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.
Left Behind
tUnE-yArDs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This place has really changed its ways
Luckily there's only really rich folk living here
Remember what you used to do to me?
Remember the way it used to be?
Cruisin' in the block
Burnin' like it was all meant to be
Nikki Nikki Nack
She told me "never bend back"
That Nikki Nikki Nack
Turn her around and spit on her back
We said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil
We said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil
These days don't it just make your blood boil
We said we'd never let 'em take our soil
Been
Left behind
Been, been been
My my
On my mind
This place has really changed its ways
And it's been ruined by the boats of rich folks coming here
Remember what he used to do to me?
Remember the way it used to be?
Micky D milkshake and a cigarette
Every Sunday a little bit of lightning
Good ol' Michael Mack
He said we'd better fight back
Checkered suit and tie to match
Then turned around and shot him in his back
We said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil
We said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil
With a swipe and a poke the land that we toiled
We said we'd wouldn't let 'em take our soil
Been
Left behind
Been, been been
My my
On my mind
Been
Left behind
Been, been been
Holiday, holiday
Let's go crazy
Now I'll never know
What's going on
Been
Left behind
Been, been been
Holiday, holiday
Let's go crazy
Let's go cra
The opening lines of tUnE-yArDs's song Left Behind suggest a sense of disorientation – "my mind" serves as an introduction to the changes that have taken place in the physical and perhaps emotional landscape surrounding the singer. The following lyrics describe the once-familiar surroundings as having been transformed by wealthy residents who vie for power and control over the land. The singer recalls cruising down the street, feeling invincible, and burning rubber as an expression of freedom in a land that is allegedly free. The song then introduces a character, Nikki Nikki Nack, whose words of advice ("never bend back") hint at a theme of resistance against oppression.
As the lyrics continue, the song becomes more explicitly political, describing a conflict over land ownership. The singer declares that "we said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil" twice, emphasizing the importance of this struggle to the community. However, the upbeat, poppy melody of the song provides an interesting juxtaposition to the heavy subject matter, conveying a sense of hope or optimism even in the face of adversity. This feeling is reinforced by the call to "let's go crazy" in the chorus, urging listeners to dance and celebrate life even in difficult times.
In the final lines of the song, the singer seems to resign themselves to uncertainty, admitting "Now I'll never know / What's going on." This can be viewed as a meditation on the complexity of social and political issues – sometimes the problems we face are overwhelming or impossible to fully comprehend, and rather than knowing all the answers or outcomes, it's important to keep moving, keep fighting, and keep going crazy.
Line by Line Meaning
My mind
The song is reflecting on the past and present through the thoughts of the singer
This place has really changed its ways
The place that the singer is referencing has changed for the worse
Luckily there's only really rich folk living here
The changes made to the place through the presence of rich people have not wholly affected the singer, as they do not live there currently.
Remember what you used to do to me?
The singer is looking back on their past and reflecting on an experience where someone did something to them.
Remember the way it used to be?
The singer is reminiscing on how things used to be in the past when things were better.
Cruisin' in the block
The singer is remembering a time when they would drive around aimlessly in their neighborhood.
Burnin' like it was all meant to be
The singer felt powerful and free in those moments of reckless activity.
Burnin' all the rubber in the fucking land of the free
The reckless activities, such as having donuts on a street, allowed the singer to act out and feel powerful, whilst taking advantage of the freedom that's often seen as a hallmark of America.
Nikki Nikki Nack
Nikki Nikki Nack is an enigmatic person or thing in the lyrics of the song with no specific meaning by itself.
She told me "never bend back"
The mysterious Nikki reminded the singer to not allow themselves to be stuck in the past.
That Nikki Nikki Nack
The singer is once again mentioning Nikki, however it doesn't add to the meaning of the lyrics.
Turn her around and spit on her back
The mysterious Nikki gave advice to the singer, but now they believe that advice to have led them astray or wronged them, and they feel like spitting on Nikki for giving it.
We said we wouldn't let 'em take our soil
The people in the song are in a fight for their land and determined to keep it
These days don't it just make your blood boil
The present situation has left the singer upset and angry about the changes done to their land.
Been Left behind
The singer is expressing a sense of abandonment or neglect of being left behind by the system, society or people. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes a feeling of loneliness and desperation.
My my On my mind
The song is a constant presence in the singer's thinking; a part of their life.
And it's been ruined by the boats of rich folks coming here
The singer is blaming wealthy individuals for the destruction of a specific place.
Micky D milkshake and a cigarette
The singer is reminded of a specific memory related to drinking milkshakes in a restaurant with someone, while enjoying a smoke
Every Sunday a little bit of lightning
The singer is recalling an experience of going to church and feeling moved by the gospel or a charismatic speaker.
Good ol' Michael Mack
Michael Mack is a name for a specific person and not just a random assortment of words.
He said we'd better fight back
Michael Mack's words inspired the people to take action.
Checkered suit and tie to match
Michael Mack dressed well, which suggests that he was an important or influential person.
Then turned around and shot him in his back
Michael Mack was killed by an unknown assailant, most likely while he was fighting for their land.
With a swipe and a poke the land that we toiled
The people's hard work on the land is taken away by the rich quickly, easily and without much effort.
Holiday, holiday, Let's go crazy
The singer is referencing an occasion of leisure where one can lose their inhibitions and enjoy themselves without any limitation.
Now I'll never know what's going on
The singer feels a sense of confusion and frustration at the current situation they are facing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merrill Martin Garbus, Nathaniel J Brenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind