1) An American indie roc… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) An American indie rock and hip hop band
2) A British folk-pop band
1) A trio of Cincinnati-born men who fiddle with skins, strings, bells and microphones and present their findings to the listening public. Singer Yoni Wolf grew up the second son to an art book editor and a rabbi. He got his start recording bad poems and sloppy beats on the family synagogue’s 4-track. In junior high he discovered hip-hop. At art school, he learned how to drop out. Yoni’s brother Josiah played drums at Rabbi Wolf’s worship service as a kid, became a band geek as a teen, and fell in love with Thelonious Monk on his way to study music at University of Cincinnati. Doug McDiarmid would eventually get expelled from that same school for carrying a stun gun, but first he was raised by two French teachers and taught piano while in kindergarten. He also went to high school with the Wolfs, where he played in Steve Miller cover bands.
In various permutations together and with other now-notables (i.e. Doseone, Odd Nosdam, Mr. Dibbs, Atmosphere’s Slug), these three created and/or contributed to several freewheeling rap and lo-fi rock-related projects including Greenthink, Miss Ohio’s Nameless, Reaching Quiet, and the seminal cLOUDDEAD outfit. Their wildest dreams were achieved when they relocated to Oakland to make pop-inflected psychedelic folk-hop.
For four years, two EPs and 2003’s cult classic LP, Oaklandazulasylum, WHY? comprised Yoni Wolf alone. He honed his trademark delivery – a sickly sweet, half-rapped, singsong style – shined up his wry, picturesque poetry, and developed a clip-and-collage aesthetic using keyboards, toys, guitars, samplers and anything worth banging on. When Doug and Josiah moved west to join Yoni, they brought with them a hoard of instruments and the ability to wail on every last one. By chops and imagination, WHY? grew into a thing of flesh, bones and fully fledged songs, resulting in 2005’s Elephant Eyelash album. Critics swooned; ladies lauded; WHY? neither resisted nor rested. They toured – with Silver Jews, Yo La Tengo, and Islands. They collaborated – with Danielson Family, Department Of Eagles, and Subtle (Yoni also recorded with Fog’s Andrew Broder as “Hymie’s Basement”). They put out yet more music.
The brand new album Eskimo Snow is something of a companion piece to last year’s celebrated Alopecia LP. In February of 2007, the WHY? trio temporarily relocated to Minneapolis and officially inducted Fog players Andrew Broder and Mark Erickson. Recording live as a five-piece, WHY? created two distinct albums from those sessions: Alopecia, with its taut rhythms and biting wit, and Eskimo Snow, a shadowy and sprawling set that finds Yoni resigned to and ever-awed by those infinite erring bits of existence that make WHY? what it is.
2) Also an English folk-pop band active during the 90s. They released nine albums between '91 & '99, including the curiously-titled Pinnenstripeensuitenwearenfoddergeburnenclippenclopen.
The Hollows
Why? Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my demons dying and my pilot light weak
I curse the last six months I been hiding behind a moustache, yeah
And to those last ten years I been howling a paper moon: fuck you
This goes out to all my under done
Other tongue lung long frontmen
(This is what the ghost of someone's dad says)
And some pulled
(Shut up and put your money where your mouth is)
Shine a flashlight in a hat box and spin
An empty oyster shell and celebrate the hollows
This goes out to dirty dancing cursing back masking
Back slidden pastor's kids
(From behind bars it's not so hard to see he's risen)
And all us earth growths, some planted
And some pulled
(But nobody finds god and then goes to prison)
In Berlin I saw two men fuck
In a dark corner of a basketball court
Just the slight jingle of pocket change pulsing
In the tourist part I lost fifty euros
To a guy with the walnut shells and the marble
It really pissed me off, so ooh I thought I'd go
Back to get my money but all my homies warned me
Oh no, those gypsies probably got knives
This goes out to all my under brewed
Double duped two times true fools
(Stuck faking a phone call or texting for company)
And all us earth grows, some planted
And some pulled
(Like a married in uncle at a family function)
I got them shaky gums and a couple of loose tooths
Now tell me, what should I do my god
The clock's always stuck telling, 11:11, or 3:32
This goes out to all my under done
Other tongued lung long frontmen
(Even just Joanna Newsom's left hand)
And all us earth growths, some planted
And some pulled
(I bet could beat the pants in bass off your best man)
This goes out to all my underdone
Other tongued lung long frontmen
(This is what the ghost of someone's dad says)
And all us earth growths,
Doing the croak like it ain't no joke
In a crowded room project a debonair aloof impermanance
Be shrouded loosely in an air of indeterminates
The lyrics of WHY?'s song "The Hollows" paint a vivid picture of the inner turmoil and existential struggles faced by the artist. The opening lines describe the singer lying down to sleep, tormented by his demons and feeling spiritually depleted. He expresses frustration at his own inability to confront his problems over the past six months, hiding behind a false image of himself symbolized by a mustache. The reference to "howling at a paper moon" signifies a futile attempt to achieve something unattainable or illusory.
