Its songs sound something akin to the icy garage rock of early Echo & The Bunnymen crossed with the sun-bleached tremolo-punk of the Scientists. There are hints of krautrock, the trance-inducing organ haze of Suicide, Deerhunter style dance-drone, classic desert-fried garage psych and the mysterious, obscure Japanese lysergic-rock band Les Rallizes Denudes all mixed into one explosive whole on Wooden Shjips self-titled Holy Mountain debut.
The experience of Wooden Shjips (yes, shjips, not ships) has been equated to that of the Japanese phenomenon called maboroshi, which is somewhat similar to seeing a mirage or hallucinating in time. In the context of imagination/dreams, maboroshi is attributed to past occurrences and can take on a meaning like "phantoms." The group's songs seem to exist in a dream state in which anything is possible.
Wooden Shjips released two acclaimed records in 2006, beginning early in the year with the self-released 10” EP Shrinking Moon for You. The record quickly sold-out, after capturing the attention of well-regarded tastemakers, such as Tom Lax and Byron Coley, who penned rave reviews on Siltblog and in The Wire magazine, respectively. A 7” followed on the Sick Thirst label, and received similar praise from music bloggers, as well as from veteran scribe David Fricke in Rolling Stone.
The band has three new releases lined up for 2007: the LP/CD for Holy Mountain, a 7” for Sub Pop and a 7” for Pollymaggoo Records. They played at NoisePop 2007 with Roky Erickson in March, as well as playing a packed showcase at the SXSW Music conference in Austin, TX.
Staring At The Sun
Wooden Shjips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staring at the sun
Crowds of people walk on by
What a feeling to rise above clouds
Ashes falling around the town
Burning up
Rolling down along the corner
Everything is about living a long time
The sun rises and hears about what
Things won't work out
I 'm feeling fine
Sitting in the sun
Drops of rain and please won't come
Fading's on my mind
Thoughts were on pleasing and working out
There wanna see
Fading into? on my mind
The lyrics of Wooden Shjips's "Staring at the Sun" touch on themes of loneliness, isolation, and the desire for transcendence. The song opens with the singer feeling alone, staring at the sun and observing the crowds of people walking by. The sense of detachment is heightened by the line "What a feeling to rise above clouds," which hints at a yearning for escape from the mundane. However, the singer's attempts at transcendence are thwarted by the ashes falling around the town, suggestive of some apocalyptic event that threatens to consume everything.
The second verse seems to address the listener directly, asking if the experience of "rolling down along the corner" eases their loneliness. The phrase "Everything is about living a long time" suggests a fear of mortality, the feeling that we must cling to life as long as possible. However, the sun eventually rises on a world where "things won't work out" and we're left to confront our own insignificance.
The final lines of the song hint at a sense of acceptance, where the singer "feels fine" sitting in the sun, but there is still a nagging sense of something missing. The "fading on my mind" could be interpreted in different ways; it could reference the fading of memories or the fading of hope, perhaps suggesting that even when we feel okay in the present moment, we can't shake off the sense of loss and impermanence.
Line by Line Meaning
I was feeling alone
At that moment, I felt lonely and isolated.
Staring at the sun
I was gazing at the sun, possibly as a way to escape my feelings of loneliness and despair.
Crowds of people walk on by
Despite the number of people around me, I still feel alone and disconnected.
What a feeling to rise above clouds
It would be an extraordinary experience to ascend above the clouds and escape the isolation I currently feel.
Ashes falling around the town
Something destructive or chaotic is happening in the city or town, and I witness it as I feel alone and disconnected.
Burning up
Metaphorically, I'm burning up with emotions, whether they're negative or positive, and I can't handle them.
Rolling down along the corner
I'm moving around the town, possibly searching for something, or trying to escape a situation that's causing me to feel this way.
Does it ease you now around the town
Are there any external factors that bring you peace or contentment as you roam the town?
Everything is about living a long time
The struggles I'm experiencing now seem negligible in the grand scheme of things, and my primary goal should be to have a long and fulfilling life.
The sun rises and hears about what
As the sun rises each day, it hears and sees all of the good and bad things happening in the world.
Things won't work out
At this moment, I feel hopeless and doubtful that my life will improve, no matter what I do.
I'm feeling fine
After having such negative thoughts and feelings before, I am now in a better mental state and feel alright.
Sitting in the sun
I'm taking a breather and sitting in the sun to enjoy the warmth and perhaps lift my spirits further.
Drops of rain and please won't come
It's possible that the rain could bring me relief or a sense of calm, but it's not coming, and I must find other ways to soothe myself.
Fading's on my mind
My thoughts are becoming vague and hazy, making it challenging to focus or complete tasks.
Thoughts were on pleasing and working out
I was previously preoccupied with pleasing others and being successful or 'working out', but now my thoughts have shifted.
There wanna see
It's unclear what this sentence means on its own, but in the context of the previous lines, it could suggest that there are individuals who want to see me fail or suffer.
Fading into? on my mind
The sentence trail off ambiguously, perhaps indicating the singer's confusion or distraction.
Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.