He then released two solo albums, 12 Song Program (2010) and Sad Bear (2011), as well as another split album with Joey Cape in 2012, Acoustic Volume 2.
On August 1, 2012 it was announced that he had passed away.
Frances Stewart
Tony Sly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A shell of a guy we once knew
She took over his life and ripped out his spine
He thinks and he acts ninety-two
But creatively he never moved me
He sucked out the life from a room
Now as we get old he won′t be alone
Surrounded by all of his fools
And lets others know through the mill
She's certified crazy
He′s taught to ignore the twenty-odd bottles of pills
So when he wakes up
I hope that he will appreciate everything real
I have given him but chances are slim
When up against hearts that don't feel
I'm up against hearts that don′t feel
Tony Sly's Frances Stewart is a song about a man who has lost his identity to a woman, who now controls everything about him. He walks with his head bowed down, defeated and powerless. The language used in the song illustrates how Frances Stewart has taken away the man's inner courage and backbone, as he acts like an old man even though he is young. Creative expression is essential for many people to grow and develop, yet she has stifled his creativity and left him lifeless. The ambiguity of the line "as we get old, he won't be alone" leaves us to wonder if the man will ever truly be able to reclaim his own being, or will he forever be under her control.
The lyrics also delve into the idea that sometimes, we form a relationship with someone who is not good for us, but we ignore our own intuition because we are too afraid to be alone. The man in the song is not known for being a confrontational person, but he fights through others and tries to convey his struggles to others. Frances Stewart is portrayed as being mentally unstable, as evidenced by the "twenty-odd bottles of pills" he has been instructed to ignore. The song ends on a note of hopelessness as the singer acknowledges that his chances of getting through to the man are "slim" when he is up against "hearts that don't feel." This could represent the heartless nature of Frances, and also others who don't care about or understand the pain of those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
He walks down the street with his head by his feet
He walks with his head down and appears to be carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders or going through a rough patch.
A shell of a guy we once knew
He's become a shadow of his former self, and those who knew him before can tell that there's a significant change in him.
She took over his life and ripped out his spine
A woman has become the center of his world and has made him feel powerless or weak, like he's lost his backbone.
He thinks and he acts ninety-two
His behavior and thought patterns seem out of sync with his age, maybe as if he's lost sight of his youthfulness and energy.
But creatively he never moved me
Despite knowing him before, his creative output or artistic expression was never impressive, unique, or incomparable to others in similar fields.
He sucked out the life from a room
His presence in social situations was draining or uneventful, perhaps because of a lack of energy, charisma, or enthusiasm.
Now as we get old he won′t be alone
As he ages, he won't be lonely because he'll be surrounded by people, but it may not necessarily be people who truly care about him or are good for him.
Surrounded by all of his fools
The people around him are not wise or discerning, or are easily led astray by him or one another.
Not known for conflict but constantly fights
He's not recognized for being confrontational or argumentative, but he is always struggling, disagreeing, or battling with others.
And lets others know through the mill
He often communicates to others through gossip, rumors, or hearsay, rather than directly communicating his thoughts or opinions.
She's certified crazy
The woman in his life is mentally unstable or irrational.
He's taught to ignore the twenty-odd bottles of pills
He's been conditioned to overlook or downplay the woman's detrimental behavior or addiction, which is symbolized by the many bottles of pills left around.
So when he wakes up
When he eventually comes to realize what's happening or finds the courage to face reality.
I hope that he will appreciate everything real
The singer wishes for him to come to appreciate the authentic, honest, and genuine things in life.
I have given him but chances are slim
The chances of him changing and becoming appreciative are slim, despite the singer's efforts to help him.
When up against hearts that don't feel
When surrounded by people who lack empathy or understanding, it's nearly impossible to produce the desired change in him.
I'm up against hearts that don′t feel
The artist is facing a group of people who are indifferent, apathetic, or unaffected by the situation.
Writer(s): tony sly
Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.