Their debut album BiRd-BrAiNs was first released on limited edition vinyl and cassette in June 2009, via the Portland-based imprint Marriage Records. In July 2009, it was announced that tUnE-yArDs had signed to 4AD, and a limited edition pressing of BiRd-BrAiNs was released on August 17, 2009.
A full worldwide release followed on November 16, 2009 (and November 17th in North America). The autumn 2009 pressing was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright, and includes two new bonus tracks: "Want Me To" and "Real Live Flesh."
BiRd-BrAiNs was entirely self-produced and recorded, with Garbus utilizing a hand-held digital voice recorder, ukulele, some noisy off-balance drums, and produced using shareware mixing software. Garbus described their sound as "a patchwork of sound snippets, of history in a present tense. It is a composer's commitment to the preservation of stories, however small and unassuming."
A second album w h o k i l l was released on April 19, 2011, preceded by the single "Bizness". It was produced by Garbus and engineered by Eli Crews at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, California. Comparing the act to Sonic Youth, Frontier Psychiatrist said, "if BiRd-BrAiNs was Garbus’ EVOL, a record bursting with musical ideas that attempted to subvert the notion of song, w h o k i l l is their Sister, a record that embraces the traditional pop song as a vehicle to convey those ideas." The song "Fiya" is featured on a 2010 commercial for the Blackberry Torch.
"Look Around"
tUnE-yArDs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always something you can lean your weight into
There will be
Always something you can rely on
I will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
I will be
Always something you can rely on
There will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
There will be
Always something you can rely on
I will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
I will be
Always something you can rely on
Never thought I'd call you baby
But look around, look around, look around
We are the dreams that we were made of
Our friends have died
Waging war against their rulers
Come here, don't cry
We won't let anybody fool us
There will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
There will be
Always something you can rely on
I will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
I will be
Always something you can rely on
You wouldn't believe what I saw in the city tonight
The most brilliantly rhyming terrors
I come home, zipped up so tight
Bear my metal teeth to you
The power went out, so I started hoarding water
How do you open your arms so wide?
Never turn my fear in fire
Cause I never knew
Oh, I never knew
(Never knew, never knew)
[?]
(Never knew, I never knew)
On the one hand, there's what sounds skirt
On the other hand, there's what's true
Beware the empty promise
All around me, all around you
Let's not pretend
That the world around us isn't falling
But look around, look around, look around
All we need is all that we can see
(There will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
There will be
Always something you can rely on
I will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
I will be
Always something you can rely on)
(Never knew, never knew)
The lyrics of "Look Around" by tUnE-yArDs are about finding security and reliability in life despite the chaos and instability present in the world. The repetition of "There will be/Always something you can lean your weight into/Always something you can rely on/I will be" emphasizes the importance of having something or someone to hold onto in difficult times. The lyrics also touch on the idea of finding and keeping hope in a world filled with destruction and despair.
The lines "Our friends have died/Waging war against their rulers" suggest a theme of revolution and fighting against injustice. However, the lyrics also offer comfort and support to those experiencing pain and suffering. The phrase "We won't let anybody fool us" suggests a sense of strength and solidarity in facing the challenges of the world.
The verse that begins with "You wouldn't believe what I saw in the city tonight/The most brilliantly rhyming terrors" offers a glimpse into the chaos of the world outside. The line "The power went out, so I started hoarding water" highlights the lack of stability and resources in times of crisis. However, the final lines of the song offer a reminder to look around and find hope in the faces of the people around us.
Overall, "Look Around" is a song about finding comfort and stability in an unstable world, and resisting the forces that seek to tear us apart.
Line by Line Meaning
There will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
No matter what happens in your life, there will always be something or someone you can rely on for support.
There will be
Always something you can rely on
Even during difficult times, there is always something you can count on to be there for you.
I will be
Always something you can lean your weight into
As a friend or partner, I will always be someone you can turn to for help and support.
I will be
Always something you can rely on
No matter what happens, I will always be there for you as a trustworthy and dependable person.
Never thought I'd call you baby
I never expected to have such strong feelings for you, but I do.
But look around, look around, look around
Take a moment to really observe and appreciate your surroundings and the people in your life.
We are the dreams that we were made of
We have the potential to achieve our dreams and become the person we were meant to be.
Our friends have died
Waging war against their rulers
Our loved ones have struggled and fought against those who oppress or control them, and some have even lost their lives in the process.
Come here, don't cry
We won't let anybody fool us
Let me comfort you during difficult times and let's stay strong together, refusing to be deceived or misled by others.
You wouldn't believe what I saw in the city tonight
The most brilliantly rhyming terrors
I witnessed some truly terrifying things in the city, although some of them were oddly poetic or beautiful in their horror.
I come home, zipped up so tight
Bear my metal teeth to you
I return home feeling tense and guarded, and I express this through a fierce and intimidating demeanor towards you.
The power went out, so I started hoarding water
In response to a crisis or disaster, I am trying to prepare and take care of myself by gathering necessary resources.
How do you open your arms so wide?
Never turn my fear in fire
I admire your ability to be vulnerable and open with your emotions, unlike me who tends to suppress and contain my fear and anxiety.
Cause I never knew
Oh, I never knew
I am surprised or amazed by something that I did not expect or understand before.
On the one hand, there's what sounds skirt
On the other hand, there's what's true
There are often two sides to a story, with one that is appealing or tempting but ultimately misleading, and another that is honest and accurate.
Beware the empty promise
All around me, all around you
We should be cautious of promises that sound too good to be true, as they are often false or empty.
Let's not pretend
That the world around us isn't falling
We cannot ignore or deny the problems and challenges facing our world today.
All we need is all that we can see
We should focus on appreciating and making the most of what we currently have, rather than constantly wanting more or looking for external validation.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merrill Martin Garbus, Nathaniel J Brenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jacob McCray
the rhythm of this song is so gorgeous. never heard anything like it.
gugl acownt
Deerhoof. You can tell these guys are huge fans
Jacob Orwin
The song is in 9/4 time, which is odd on its own, but even for 9/4 it's done weird.
Instead of the normal grouping of 9/8, ie the rhyme going 123, 123, 123, the feel of this song is instead more like 4/4 with a triplet at the end on beat 9.
April Bates
Thank you for posting this! I've been waiting for this to appear on youtube for SUCH a long time. It's beautiful.
Paulyana Moura
Minha diva <3
RUNDEN
Fantastic.