Go Progress Chrome Lyrics
Just about change and how it isn't always good
Like others have said, it's definitely about how change isn't always a positive.
But, going a little further, I think it's sort of about how mankind is so eager to advance itself that we change everything constantly in the name of advancement, even though it furthers ourselves from nature. "The night owl and I will hunt the contractor," meaning that our change is affecting animals negatively, and they aren't happy with it.
As others have said, this song seems to be talking about 'progress' and his wish to keep things as they are... a sentiment easy to relate to...
Aside from that, some things of note: the drums were either manipulated or recorded In a non-studio space... listen when they first come in, they sound very different (from the rest of the album), almost like they played a recording of the drums into a mic. The piano before the lyrics start is also distorted.
Easily one of the best Grandaddy songs, it would have fit perfectly into 'The Sophtware Slump' with its futuristic overtones and reminds me of a 2000AD Judge Dredd story about the Lunatics that were furious with a company that used the moon as a billboard by projecting ads onto it... It's great how such a simple song can mean so much !
Right on, Kendreeke. I think the message of this song is quite clear. An underlying message in most Grandaddy songs is to be weary of technology, and just because something's new doesn't mean it's better (e.g. Crystal Lake, Jed the Android, The group who couldn't say...).
Even Gradaddy themselves illustrate this point in their style of music. I know a lot of people who shudder when they think of rock bands using synthesizers and other kinds of new music technology. Grandaddy shows that some in cases it can be a good thing.
Such a sad little song.
I saw this as meaning that people always see advancements as something shiny and new, and thus it is the culture to clad these items as such, in this case, chrome. And naturally these things lack a true essence, and are just a facade.
sounds like they chromed the moon and him and the owl aren't happy about it.
metaphorically speaking of course...
We're so eager to advance and at the same time to forget the past. I think it's a sad song; a goodbye to the way things used to be. It's not necessarily good to cling to the past but that's where we obtain our direction from and its necessary for us to remember where our anchor is.
I thought this was a guy who hated this new Progress Chrome so much that he became aggressive - aiming to "shoot the scaffolds" and "hunt the contractor"
On reflection it's similar to when Coke changed their flavour, and people passionately protested about how they wanted it back to the old flavour.
I'm addicted to this album lately. Just got into this song while delivering a pizza and passing by all the new homes being developed in my hometown. All the traffic and overpopulation that wasn't here when my mom was my age. In the past several years we've developed America's Biggest Outdoor Outlet Mall(tm). Progress is alienating and I easily empathize with people who want things to stay the same because it gives us something to hold onto in an already chaotic and stressful world. Idk. Young Jason seems like a guy who likes to listen to music, do drugs, make music, enjoy nature, art, etc. and his music is as personal as it is universal