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
Downward Facing Dog
moe. Lyrics
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And the night comes, to open the doors
All blues are gone & the white lights are on
While leaves dance a tango on somebody's lawn
On the rising, a pencil line, sandalwood shore
And in the end, I'm going down swinging
Standing out in the pouring rain
The band plays "Long Black Veil" again
When the day is done, & the skies move alive in your head
And the weight has come, an ocean of oranges & red
The sun's setting somewhere, so maybe we'll go there
We'll be there tomorrow while chasing today
I find amazement, lost in something you said
You can't put it on, can't put it on
And then the night comes
It's time to go home
The song "Downward Facing Dog" by moe. is a poetic reflection on transitions and the passing of time. The verses capture a series of moments in which the singer observes the world around them undergoing changes: skies sweeping floors, night opening doors, blues turning to white lights, leaves dancing a tango. These vivid images convey a sense of fluidity and movement, as though the world is constantly shifting and transforming. Amidst this flux, the singer seems to find solace in the beauty of sandalwood shores and the words of a companion who inspires amazement.
The chorus contrasts with the vividness of the verses by evoking a sense of finality and resignation. The singer declares that they will go down swinging, standing out in the pouring rain, while their friends sing an ominous tune. The phrase "long black veil" is likely a reference to a classic country song by the same name, which tells the story of a man who is executed for a crime he did not commit. The repetition of this phrase creates a haunting sense of inevitability, as though the singer is facing their own mortality or something equally fateful. The final lines seem to suggest a return to the mundane reality of everyday life, as the night comes and it's time to go home.
Overall, "Downward Facing Dog" presents a rich tapestry of sensory images and emotions, inviting the listener to contemplate the ebb and flow of existence. The song captures a feeling of being caught between different states of being, from the fluidity of the natural world to the inevitability of human fate.
Line by Line Meaning
When the skies come, to sweep up the floors
When a storm arrives to clean up the ground
And the night comes, to open the doors
When darkness arrives to allow us access to new experiences
All blues are gone & the white lights are on
All sadness has disappeared and bright opportunities are present
While leaves dance a tango on somebody's lawn
Watching the leaves sway gracefully on someone's yard
On the rising, a pencil line, sandalwood shore
A new day begins with a thin line on the horizon and the scent of sandalwood
And in the end, I'm going down swinging
Even if I lose, I will fight until the very end
Standing out in the pouring rain
Facing life's struggles with courage and determination
All of our friends will be singing
Even in the face of adversity, we have support from those around us
The band plays "Long Black Veil" again
We find solace in hearing the same song again and again
When the day is done, & the skies move alive in your head
As the day ends, memories and thoughts come to life in our minds
And the weight has come, an ocean of oranges & red
As the weight of the day settles in, the sky turns to a beautiful sunset
The sun's setting somewhere, so maybe we'll go there
Knowing that the sun is setting somewhere else gives us a sense of possibility and adventure
We'll be there tomorrow while chasing today
We will always be chasing after what's ahead, while still living in the present moment
I find amazement, lost in something you said
Being awestruck and captivated by something someone said
You can't put it on, can't put it on
You can't fake or force genuine emotions
And then the night comes
And then the darkness arrives once again
It's time to go home
It's time to leave behind the distractions of the night and find comfort in our own space
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: AL SCHNIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind