In late 2010 the band's bandcamp account featured their single ‘Ffunny Ffrends’, a sort of alien beatnik pop music that echoed 60s psychedelia and krautrock minimalism with just a hint of gentle weirdness that suggested its roots might equally lie in the verdant indie of the equally distant New Zealand scene.
Ruban Nielson is a New Zealand native who transplanted to Portland, Oregon, USA with his band The Mint Chicks. UMO was a project conceived as Ruban’s escape hatch to a new musical dimension where his vision of junkshop record collector pop could be realised in a sound that recalled Captain Beefheart, Sly Stone and RZA jamming on some kids TV theme too dark to ever be broadcast.
The eponymous UMO debut album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records, followed by II (2013), Multi-Love (2015), Sex & Food (2018), IC-01 Hanoi (2018) and V (2023).
Like Acid Rain
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jesus doesn't know my name
He charge me fifty bucks a gram (Woowoo)
Snort don't smoke
Smoke don't shoot that ope
Dwight dissolved in acid rain (Baba baba baba)
Tears are falling down
Messed with Polly and Marie
Took some xany and addy (Woowoo)
Does this mean you'll never blow me again?
Love dissolved in acid rain (Uh-uh uh-uh uh-uh)
Tears are falling down
La la la yeah
You and I are doomed to burn
Like white people in the sun (Woowoo)
Proxy man, drinkin a blood and sand
I'll dissolve in acid rain (Baba baba baba)
Tears are falling down
La la la yeah
The song "Like Acid Rain" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a reflection on the destructive nature of drug use and its impact on relationships. The opening lines, "Jesus doesn’t know my name / He charge me fifty bucks a gram," suggest that the singer is engaging in drug use and feels lost and disconnected from spirituality. The line "Snort don’t smoke / Smoke don’t shoot that ope" is a warning about the dangers of different methods of drug consumption.
The song then turns to a reflection on past relationships and how drug use has impacted them. The line "Messed with Polly and Marie / Took some xany and addy" suggests that the singer has engaged in casual sexual encounters while under the influence of drugs. The line "Does this mean you’ll never blow me again? / Love dissolved in acid rain" suggests that the drug use has caused the relationship to dissolve.
The final verse, "You and I are doomed to burn / Like white people in the sun / Proxy man, drinkin a blood and sand / I’ll dissolve in acid rain," is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the destructive nature of drug use. The line "I’ll dissolve in acid rain" suggests that the singer is aware of the harmful consequences of their drug use, but feels powerless to stop it.
Overall, the lyrics of "Like Acid Rain" can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug use and the impact it can have on personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus doesn’t know my name
The singer feels alienated from religious belief and feels forgotten by God.
He charge me fifty bucks a gram
The singer is buying drugs from someone who may or may not be trustworthy, but regardless is not cheap.
Snort don’t smoke
The singer suggests snorting drugs instead of smoking them.
Smoke don’t shoot that ope
The artist advises against injecting opium.
Dwight dissolved in acid rain
A character named Dwight is metaphorically destroyed by something harmful, possibly drug use.
Tears are falling down
The singer is upset and crying over unfortunate events.
Messed with Polly and Marie
The singer has had negative experiences with two people named Polly and Marie.
Took some xany and addy
The artist has taken prescription drugs Xanax and Adderall.
Does this mean you’ll never blow me again?
The artist is worried that a sexual partner will no longer be interested in them after taking drugs.
Love dissolved in acid rain
The artist's love and affection for someone has been metaphorically destroyed by something harmful, possibly drug use.
You and I are doomed to burn
The singer and another person are destined to fail or suffer due to their actions or circumstances.
Like white people in the sun
The artist suggests that the two of them are idling away ignorantly like white people sunbathing, rather than taking action.
Proxy man, drinkin a blood and sand
An unknown character, possibly a drug dealer, is drinking a cocktail called Blood and Sand.
I’ll dissolve in acid rain
The singer feels his identity and well-being will be destroyed by something harmful, possibly drug use.
Tears are falling down
The singer is upset and crying over unfortunate events.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Carl Kody Nielson, Ruban Nielson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind