Wasner and Stack have been playing music together and apart in Baltimore, MD, and chose their name from the honorary state tree of Maryland. If Children is the culmination of many months of recording, polishing and perfecting to achieve what Any Given Tuesday best described as, “. .. . mingling in a room full of shoegaze, alt-country, folk, and noise, shaking hands, kissing cheeks, and making friends with everyone.” If Children is an exuberant debut – noisy and restrained in turn, Wye Oak describe their philosophy: "We'd like to think that if a song is good enough, it'll stand on its own regardless of how much noise you pile on top. On the other hand, we do like noise." Listen, and we think you will have to agree!
The droll tone and fleeting sweetness of a Yo La Tengo are cut into the more deeply textural concerns of shoegaze in the Baltimore group's work. It's an interesting alignment, given the contrast in senses of humor. But Wye Oak successfully shed tonnage from the latter without losing potency.
Mary Is Mary
Wye Oak Lyrics
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And they found a body in my backyard
I leave for the country just like you did
But he's not in the country, just look how you live
And all high and mighty, what do you know?
And there is no greater to despair on
And Mary is Mary and I'm not
And one head is lesser than the two heads
But we know the thoughts that go unsaid
And I'm left alone in my own home
Where all that I own is not my own
And all sleeping giants, why do you lie?
Behind the eyes of who I love the best
And is there another where you do keep
The pain of another where my arms sleep
And all high and mighty, what is your game?
Can we learn to live with so much loss?
And you say that we end where we all go
But all high and mighty, what do you know?
The lyrics to Wye Oak's song Mary Is Mary present a complicated web of emotions and thoughts, with a narrator grappling with issues of identity, loss, and the nature of existence itself. The opening lines see the singer leaving a 'maybe' for someone who is cold hearted, and shortly thereafter it's revealed that a body has been found in the singer's backyard. The theme of death and loss carries throughout the song, as the singer muses on the nature of grief and the difficulty of coming to terms with it.
The chorus serves as a kind of mantra for the singer, repeating the phrase "Mary is Mary and I'm not" several times. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it seems likely that the singer is reflecting on their own identity and how it differs from the person they are addressing - perhaps a former lover or friend. The line "what good does she have that I have gone?" speaks to a sense of jealousy or resentment, as the singer struggles to come to terms with the fact that someone else has taken their place in this person's life.
Later in the song, the theme of identity is further explored with the line "one head is lesser than the two heads". This could be interpreted in a few different ways as well, but it seems likely that the singer is acknowledging the value of having someone else to share their experiences and emotions with. The line "where all that I own is not my own" suggests a sense of disconnection or alienation, perhaps from their own sense of self or from the world around them. Overall, the song is a deeply introspective and emotional journey, grappling with big questions about life, death, and what it means to be human.
Line by Line Meaning
We left a 'maybe' for the cold heart
We left ourselves unsure and uncertain, leaving room for speculation and a lack of emotional attachment
And they found a body in my backyard
There is a hidden past and emotional baggage that we can't ignore or deny
I leave for the country just like you did
I am searching for answers and solitude, like you did before
But he's not in the country, just look how you live
You may have left physically, but emotionally you are still stuck and can't seem to move on
And all high and mighty, what do you know?
People who act superior and condescending often lack the empathy and understanding necessary to relate to others
And there is no greater to despair on
Despair is a universal emotion that can affect anyone at any time, regardless of status or background
And Mary is Mary and I'm not
Everyone is unique and special in their own way and should not be compared to others
But what, what good does she have that I have gone?
Jealousy is a toxic emotion that can cloud judgment and cause unnecessary pain
And one head is lesser than the two heads
Two people working together and sharing their thoughts can accomplish more than one person alone
But we know the thoughts that go unsaid
Communication is not always verbal, and often it's the unspoken thoughts and feelings that have the most impact
And I'm left alone in my own home
Even when surrounded by familiar objects and people, it's possible to feel isolated and alone
Where all that I own is not my own
Material possessions can be replaced and are not the most important things in life
And all sleeping giants, why do you lie?
People who have great potential but choose to ignore it are often the most frustrating ones to interact with
Behind the eyes of who I love the best
Even those closest to us can hide their true selves and we may never fully understand or know them
And is there another where you do keep
There may be secrets and hidden emotions that we are unaware of, even in those we think we know well
The pain of another where my arms sleep
The pain of others can affect us deeply, and it's important to be aware of and compassionate towards others' struggles
And all high and mighty, what is your game?
People who put up a facade of superiority often have something to hide or gain from their behavior
Can we learn to live with so much loss?
Grief and loss are inevitable parts of life, but learning to cope with them is essential for happiness
And you say that we end where we all go
Death is an inevitable part of life that we must all face eventually
But all high and mighty, what do you know?
Even those who claim to know everything about the world and the afterlife may not really know anything at all
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW BRANT STACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind