranger
Clutching, struggling in the dark
But Jesus will save us (Ha! Ha!)
Jesus will save us (Ha! Ha!)
Jesus he will shit on you
The song "Everything Is Temporary" by Those Poor Bastards is a bleak yet thought-provoking commentary on the nature of existence, highlighting that everything in this world is temporary and fleeting. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song as it portrays a reality where nothing is permanent or long-lasting, and everything will eventually fade away into obscurity. The repeated line "Nothing that you do will be remembered or remarked" emphasizes the impermanence of actions and how temporary they are.
The song also speaks to the sense of hopelessness and despair that accompanies this realization. The reference to death is also poignant as it suggests that even our own lives are temporary, and our existence on this earth is just a brief moment in the grand scheme of things. The lyric "You're just a loathsome stranger, Clutching, struggling in the dark" also conveys the sense of loneliness and disconnection that can come from feeling like everything is fleeting, and that life is essentially meaningless.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the human condition, highlighting the fleeting nature of everything in existence and the sense of hopelessness that can come from this realization.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything is temporary
No matter how significant, everything in life is impermanent
Nothing here will last
Everything that exists will eventually fade away
Breathe the dust around you
Be aware of your surroundings, which are full of decay and mortality
It's the future it's the past
Death is not just a possibility, but it is also inevitable
Nothing that you do
Your actions don't have a permanent impact
WIll be remembered or remarked
Your life will be forgotten, much like your actions
You're just a loathsome stranger
Despite your existence, you are nothing but a stranger to the universe
Clutching, struggling in the dark
You feel alone and helpless, wrestling with the darkness of your mortality
Buddy you will fade away
Eventually, you will meet the same fate as everything else in existence
Watch the path you're walking
Be careful with how you live your life, as it could be cut short at any moment
This could be your worst and final day
Death is always a possibility, and it could come unexpectedly
But Jesus will save us (Ha! Ha!)
Sarcastically referencing a belief that has no evidence of being true
Jesus will save us (Ha! Ha!)
Repeating the sarcastic statement to emphasize its absurdity
Jesus he will shit on you
Further emphasizing the lack of truth behind the belief that Jesus will save you
Contributed by Elijah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.