Kasher has a very close relationship with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. They grew up in Nebraska together, went to the same Catholic high school, Creighton Prep. It is rumored that Tim taught Oberst to play guitar. In the Bright Eyes song, "Nothing Gets Crossed Out" Oberst sings, "yeah Tim I heard your album and it's better than good. When you get off tour I think we should hang and black out together." (referring to the album Black Out by The Good Life, released in 2002 on Saddle Creek Records.) Furthermore, Oberst later sang backup on the song "Staying Alive," from Cursive's 2003 effort The Ugly Organ.
Kasher temporarily disbanded Cursive after the departure of guitarist Steve Pedersen (who left to pursue a law degree at Duke University. He now leads the Saddle Creek band Criteria). He married and moved to Portland, Oregon. According to interviews, Kasher went through a bitter divorce in 2000, which led to the regrouping of Cursive, as well as providing the inspiration for The Good Life album Black Out, and Cursive's Domestica.
The Good Life was originally planned to be a solo project. Kasher wanted to experiment with different types of lyrics and melodies. He released Novena on a Nocturn on Better Looking Records. He then recruited Ryan Fox, Roger Lewis and Stephanie Drootin into the band and released Black Out, Lovers Need Lawyers EP and Album of the Year.
Kasher created a another record with Cursive which was released in August 2006, entitled Happy Hollow. In 2009, Cursive released their latest effort, 'Mama, I'm Swollen'. The Good Life, despite a near breakup in late 2005, returned to the studio to release the album, 'Help Wanted Nights' in September 2007.
Under his own name, Tim Kasher recorded a song called "Stranger Than Strangers" which was released on a compilation CD called "My Favorite Songwriters." He released the solo album 'The Game of Monogamy' in 2010, and a follow-up disc of songs from that session called 'Bigamy', in 2011.
A Grown Man
Tim Kasher Lyrics
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People are gonna start expecting more from me,
But this is all I am
I am a grown man, I don't know what I want.
I don't want a kid and I can't keep being one...
It's a cruel world to keep marching and marching
On and on. Whether we're here or we're gone.
I am a grown man, what am I to do?
I don't want a job but we still need money.
A grown man's got a big responsibility.
A grown man's gotta bring home the bacon,
A grown man's been bringing up the baby.
A grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a
Grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown
Man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's
Gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta
Be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a
Grown man's gotta be.
Tim Kasher's A Grown Man is a melancholy and introspective song that deals with the expectations and responsibilities society places upon adult men. The opening lines of "I am a grown man; how did this happen?" immediately set the tone for the rest of the song. Kasher is expressing a sense of disbelief and confusion about how he has reached adulthood and the pressures that come with it. He acknowledges that people will start expecting more from him, but feels that this is all he is capable of.
The chorus is a reflection of Kasher's uncertainty and angst about his current situation. He doesn't know what he wants and doesn't feel like he can keep living the carefree life of a kid. He describes the world as cruel and unforgiving, with everyone constantly marching forward regardless of whether they are here or gone. The second half of the chorus focuses on the responsibilities that come with being a grown man. Kasher knows that he needs to bring home money and provide for his family, but he doesn't want a job and feels overwhelmed by the expectations placed upon him.
Throughout the song, Kasher is grappling with the idea of what it means to be a grown man. He recognizes that there are certain responsibilities that come with adulthood, but he is struggling to reconcile these expectations with his own desires and aspirations. The song creates a poignant picture of the complexities and contradictions of adulthood, and the emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a grown man; how did this happen?
I find it hard to believe that I've come this far, considering how little awareness I have about life
People are gonna start expecting more from me,
As I grow older, society is going to demand that I become more responsible and mature
But this is all I am
However, all I can offer is my current level of capability, which falls short of the expectations of a grown man
I am a grown man, I don't know what I want.
I'm at a stage in life where I'm not sure what I need or desire
I don't want a kid and I can't keep being one...
Although I don't desire parenthood, I realize that I can't continue to live a carefree life like a child
It's a cruel world to keep marching and marching
The world can be harsh, and its demands can be unremitting
On and on. Whether we're here or we're gone.
The march of life never ceases, whether we are present or absent
I am a grown man, what am I to do?
I'm uncertain about what steps to take as an adult
I don't want a job but we still need money.
Although I'm not enthusiastic about the idea, the practicalities of life dictate that I must earn a living
A grown man's got a big responsibility.
As an adult, I'm required to assume significant obligations
A grown man's gotta bring home the bacon,
One of the principal duties of a mature man is to provide financial security for himself and his family
A grown man's been bringing up the baby.
Mature males often play a critical role in raising children
A grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a
Being a responsible and maturing man is a continuous and ongoing process
Grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown
Man's gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's Gotta be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta
Be a grown man's gotta be a grown man's gotta Be a grown man's gotta be.
It is incumbent upon a man to become a responsible member of society and live up to his potential
Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.