Toby used to play bass, piano, guitar and sing on Maudlin of the Well, and has worked with numerous other bands, including Asva, Tartar Lamb (originally created to play his self-written piece Sixty Metonymies), and Tartar Lamb II, and he has played onstage with Secret Chiefs 3, for instance.
His first solo album, In the L..L..Library Loft, was released on Tzadik in 2005. It was released under his name at Tzadik's preference, though most of Kayo Dot still appears on it. He composed the soundtrack to the short film The Pod (2013) and a multimedia project Ichneumonidae (2014). His second solo album, Madonnawhore, was released in 2017 (described by the artist himself as "consisting entirely of dreary ballads"); a live album, Live at Roulette, March 2017, was also given limited release in the same year.
The Knot
Toby Driver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My vision lies in the familiar loop
Love is my frailty
So I dragged myself up
One time around the carousel
And I aged another decade
But how I could have stayed
Fever in the eastern dell
A diffuse monastic in the mirror
I left my body on the ridge
So I followed the hanging rope
Down, down to the material world
I met the knot
And there on the far bank
You kissed me
I know you always knew why
The lyrics of Toby Driver's song "The Knot" suggest themes of self-discovery, escape, and love. The verse "Warmth in the west, self-suffocation, My vision lies in the familiar loop" may depict the singer's yearning for something new amidst his/her comfort and familiarity in their surroundings. The line "Love is my frailty" suggests that the singer recognizes their vulnerability in love, which ties in with the idea of self-discovery in the song.
The second verse "Fever in the eastern dell, A figure called me from the fresco, A diffuse monastic in the mirror" seems to describe an experience of transcendence or illuminative vision. The figure in the mirror may represent the singer's internal self, and the fever could represent a heightened sense of awareness. The reference to a fresco (a painting on a wall) suggests that this transcendent experience has historical or cultural significance.
The final verse "I left my body on the ridge, So I followed the hanging rope, Down, down to the material world, I met the knot, And there on the far bank, You kissed me, I know you always knew why" depicts a journey, possibly one of escape or release, from the non-material world to the physical world. The "knot" may represent a difficult or complex aspect of the singer's life that they must untangle, and the kiss suggests an act of comfort or reconciliation from someone close to them. The song as a whole seems to depict a journey of self-discovery and resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
Warmth in the west, self-suffocation
I feel comfortable and safe here, but at the same time trapped and suffocated by my own thoughts and emotions.
My vision lies in the familiar loop
I keep replaying the same patterns and routines in my life because it gives me a sense of security and control.
Love is my frailty
My vulnerability and weakness is my deep need for love and connection with others.
So I dragged myself up
Despite feeling helpless and lost, I had to pick myself up and keep going.
One time around the carousel
I have gone through this cycle of pain and struggle before and I am stuck in a constant loop.
And I aged another decade
Time is passing by and I am getting older but I still feel like I haven't moved forward.
But how I could have stayed
I wish I had the option to stay in a safe and happy place, but life forces me to continue moving forward.
Fever in the eastern dell
There is intense emotional turmoil and struggle within me that I can't seem to escape.
A figure called me from the fresco
Someone, or something, caught my attention and called me towards it.
A diffuse monastic in the mirror
I see an image in the mirror that is both unclear and spiritual, prompting me to reflect on myself.
I left my body on the ridge
I dissociated from myself and my problems, leaving them behind on a physical location.
So I followed the hanging rope
I pursued something that gave me a sense of direction and purpose.
Down, down to the material world
I descended into the tangible, earthly realm of existence.
I met the knot
I encountered an obstacle, a physical or metaphysical tying point in my life.
And there on the far bank
On the other side of the knot, there was a new perspective or emotional state.
You kissed me
You showed me love and affection, bringing comfort and peace.
I know you always knew why
You understood what I was going through and were always there for me, even if I didn't realize it.
Writer(s): Toby Driver
Contributed by Parker P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.