Bechtolt was born in Astoria, Oregon and began playing music as a teenager, dropping out of high school to play drums in his brother's touring punk band. He started working with electronics in the late 1990s and began releasing solo records under the name YACHT in 2003. Nearly all of his recordings have been distributed by both Marriage Records and States Rights Records.
Claire Evans came of age playing in bands in the underground noise scene of Los Angeles, and was part of the Portland-based The World Court. She has presented her PowerPoint performances at MoMA PS1, The Kitchenand the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art and has collaborated with Bechtolt on literally hundreds of projects since they met in 2004.
In 2003, Bechtolt was commissioned to create a full length audio/visual electronic pop opera by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA). He performed with his group The Badger King with bandmate Marianna Ritchie (a Wolf Colonel and Dear Nora alumnus who went on to record alone as Manta, and then Mantar).
In 2006, Bechtolt collaborated with Khaela Maricich as half of the pop group The Blow to release Paper Television. Bechtolt toured extensively with The Blow, providing beats and backup vocals until quitting the band in 2007 in order to focus on his work in YACHT.
In January 2006, Bechtolt was commissioned for two performances for the New York based art and technology platform Rhizome, as part of their "Crap-tops vs Laptops" show. In February 2006, he performed at the Museum of Modern Art's P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center and produced an hour-long internet radio program with Clear Cut Press; a Northwest-based publisher of new literary work.
In 2007, for the release party for YACHT's album I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real, Bechtolt performed a concert on an actual yacht on the Willamette River in Portland.
The 2009 release, See Mystery Lights, was the first to feature Claire Evans as a group member.
YACHT live performances include dancing as well as elaborate PowerPoint presentations. Bechtolt documents his professional and sometimes personal life via video, text, and images on his blog.
In 2010, YACHT expanded to include The Straight Gaze; a backing band of 2 additional members. Bobby Birdman plays bass guitar and sings backing vocals while Jeffrey Jerusalem plays drums. In this incarnation Bechtolt and Evans both play instruments.
Bechtolt is a co-founder of the Portland-based popular blogging web community Urban Honking as well as the producer, editor, cameraman and a writer of The Ultimate Blogger.
Both Bechtolt and Evans are vegans.
Sites: YouTube, SoundCloud, Discogs, Wikipedia, Twitter and www.teamYACHT.com
See A Penny
Yacht Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh
bending down to pick it up (oh oh)
I didn't know what to expect
but I guess thats what you get (oh oh)
Without love what do we have?
Without love what do we have? (Nothing)
Without love what do we have?
Without love what do we have? (Nothing)
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
If there's no magic in the world
then we know just what to do (oh oh)
I just lost 100 bucks
betting it against love (oh oh)
Without love what do we have?
Without love what do we have?
Nothing, nothing
Without love what do we have?
Without love what do we have?
Nothing, nothing
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh, oh oh
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh, oh oh
See a penny pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
The lyrics to Yacht's song "See a Penny" convey a message of hope, luck, and the power of love. The repeated phrase "See a penny, pick it up, and all day you'll have good luck" emphasizes the belief that small actions can bring positive outcomes. The act of picking up a penny represents seizing opportunities and embracing the little moments in life.
The line "I cut my fingers on the rock, bending down to pick it up" suggests that taking risks and venturing out of one's comfort zone can sometimes lead to unforeseen challenges and setbacks. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that not knowing what to expect is part of life, and sometimes it's worth taking those risks.
The lyrics also highlight the importance of love. The question "Without love, what do we have?" suggests that love is a fundamental element in life, and without it, everything else seems empty and meaningless. The repetition of the line emphasizes the idea that love is essential for happiness and fulfillment.
Ultimately, "See a Penny" encourages listeners to embrace the small opportunities that come their way, take risks, and recognize the significance of love in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
See a penny pick it up
If you see a penny on the ground, go ahead and pick it up
and all day you'll have good luck
By picking up the penny, you will attract good luck for the entire day
Oh oh
Expressing the excitement or realization of the previous lines
I cut my fingers on the rock
While reaching down to pick up the penny, the artist accidentally injured their fingers on a rock
bending down to pick it up (oh oh)
They had to bend down to retrieve the penny, further emphasizing the physical effort
I didn't know what to expect
The singer had no expectations about the penny or its significance
but I guess that's what you get (oh oh)
The outcome or consequence of picking up the penny is uncertain, but they soon realize that it is what they receive
Without love what do we have?
Love is being questioned as the artist wonders about the value and significance of life without it
Without love what do we have? (Nothing)
The absence of love leaves us with a sense of emptiness or lack
If there's no magic in the world
Acknowledging the possibility that magic or wonder may not exist in the world
then we know just what to do (oh oh)
In the absence of magic, the singer implies that they have a plan or solution
I just lost 100 bucks
The artist recently lost a significant amount of money
betting it against love (oh oh)
They wagered the money in a bet against love, indicating that love holds great value to them
Nothing, nothing
Reiterating the absence of meaning or value without love
See a penny pick it up
Encouraging the act of picking up a penny if spotted
and all day you'll have good luck
Highlighting the belief that picking up the penny brings good luck for the entire day
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Repeating the excitement or realization of previous lines
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JONATHAN WARREN BECHTOLT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iloveyourainbow
i could watch that 100 times in a row and still get up and dance with it each time
Alison
freaking love this song
teddybomber182
HAHA!!! I absolutely LOVE THIS SONG! Brilliantly simple. <3
Michael M
I loooooooove these low-budge vids!!!!
spike10h
I saw these guys play with Matt and Kim in Seattle... They were good.
MetallicDonuts
why do i love this song so much!...
cassy
Fuck yeah! Love them to death <3 Austin Texas, amazing. Urban Outfitters, fucking amazing. Ahhh!, I love this video <3333
Alexis Seiler
i flippin LOVE this song!! AHH!! lol
mtsugi
That's cause the heavy base is Knight Rider, and that high pitched sound that would be really annoying is similar to Miss You's harmonica. Good call!
Kellye Kuh
love these guys - plus they're in AUSTIN