The band's first record, Fatboy (1992), established the band as a favorite of the same 1990s scene that became popular through bands such as the Dave Matthews Band, Phish, and Widespread Panic. moe. has toured with the 1997 Furthur Festival, appeared at Woodstock '99, have played in Central Park, were the opening band for The Allman Brothers and The Who, and performed at Radio City Music Hall on New Years Eve 2006 and 2007.
They also host the annual festival moe.down at Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin, NY. Started in 2000, the festival runs for three days and occurs every Labor Day weekend. The festival has attracted a wide variety of musical talent. Acts range from newer bands just emerging onto the scene (such as Tea Leaf Green, Nellie McKay and Raq) to big name acts and jam rock staples, such as Les Claypool, Blues Traveler, and Mike Gordon (of Phish fame); to pop rock icons, such as Leo Kottke, The Flaming Lips, The Violent Femmes; and most recently, Perry Farrell. Each year, the amount of moe.down attendees has steadily increased. moe.down I attracted around 3,000 people while moe.down VI in 2005, had attracted close to 7,000.
During an interview, guitarist Al Schnier was asked to describe moe. for those who have never heard their music: "It's an amalgamation of a wide variety of the history of rock, all regurgitated and recycled through the eyes, ears, hands, whatever of the guys in our band and all of that with a sense of adventure, a sense of humor, also a constant desire to push the envelope. All in this arena of taking chances, improvising live, and making things up on the spot."
Their official site can be found at www.moe.org
Brittle End
moe. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sun growing cold
feeling brittle and old
White bark trees bending over in the snow
It's natural I'm told
When the thaw comes
and their leaves die in the fall
Not like me
they say I'll never bend
I'll just meet my brittle end
My brittle end (X3)
Endlessly
I chop for wood
in my garage when I was young
Friendlessly
I think I is good
better watch my tongue
Push me once
my momma said
better hope jesus saves
Push me twice
if you didn't die
You'll be in your grave
You'll be in your grave(X3)
(JAM)
What the Fuck!?
I said too much
adios my friend
Fuck a duck
Your tough luck
I'll be here till the end
I'll be here till the end (X3)
Maybe just in your head
One day this white tree won't bend
The lyrics of "Brittle End" by moe. are a reflection on the fragility of human life and the inevitability of aging and death. The opening lines "Seasons creeping, sun growing cold, feeling brittle and old" set the tone of the song and evoke a sense of melancholy. The first verse likens the singer to the white bark trees that bend over in the snow but stand straight and tall when the thaw comes. The trees shed their leaves in the fall, accepting the natural process of growth and decay. In contrast, the singer feels like he will never bend and will meet his "brittle end."
The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's memories of chopping wood in his garage and realizing the importance of watching what he says. The lines "push me once, my momma said, better hope Jesus saves, push me twice, if you didn't die, you'll be in your grave" suggest that the consequences of one's actions can lead to either salvation or destruction.
The song's jam section allows for a sense of spontaneity while maintaining the overall themes of the song. The lines "What the fuck, I said too much, adios my friend, fuck a duck, your tough luck, I'll be here till the end" suggest that even when faced with the end of one's life, it is important to stay true to oneself and remain present until the very end. The final lines "maybe just in your head, one day this white tree won't bend" suggest that perhaps the singer's fear of mortality is only in his head and that death is an inevitable part of life.
Overall, "Brittle End" is a poignant reflection on aging, mortality, and the importance of acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Seasons creeping
The onset of a new season is nearing.
sun growing cold
The sun's brightness is slowly fading, marking the change in season.
feeling brittle and old
The transition of seasons is taking a toll on the singer's body and making them feel fragile.
White bark trees bending over in the snow
The trees' trunks are curving downwards due to the weight of the snow on their branches.
It's natural I'm told
The natural phenomenon of trees' reactions to harsh weather is a common occurrence, and nothing to worry about.
When the thaw comes
After the freezing weather subsides, the trees return to their upright form.
they stand straight and tall
The trees regain their sturdy posture once the snow melts.
and their leaves die in the fall
The leaves wither and fall off in preparation for winter.
Not like me
The artist is different from the trees in nature.
they say I'll never bend
The artist is compared to the trees and how they never break, unlike the artist.
I'll just meet my brittle end
The singer's ending may be worse off than the trees', since they know their frailty.
Endlessly
Without an end in sight.
I chop for wood
The singer spends a lot of time cutting wood.
in my garage when I was young
The singer's proficiency at wood chopping started in their youth, in their garage.
Friendlessly
Alone without any friends.
I think I is good
The artist believes they are skilled at wood chopping.
better watch my tongue
The artist should be careful of what they say.
Push me once
If someone provokes the singer once,
my momma said
The singer remembers their mother's advice.
better hope jesus saves
The advice given by the artist's mother was to rely on divine intervention.
Push me twice
If someone provokes the artist twice,
if you didn't die
If the person provoking the artist is still alive,
You'll be in your grave
The singer will retaliate so fiercely that the offending party will die.
One day this white tree won't bend
Someday, the artist knows they will reach an irreparable point of weakness and no longer be able to recover like the white trees.
What the Fuck!?
Expressing shock or disbelief.
I said too much
The singer spoke out of turn.
adios my friend
The singer is saying goodbye to someone they consider a friend.
Fuck a duck
An exclamation of shock or frustration.
Your tough luck
The person the artist is addressing is out of luck.
I'll be here till the end
The singer will remain present until the situation is resolved.
Maybe just in your head
The situation may not be as dire as the singer believes, and it could be a figment of the singer's imagination.
Contributed by Andrew P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.