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
Suck a Lemon
moe. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"I will be right back
Don't touch my bone or touch my bowl
Because you know that heads will roll"
The cat looked back at the dog and said
"Suck a lemon, old dog, just go ahead
And then one day you'll finally see
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
To protect you from the world outside
Dig a little ditch by the side of the road
Where the bad thoughts go
And the apples roll
To find their rest and turn to mold
Turn to mold
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
To protect you from the world outside
Rocks to gold, then dreams to dust
All things will do, as they must
Not as they're told, as you can trust
Their MO to the inner us
The reassuring hand of God
Can sometimes sting and rain down fists
Upon your muddled head, you clod, clod
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
The lyrics to moe.'s "Suck a Lemon" appear to be nonsensical and abstract at first glance, but upon closer inspection, reveal a deeper meaning. The opening lines depict a conversation between a dog and a cat, with the dog warning the cat not to touch his belongings. The cat, however, responds with a dismissive comment to the dog's concerns, telling him to "suck a lemon." This phrase is used throughout the song as a metaphor for trying new things and embracing discomfort in order to grow and evolve.
The subsequent lines encourage the listener to "chase the thoughts that multiply" and dig a "ditch by the side of the road" to dispose of negative thoughts. These instructions emphasize the importance of introspection and self-reflection in order to improve oneself. Additionally, the line "their MO to the inner us" suggests that everyone has an inherent nature, and that accepting and understanding this nature is essential to personal growth.
The song also references a higher power, with the line "The reassuring hand of God can sometimes sting and rain down fists." This demonstrates the idea that even seemingly negative experiences can ultimately lead to personal growth and development.
Overall, "Suck a Lemon" is a song about personal growth and the importance of trying new things, even if they are uncomfortable. It encourages introspection and self-reflection as key components of personal development and references higher powers as guiding forces in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoops," said the dog to the cat
The dog apologizes for something and speaks to the cat
"I will be right back
Don't touch my bone or touch my bowl
Because you know that heads will roll"
The dog warns the cat not to touch his belongings while he's gone
The cat looked back at the dog and said
"Suck a lemon, old dog, just go ahead
And then one day you'll finally see
Your beef with me is in your head"
The cat tells the dog to try something new and that he will realize their problems are imaginary
Suck a lemon if you've never tried
Then chase the thoughts that multiply
You got bats in your belfry and a rhino hide
To protect you from the world outside
To protect you from the world outside
Try something new to get a fresh perspective, confront your thoughts, and protect yourself from the world
Dig a little ditch by the side of the road
Where the bad thoughts go
And the apples roll
To find their rest and turn to mold
Turn to mold
Create a place to bury your negative thoughts and let them decompose
Rocks to gold, then dreams to dust
All things will do, as they must
Not as they're told, as you can trust
Their MO to the inner us
Everything has its own path and outcome, and it's up to us to trust our instincts
The reassuring hand of God
Can sometimes sting and rain down fists
Upon your muddled head, you clod, clod
Even when we seek guidance, it can be painful and confusing
Contributed by Caleb G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.