The… Read Full Bio ↴Villagers are an Irish band from Dublin fronted by Conor J. O'Brien.
They have performed at several music festivals and toured with Tracy Chapman, Bell X1 and Tindersticks. They have one EP, titled Hollow Kind (2009). Their debut album Becoming a Jackal was released in 2010 and was shortlisted for that year's Mercury Prize and their second album {Awayland} was released in 2013.
Conor O'Brien formed Villagers after the break-up of his previous band The Immediate. The very next day, O'Brien wrote the first song after waking up with a hangover. O'Brien's time as a guitarist in Cathy Davey's band was also critical to the development of his style as he had never before performed alongside anyone outside of The Immediate. Villagers gave their first live performance as a support act with The Chapters at a show in Whelan's in November 2008. At that point the band had previously only rehearsed together on two occasions. They had only seven songs, written by O'Brien and passed on to the rest of the band to learn.
Villagers performed on the seventh series of RTÉ Two's Other Voices television programme in 2009. The band's debut EP, titled Hollow Kind, was released in February 2009. It contained four tracks, all of which were written by O'Brien and performed by him too. The EP brought comparisons with Bright Eyes and Sparklehorse. Villagers then went on tour. They were a support act for Neil Young and toured across Europe with Tracy Chapman.
Villagers appeared at several festivals in 2009. They supported Bell X1 when they performed at Live at the Marquee in Cork on June 26, 2009. They performed at several music festivals in Ireland, including on the Sunday of Oxegen 2009, at Indie-pendence on August 2 and at Electric Picnic 2009, as well as at Latitude Festival in the UK. The Irish Times's Jim Carroll recommended their performance in the Body Soul Arena at Electric Picnic 2009 as "A must-see for those who dig ragged pop, eerie folk and heartfelt, emotional songs and sounds". They headlined Hard Working Class Heroes in 2009, with O'Brien attracting the ire of the audience when he requested some quiet during the performance. They gave a live performance at The Music Show in Dublin's RDS in October 2009.
The debut single of Villagers was "On a Sunlit Stage" and was released in October 2009.
On January 15, 2010, Villagers represented Ireland at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, the Netherlands. They were involved in efforts to raise funds in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. They embarked on a tour with Tindersticks in March 2010 and released the single "Becoming a Jackal" on April 17, 2010. A debut album Becoming a Jackal was released in Ireland on 14 May 2010, with a UK release in May and a US release due on 8 June 2010. The album immediately went to number one on both the Irish Albums Chart and the Irish Indie Albums Chart. It proceeded to continuously top the indie chart.
Said by Conor J. O’Brien himself:
- “Ultimately, I’ve learned that a song is not an isolated thing. You have to wash the dishes before you write a song. It should never be taken too seriously. It must be treated with joy and humour, regardless of the subject matter,” muses Conor, as he strokes his hairless chin.
- “The aim is to feel the songs out. If I don’t surprise myself, then it is a worthless endeavour. Indeed, I would apply this attitude to all aspects of this project. The songs are quite decisive, but I have no idea what I am doing, or where I am going.” Again, he strokes his chin, this time with a look of resigned confusion. “Once the songs took shape, I asked some friends of mine to help me play them to people. When they kindly agreed, I decided that we would present ourselves as ‘Villagers’ – I don’t really know why. I think I like the name because it doesn’t offend the songs.” With this, he puts his clothes back on and bids me farewell. On returning to my office, I slip on a banana peel and subsequently die.
Real Go
Villagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you're feeling like you've had enough
There's only one way and it's always up
It's always tough
But if it's good enough for you
It's good enough for me
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
You hold me down (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
If you're feeling like you've had enough (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
There's only one way and it's always up (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
It's always tough
But if it's good enough for you (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
It's good enough for me
You hold me down (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
If you're feeling like you've had enough (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
There's only one way and it's always up (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
It's always tough
But if it's good enough for you (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
It's good enough for me
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Since I got bet
The song “Real Go-Getter” is an uplifting and inspiring song that speaks about overcoming obstacles and challenges in life. The opening lyrics, “Give all you got, And if you're feeling like you've had enough, There's only one way and it's always up, It's always tough” suggest that even when things get hard, rising above it is the only option. The chorus repeats the line, “Since I got better I'm a real go-getter” driving home the point that the singer has overcome something and is now ready to go after their dreams.
The second half of the song starts with the line, “You hold me down” which can be interpreted in two ways. It could be a reference to someone or something that held the singer back in the past, or it could be someone currently supporting them. Either way, the message is that feeling like you’ve had enough shouldn’t be a reason to give up, but rather to push harder and keep moving forward.
The final lines of the song, “But if it's good enough for you, It's good enough for me” emphasize that everyone’s definition of success may differ but what is important is believing in oneself and one’s abilities. The song encourages listeners to believe that they too can be a “real go-getter” and achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Give all you got
Put all your effort and energy into achieving what you desire.
And if you're feeling like you've had enough
If you feel overwhelmed and exhausted,
There's only one way and it's always up
The only direction to go when you're at rock bottom is up towards progress and success.
It's always tough
The journey towards success and overcoming obstacles is never easy.
But if it's good enough for you
If the end goal is worth it to you,
It's good enough for me
Then I support and back you up in your pursuit.
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Ever since I improved and bettered myself, I have become determined and driven to succeed.
You hold me down (since I got better I'm a real go getter)
You support me and keep me grounded as I strive towards my goals.
Since I got better I'm a real go getter
Because I have worked on myself, I am now ambitious and motivated to achieve what I desire.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Conor Joseph O'Brien
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh Ladgrove
This song should have millions of views here, it's absolutely stunning.
Raspatat
I was listening to 'Trick of the Light' and thinking of how I can totally meditate to Villagers' music, and then this song is suddenly released here. Its gotta be cosmic!
swampface
one of the few artists whom keeps on getting better and better... up there with the greatest, so complex and wondrous.. bravo
Joshua Rosling
Since I got better I'm a real go getter... this whole song is just so fantasmagically perfect.
first name is the name
okay this song is great, love it but i get jumpscared by the intro every time without fail
Paulo de Tarso Aragão
Absolutely amazing!
Altwodoor
Great work conor <3
Joshua Rosling
I'm never too sure if it's "since I got better I'm a real go getter" or "things have got better I'm a real go getter"... Either way the song is awesome.
luna_feles
Pretty sure its "Things have got better... ". At least the lyrics say so
Samet Aslan
dammm boiii that song is thiiiiiic as fuckkk