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
The Bones of Lazarus
moe. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the boys and girls had said he lost his mind
First they danced around his fire and then they drank his wine
And he saw a spark, he saw the fire rise up into the sky
He saw the spinning lights
He knew it was a sign
All the boys and girls had said he lost his mind
Hit him like a poison arrow, right between the eyes
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
He watched the earth, he plays it over in his mind
All the boys and girls all waiting for a sign
Two-thousand trips around the sun He's done his time
His Flesh and Bones and empty holes stare up into the sky
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
The song "The Bones of Lazarus" by moe. contains lyrics that are rich in imagery and metaphor. The song talks about a man who sees thirty thousand holes up in the sky, and how all the boys and girls say that he has lost his mind. However, despite their disbelief, he sees a spark and the fire rise up into the sky. He sees spinning lights and knows that it's a sign. But he is hit by a poison arrow that clenches all his muscles together, tensing them at one time.
The song goes on to talk about how he saw Lazarus dancing on his grave with thirty thousand lights up in the sky, and how he danced upon his name thirty times, thirty thousand times. The man in the song watches the earth and plays it over in his mind, waiting for a sign. But he has done his time, and his flesh and bones and empty holes stare up into the sky. The song ends with him seeing Lazarus dancing on his grave and dancing upon his name thirty times, thirty thousand times.
The lyrics in the song seem to be about the cycle of life and death, and how even in death, there is still movement and energy. Lazarus, who is a biblical figure known for being raised from the dead, is seen dancing on his grave, which could be interpreted as a symbol of life after death or the cycle of reincarnation. The thirty thousand lights could represent the souls of the people who have passed away, or they could represent the stars in the sky.
Line by Line Meaning
He saw thirty thousand holes up in the sky
He observed that there were numerous gaps in the sky, roughly thirty thousand of them.
All the boys and girls had said he lost his mind
The young males and females declared him as insane.
First they danced around his fire and then they drank his wine
Initially, they circled around his bonfire and subsequently consumed his wine.
And he saw a spark, he saw the fire rise up into the sky
He witnessed an ignition and observed the flames extend skyward.
He saw the spinning lights
He visualized the revolving luminosity.
He knew it was a sign
He perceived it as an indication of something.
Hit him like a poison arrow, right between the eyes
It struck him suddenly and like a lethal projectile, directly aiming his forehead.
And every muscle clenched together, tensing at one time
All his muscles contracted and tightened simultaneously.
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
He envisioned Lazarus moving rhythmically on his burial site.
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
Thirty thousand light sources present in the sky.
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
He viewed Lazarus performing on his appellation.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
He watched the earth, he plays it over in his mind
He observed the planet and contemplated it in his thoughts.
All the boys and girls all waiting for a sign
All the young males and females eagerly anticipating an indication.
Two-thousand trips around the sun He's done his time
He has completed two millennia's worth of orbits around the sun; he's been alive for a long time.
His Flesh and Bones and empty holes stare up into the sky
His body physically collapsed, and now his remains are fixated towards the sky.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
He saw Lazarus moving rhythmically on his burial site.
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
Thirty thousand light sources present in the sky.
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
He viewed Lazarus performing on his appellation.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
He saw Lazarus dancing on his grave
He witnessed Lazarus moving rhythmically on his burial site.
Thirty thousand lights up in the sky
Thirty thousand light sources present in the sky.
He saw Lazarus dance upon his name
He viewed Lazarus performing on his appellation.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
Thirty times, thirty thousand times
Lazarus twirled thirty thousand times, and he witnessed it thirty times.
Writer(s): DERHAK ROBERT F
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.