Great song. Tillman's transformation into Father John Misty has produced some awesome music. This song is very 1970s-LA, got a strong Harry Nilsson/Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks vibe. I think of FJM as hanging at the Troubador, partying with Harry, John Lennon and Ringo during the famous "Lost Weekend"; for Tillman, born in 1981, this is history, not reminiscence.
Tillman is a clever lyricist. He admires Dylan and Cohen, and he's a student of high and low culture, past and present. He celebrates drying out from drugs and booze ("right hand stamped" -- as at a bar) and "where my organs scream slow down man" -- doesn't need a lot of interpretation.
Two nice details-- "Nancy"? Does he just mean being a wuss and laying off the booze? I suspect that, keeping with the California 1970s theme, its a reference to Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaign.
Similarly, the "Howard Hughes" reference points you to a guy in a Hollywood bungalow, bearded and freaking out.
So all in all, a very nice lyric, braiding something which is entirely personal with something which isn't at all. It has the feeling of a love letter to a new place, which has done him right . . . see Brian Wilson's late album "Orange Crate Art" for music with a very similar nostalgic feeling for California.
also see Leonard Cohen's lesser known album with Phil Spector, "Death of a Ladies Man", another wonderful mid-70s celebration of melody, misery, loveand excesses of hedonism.
also see Leonard Cohen's lesser known album with Phil Spector, "Death of a Ladies Man", another wonderful mid-70s celebration of melody, misery, loveand excesses of hedonism.
Great song. Tillman's transformation into Father John Misty has produced some awesome music. This song is very 1970s-LA, got a strong Harry Nilsson/Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks vibe. I think of FJM as hanging at the Troubador, partying with Harry, John Lennon and Ringo during the famous "Lost Weekend"; for Tillman, born in 1981, this is history, not reminiscence.
Tillman is a clever lyricist. He admires Dylan and Cohen, and he's a student of high and low culture, past and present. He celebrates drying out from drugs and booze ("right hand stamped" -- as at a bar) and "where my organs scream slow down man" -- doesn't need a lot of interpretation.
Two nice details-- "Nancy"? Does he just mean being a wuss and laying off the booze? I suspect that, keeping with the California 1970s theme, its a reference to Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaign.
Similarly, the "Howard Hughes" reference points you to a guy in a Hollywood bungalow, bearded and freaking out.
So all in all, a very nice lyric, braiding something which is entirely personal with something which isn't at all. It has the feeling of a love letter to a new place, which has done him right . . . see Brian Wilson's late album "Orange Crate Art" for music with a very similar nostalgic feeling for California.
also see Leonard Cohen's lesser known album with Phil Spector, "Death of a Ladies Man", another wonderful mid-70s celebration of melody, misery, loveand excesses of hedonism.
also see Leonard Cohen's lesser known album with Phil Spector, "Death of a Ladies Man", another wonderful mid-70s celebration of melody, misery, loveand excesses of hedonism.