The band began as a mixtape Scott Reitherman made for a girlfriend. A couple years later Reitherman would reappropriate it as his musical alias, and Throw Me The Statue emerged on the Seattle-based DIY label Baskerville Hill. Reitherman and a friend ran the label together, and from 2005-2007 the imprint put out a handful of homemade releases and threw shows for their small clan of Seattle musical friends. Reitherman assembled changing casts from the Baskerville Hill camp to help him with live performances, and local press started to take note of the gigs.
Soon after the release of the TMTS debut album Moonbeams in Summer 2007 the Indiana-based Secretly Canadian Records caught wind and signed the act to their high profile roster. With the band's lineup now solidified and Secretly Canadian's re-release of Moonbeams in February '08, TMTS would tour extensively in support of their new international critical acclaim throughout North America and Europe, playing 100 shows across 8 countries that year.
In the beginning of 2009 the band began work on the follow-up LP and headed into the studio for the first time. With Phil Ek (The Shins, Built to Spill, Band of Horses) on board as co-producer, the group consisting of Reitherman, Aaron Goldman, Charlie Smith and Jarred Grimes sought to enlarge the scope of TMTS' lo-fi bedroom pop. The resulting full length record entitled Creaturesque will be released in the US and Europe by Secretly Canadian on August 4th, and soon thereafter in Aus/NZ by PopFrenzy and in Japan by MerryGate Records.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_Me_The_Statue
Ancestors
Throw Me The Statue Lyrics
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We were having such flagrant fun
Then you blew straight through my heart
As my phone lit up
Sammy oh,
What came undone?
You were always the funniest one.
You will find you've got the guts for the fall down
I cannot know
It comes down like a private snow
This is bad, out of control
It's like a dream
Oh world, what you've done
You are the weight in tons
We try to find the sun
You force the issue when you rob the honest one
To make the trip back home
To think to smell dad's clothes
Go through his rock & roll
Oh world, it's you that turns us old
Sammy oh,
What came undone?
Can a year have a bottomless grudge?
You will find your way back up
From the fall down
Sammy oh,
What came undone?
You were always the funniest one
You will find you have the guts
For the falldown
The lyrics to Throw Me the Statue's song "Ancestors" tell a story of change, loss, and resilience. The song begins with a mention of the Austin breeze and "flagrant fun," which sets the scene for a carefree and enjoyable time. However, this scene is interrupted by a phone call from Sammy, who seems to have experienced some sort of undoing. It's unclear what exactly has happened, but the lyrics suggest that Sammy was always the funniest one and will find the strength to bounce back from whatever setback he's faced.
The mood shifts in the second verse as the lyrics turn to more introspective themes. The line "This is bad, out of control/It's like a dream" suggests a feeling of powerlessness and confusion. The lyrics then move on to address the larger world, referencing the weight of its problems and the difficulty of finding light amidst the darkness. The mention of robbing the honest one is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the injustice of those who do not have power.
Throughout the song, there's a sense that even in the face of struggle and loss, there is a way forward. The chorus repeats the idea of having the "guts for the falldown," implying that resilience and bravery are necessary traits to navigate uncertain times. The final lines of the song circle back to Sammy, once again emphasizing his sense of humor and his ability to find a way back up. Overall, "Ancestors" is a song that grapples with themes of change, loss, and resilience in a way that feels both personal and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Austin breeze, you pack some punch
The strong gusts of wind in Austin hit hard and affect the singer emotionally.
We were having such flagrant fun
The singer was enjoying themselves in an ostentatious way until the wind changes everything.
Then you blew straight through my heart
The wind's sudden change breaks the singer's heart and disrupts their moment of fun.
As my phone lit up Sammy oh, What came undone?
The artist receives a notification on their phone and wonders what went wrong with Sammy.
You were always the funniest one.
Sammy was known for being funny and this is a notable aspect of their character.
You will find you've got the guts for the falldown
The singer encourages both themselves and Sammy to be brave when falling.
This is change I cannot know
The singer acknowledges that change is happening without their control and they do not know what to expect.
It comes down like a private snow
The change is like snow, in that it is unique to the individual and no one else experiences the same thing.
This is bad, out of control, It's like a dream
The artist feels like they are experiencing a nightmare because the change feels overwhelming and out of control.
Oh world, what you've done, You are the weight in tons, We try to find the sun
The world's weight on the artist is heavy and they seek light and positivity.
You force the issue when you rob the honest one, To make the trip back home
The world creates problems when it steals from the honest person, and the singer wants to go back to where they feel safe.
To think to smell dad's clothes, Go through his rock & roll
The artist reflects on their memories with their dad by smelling his clothes and listening to his music.
Oh world, it's you that turns us old
The world causes aging and the singer is aware of this.
Can a year have a bottomless grudge?, You will find your way back up, From the fall down
The singer wonders if a year can hold a grudge indefinitely, but ultimately encourages Sammy to rise back up after a fall.
Sammy oh, What came undone?, You were always the funniest one, You will find you have the guts, For the falldown
The singer reminds Sammy that they are funny and can be brave when falling.
Writer(s): SCOTT REITHERMAN
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.