The song then turns to a meditation on the human condition, with a message of solidarity with all those who feel underappreciated, undervalued, or misunderstood. The chorus repeats the phrase "all us earth growths, some planted and some pulled," suggesting that every person has their own unique story and journey. The song also alludes to the transient and unpredictable nature of life, with references to losing money in a scam and witnessing unexpected behavior in Berlin.
Overall, "The Hollows" is a song that resonates with anyone who has grappled with feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, or confusion. The artist's raw vulnerability and honesty make it a powerful anthem for those who feel marginalized or disconnected from mainstream society.
Line by Line Meaning
As I lay me down to fall asleep
With my demons dying and my pilot light weak
I curse the last six months I been hiding behind a moustache, yeah
And to those last ten years I been howling a paper moon: fuck you
I'm struggling to sleep because I can't escape my past mistakes and shameful behavior. I blame myself for hiding away and not addressing my issues. I'm angry at myself for pretending to be happy when deep down I was miserable.
This goes out to all my under done
Other tongue lung long frontmen
(This is what the ghost of someone's dad says)
And all us earth growths, some planted
And some pulled
(Shut up and put your money where your mouth is)
I'm dedicating this message to all the overlooked and disregarded musicians who have something to say. We're all just regular people trying to make it in the world. We need to stop making excuses and start taking action.
Shine a flashlight in a hat box and spin
An empty oyster shell and celebrate the hollows
Let's look for beauty in unexpected places and appreciate the emptiness and imperfections of life. Instead of being afraid of darkness, let's embrace it with a spirit of wonder and curiosity.
This goes out to dirty dancing cursing back masking
Back slidden pastor's kids
(From behind bars it's not so hard to see he's risen)
And all us earth growths, some planted
And some pulled
(But nobody finds god and then goes to prison)
I'm recognizing all the people who have struggled with their faith and made mistakes. Even when we feel lost or trapped, we can still find hope and meaning in life. Everyone is on their own spiritual journey and we shouldn't judge others for their choices.
In Berlin I saw two men fuck
In a dark corner of a basketball court
Just the slight jingle of pocket change pulsing
In the tourist part I lost fifty euros
To a guy with the walnut shells and the marble
It really pissed me off, so ooh I thought I'd go
Back to get my money but all my homies warned me
Oh no, those gypsies probably got knives
I witnessed some disturbing and unsettling things while traveling abroad. I also fell victim to a scam and lost some money. Even when we take risks and try new things, we need to be aware of potential dangers and protect ourselves.
This goes out to all my under brewed
Double duped two times true fools
(Stuck faking a phone call or texting for company)
And all us earth grows, some planted
And some pulled
(Like a married in uncle at a family function)
I'm acknowledging all the people who feel ignored or overlooked by society. We're all searching for connection and validation, but sometimes we have to fake it until we make it. We all have a place in this world, even if we don't feel like we fit in.
I got them shaky gums and a couple of loose tooths
Now tell me, what should I do my god
The clock's always stuck telling, 11:11, or 3:32
I'm feeling uncertain and anxious about the future. I don't know who I can turn to for guidance or support. Time seems to be moving too slowly or too quickly, and I feel like I'm stuck in limbo.
This goes out to all my under done
Other tongued lung long frontmen
(Even just Joanna Newsom's left hand)
And all us earth growths, some planted
And some pulled
(I bet could beat the pants in bass off your best man)
This goes out to all my underdone
Other tongued lung long frontmen
(This is what the ghost of someone's dad says)
And all us earth growths,
Doing the croak like it ain't no joke
I'm saying goodbye to all the people who feel like they haven't accomplished everything they wanted to in life. We all have untapped potential and hidden talents. Even if we don't feel like we've made a big impact, we can still find joy in pursuing our passions.
In a crowded room project a debonair aloof impermanance
Be shrouded loosely in an air of indeterminates
Sometimes the best way to stand out in a crowd is to be yourself and embrace your quirks. We don't have to conform to others' expectations or change who we are to fit in. Let's be comfortable with our uncertainties and embrace the beauty of imperfection.
Contributed by Cooper K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LofiWackPainting
My mom used to listen to this constantly she knows all the great underrated bands
basedisciple
what else does she listen to?
Elliot Wright
Shout out to the Moms!
Lost in translation
@basedisciple was gonna ask the same thing lol
Nichole DePompe
Fkn awesome mom
JohnnySwyft
This dude's sh*t is so personal and specific. Awesome band!
Taylor Tot
I found this song on accident. I was actually looking for Why by The Hollows lmao Glad I found this though. This song is amazing. 😍
Mc Chaotic Neutral & Rusty Shackleford & Company
Oh shit this one takes me back
Such a underated band
Brandylin Gonzo
I used to listen to this song on repeat 10ish years ago. My kid played something that sounded similar and I couldn't remember the name only the "just the slight jingle of pocket change pulsing" lyric then boom.
hailee dot jpeg
I have alopecia and I lost all my hair to it and I ask God why. I vibe with the album art