Wolf Parade released their eponymous debut EP in 2003 with only Spencer, Dan and Arlen performing on it. After Hadji joined the group, they released another independent, self-titled EP in 2004. They were signed to Sub Pop by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse and released their first widely-distributed record, Wolf Parade EP. In September 2005 their debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary was released.
Apologies to the Queen Mary was given this name because, as in rock and roll tradition, Wolf Parade trashed the Queen Mary hotel. It was said that they trashed the hotel worse than any band before them.
Their second album, At Mount Zoomer, was released June 17, 2008, and third, Expo 86 on July 5, 2010. On November 29th 2010 Wolf Parade called an indefinite hiatus.
The haitus ended when the band released Cry Cry Cry on Oct 6, 2017.
Grounds for Divorce
Wolf Parade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the buses on the ground
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
I said pretend it's whales
Keeping their voices down
Such were the grounds for divorce I know
On the radio
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
I said look at the clouds
It's a show all on its own
Such were the grounds for divorce I know
But the darling is dead
We hit her on the head
It looked like a wedding cake
Though the darling is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a newlywed
But look at the lovers
And the way they stand
And the way they move and the way they move their hands
And look at their babies
And their tiny little hands
And the way they get loved and the way they get loved, oh
Oh, look at the lovers
And the way they stand
And the way they move and the way they move
And the way they move their hands
Said you hate the sound
Of the buses on the ground
Said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
Said, pretend it's whales
Keeping their voices down
Such were the grounds for divorce I know
Looked like a newlywed
And the radio
And the bouncing body drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said look at the clouds
It's a show all on its own
Such were the grounds, such were the grounds for divorce I know
The lyrics of "Grounds for Divorce" by Wolf Parade are a mix of disconnected verses that paint a picture of a crumbling relationship. The song begins with the singer recounting an argument with their partner about the sound of buses on the ground. The partner hates the way the buses scrape their brakes all over town, and the singer suggests pretending it's whales to make the noise more bearable. This mundane disagreement is one of the "grounds for divorce," indicating that the relationship is already on shaky ground.
The following verse focuses on the radio and the "bouncing body drone" that the singer cannot ignore. They mention "eighteen reasons" they can't pick up the phone, and again try to distract their partner by pointing out the beauty of the clouds. The bridge features a sudden shift in tone with the mention of a dead darling that they hit on the head. It's unclear who or what the darling is, but it seems to be related to the relationship's collapse.
The final verse returns to a similar theme as the first, with the singer talking about the lovers they see around them. They note the way they stand, move, and love each other, possibly suggesting a sense of wistfulness or regret for what they've lost. Overall, "Grounds for Divorce" is a melancholic portrayal of a relationship that's on the brink of collapse.
Line by Line Meaning
You said you hate the sound
You expressed your disdain for the noise
Of the buses on the ground
Produced by the buses on the streets
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
You detest the way their brakes make a screeching sound
I said pretend it's whales
As an alternative, I suggested pretending it's the sound of whales
Keeping their voices down
Since whales usually make low-pitched sounds
Such were the grounds for divorce I know
These were the reasons that led to the end of our marriage
On the radio
Playing on the radio
And the bouncing bodies' drone
Amidst the noise of the dancing crowd
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Discovered a multitude of excuses for not answering the phone
I said look at the clouds
I pointed out the beauty of the clouds
It's a show all on its own
As the clouds create a beautiful display
But the darling is dead
Referring to a female, she is now deceased
We hit her on the head
She was killed by a blow to the head
It looked like a wedding cake
Despite her tragic demise, her appearance after the attack was reminiscent of a beautiful wedding cake
Look at the lovers
Observing the couples in love
And the way they stand
Taking note of how they stand next to each other
And the way they move and the way they move their hands
Watching their body language and movements
And look at their babies
Gazing upon their children
And their tiny little hands
Noticing the size of their little hands
And the way they get loved and the way they get loved, oh
Witnessing how they are loved and cared for
Said you hate the sound
You expressed your disdain for the noise
Of the buses on the ground
Produced by the buses on the streets
Said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
You detest the way their brakes make a screeching sound
Said, pretend it's whales
As an alternative, I suggested pretending it's the sound of whales
Keeping their voices down
Since whales usually make low-pitched sounds
Such were the grounds for divorce I know
These were the reasons that led to the end of our marriage
Looked like a newlywed
Despite her passing, she still had a beautiful appearance
And the radio
Playing on the radio
And the bouncing body drone
Amidst the noise of the dancing crowd
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Discovered a multitude of excuses for not answering the phone
Said look at the clouds
I pointed out the beauty of the clouds
It's a show all on its own
As the clouds create a beautiful display
Such were the grounds, such were the grounds for divorce I know
These were the reasons that led to the end of our marriage
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Arlen Thompson, Dan Boeckner, Hadji Bakara, Spencer Kyle Krug
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rei6en
LYRICS:
You said you hate the sound of the buses on the ground
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
Said, "Pretend it's whales a-keeping their voices down"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
On the radio and the bouncing body drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said, "Look at the clouds, it's a show all on its own"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
But the darling is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a wedding cake
But the darling is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a newlywed
But I look at the lovers and the way they stand
And the way they move and the way move their hands
And look at their babies and their tiny little hands
And the way they get loved and the way they get loved, oh
Oh, look at the lovers and the way they stand
And the way they move and the way they move and the way move their hands
You said you hate the sound of the buses on the ground
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
Said, "Pretend it's whales a-keeping their voices down"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
Looked like a newlywed
On the radio and the bouncing body drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said, "Look at the clouds, it's a show all on its own"
Such worthy grounds such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
@Haveanicedai
Memories from the best time of my life! Train rides to philly and nyc ❤️ I’m staring at the vinyl insert art from this album in a frame across the room from me that I put up when I first moved into my home. I see it every day, but somehow I’d forgotten about wolf parade for years!
@sycamoreshade8109
1 of the best songs I've ever heard...as a fan of less known Artists like Conor Oberst w/ Bright Eyes, Nick Rattigan w/Current Joys, Avey Tare & Animal Collective, Sir Brock from Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, etc.
Spencer Krug has to be the most underrated of them all and its criminal
@livingroom3531
this single handedly turned my depression into a resolve to actually start become an energy with a passion so thanks, very cool song
@rei6en
LYRICS:
You said you hate the sound of the buses on the ground
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
Said, "Pretend it's whales a-keeping their voices down"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
On the radio and the bouncing body drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said, "Look at the clouds, it's a show all on its own"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
But the darling is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a wedding cake
But the darling is dead
We hit it on the head
It looked like a newlywed
But I look at the lovers and the way they stand
And the way they move and the way move their hands
And look at their babies and their tiny little hands
And the way they get loved and the way they get loved, oh
Oh, look at the lovers and the way they stand
And the way they move and the way they move and the way move their hands
You said you hate the sound of the buses on the ground
You said you hate the way they scrape their brakes all over town
Said, "Pretend it's whales a-keeping their voices down"
Such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
Looked like a newlywed
On the radio and the bouncing body drone
Found eighteen reasons I can't pick up on the phone
Said, "Look at the clouds, it's a show all on its own"
Such worthy grounds such worthy grounds for divorce, I know
@utleychase7
The fucking classic!!!!!!!! Awgg i remember my parents playing this in the car when we go on road trips when i was a kid :)
@ryank9380
liar, no parent would play this on a road trip
@utleychase7
Ryan K ... my parents did, but ok
@siyas2510
you must have an extremely cool parents
@utleychase7
Siyapah Surathumrong thank you <3
@cestlavegan5793
Damn I must be your parent's age. I was like 20 when this was new.