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
Queen of Everything
moe. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Queen for many / they are for you
and I/just don't buy into you
take your chessboard too
[chorus]
I'm missing what i thought we once had
just drowning in your memory
in your lo-fi town
all for nothing/did you give me a line
did you say it's okay/did you tell me a lie
was it easy for you/was it easy to do
was it misdirection/or misjudging you
you're the queen of everything
and you /you think you are slowing down the room
Queen for many / they are for you
[chorus]
27 thousand /million degrees
and he flew too close/and it burned his wings
but the sun in the head/you have been doing to me
venus is still hotter than mercury
you're the queen of everything
and you /you think your soul would never bruise
Queen for many / they are for you
[chorus]
Low man in your lo-fi town/in your lo-fi town
you're the queen of everything/i'm the king of none
led me down your garden path/then robbed me with your gun
and you think you're the hottest thing/next to the sun
you're the queen of everything/and i'm the king of none
King of none [x3]
The lyrics in moe.'s song "Queen of Everything" are a contemplation of a failed romantic relationship. The lyrics introduce the idea that the Queen, the personification of the person the singer is addressing, is trying to slow down the room, to make the relationship go slower, maybe even to stagnate. The lyrics seem to suggest that the Queen is a popular, well-liked person, and the singer questions his own inability to see through her facade. He declares that he's not buying what she's selling, and asks the Queen to take away her chessboard, perhaps symbolizing games or manipulation that she has been playing.
The chorus reveals the singer's pain over what he's lost. He speaks of drowning "in her memory" and of feeling like the "low man down" in her town. He is missing what he thought they once had and struggling with the impact of her actions on him.
Later in the song, the lyrics reference the mythology of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and paid a price for his hubris. Here, the sun is a metaphor for the Queen herself, and the singer implies that she has burned him just as surely as the sun destroyed Icarus.
Line by Line Meaning
and you / you think you are slowing down the room
You have a high opinion of yourself and believe that others are drawn to your presence.
Queen for many / they are for you
Many people admire you and look up to you.
and I/just don't buy into you
I'm not convinced by your facade or by what you're selling.
take your chessboard too
Your manipulative tactics won't work on me; take them elsewhere.
I'm missing what i thought we once had
I'm nostalgic for a past relationship or connection that I thought we shared.
just drowning in your memory
I'm consumed by thoughts of you and unable to move on.
i'm the low man down
I feel like I'm at the bottom of the social totem pole or in a position of relative powerlessness.
in your lo-fi town
Your world or social circle is low-key or modest in comparison to other lifestyles or social groups.
all for nothing/did you give me a line
Did you promise me something or tell me a lie for no reason?
did you say it's okay/did you tell me a lie
Did you give me false reassurance or deceive me in some way?
was it easy for you/was it easy to do
Did you find it effortless to manipulate or deceive me?
was it misdirection/or misjudging you
Did you intentionally mislead me or mistake my intentions or feelings toward you?
27 thousand/million degrees
There's a significant amount of heat or tension between us.
and he flew too close/and it burned his wings
Like Icarus, he got too close to the flame and suffered the consequences.
but the sun in the head/you have been doing to me
Your intense presence has had a significant impact on my thoughts and emotions.
venus is still hotter than mercury
Despite the heat, I'm still drawn to you, even if I know it's not good for me.
you're the queen of everything
You have a remarkable level of control, power, and influence over your surroundings and those in it.
and you /you think your soul would never bruise
You're under the impression that your emotional state will never be affected, even when things don't go your way.
Low man in your lo-fi town/in your lo-fi town
I'm at a disadvantage or a low position of status within your social circles.
you're the queen of everything/i'm the king of none
You're powerful and influential, while I'm relatively powerless and lacking in influence.
led me down your garden path/then robbed me with your gun
You deceived me and then took advantage of me in some way.
and you think you're the hottest thing/next to the sun
You have an inflated ego and believe that you're incredibly desirable or attractive.
King of none [x3]
I have no power, influence, or control in this situation.
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.