Nightly audiences are knocked out by their easygoing onstage rapport and th… Read Full Bio ↴Nightly audiences are knocked out by their easygoing onstage rapport and the humor with which they juggle everything from gypsy jazz and heavy prog and metal riffs to the most delicate classical runs. With the final line-up completed (including founding member, bassist Ryan Stasik, plus drummer Kris Myers and percussionist Andy Farag), these days the Umphrey’s operates out of Chicago, where they spend about half the year while the other half is on the road, in the US, Europe and Japan.

2x2
Umphreys McGee Lyrics

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One lies in waiting for
One mind who wants for more
Four arms plain for one goal
Two more will make one whole, but when?

And it comes on slow
And it folds all you know
Yet it seems so far

When all is gained or lost
What will measure mine?
Could I leave it now
When so tired am I
What is suffering?

Eight arms slave for one goal
Two more will make one whole

We have questions of control
Could I be bought or sold today?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Umphrey's McGee's "2x2" explore the desire for completion and the struggle for control. The song begins with a waiting figure who desires more, and seeks to unite with another to become whole. However, the process is slow and consuming, causing the singer to question the worth of the pursuit. They wonder if the suffering and exhaustion of the journey is worth it, and what will ultimately measure their success.

The second verse brings in the idea of control, with the image of eight arms working towards one goal. Despite this unification, the singer still questions if they could be bought or sold, and if they truly have control over their own destiny. The ultimate question becomes whether the journey towards completion is worth the potential loss of control.

Overall, "2x2" is a meditation on the struggle for completeness and control, and the potential consequences of these pursuits.

Line by Line Meaning

One lies in waiting for
There is something waiting for us

One mind who wants for more
There is a person who desires more

Four arms plain for one goal
Two people working towards a common goal

Two more will make one whole, but when?
Two additional people are needed, but we don't know when they will arrive

And it comes on slow
The awaited thing happens slowly

And it folds all you know
It changes everything you know

Yet it seems so far
It feels distant

When all is gained or lost
During moments of success or failure

What will measure mine?
What is the metric for my success?

Could I leave it now
Can I abandon this venture?