Deadcrush by alt-J Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing Historical Love and Artistic Obsession
Lyrics
Beauty lingers out of reach
You’re my DC oh Lee, oh
Man Ray went cray cray over you
Capturing but never captured
You’re my DC oh Lee, oh
Swim low
In the back dry in the night
Sample
Put it there, get the money (watch me now)
In the back of a Volvo car
Sample
Holdover
Pay up, sign up, L.A.
Anna Bolina
Maid of honour
Not your sister, fearful temper
You’re my DC oh Anna, oh
Unknown artist
Took your likeness
Henry Tudor left you lifeless, yeah
You’re my DC oh Anna, oh
Keepa, keepa, keepa, keep me damn down
Let it low
Let me know where you go (watch me now)
Papa, papa, papa
Get me down
Deep, deep down
How low? Let me know
If you don’t have the ace of hearts
My dear, you’re a lost man (oh)
Falcon for you, Anna, from the left arm of the falconer
Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna L’Arlésienne
Swim low
In the back dry in the night
Sample
Put it there, get the money (watch me now)
In the back of a Volvo car
Sample
Holdover
Pay up, sign up, L.A.
Swim low
In the back dry in the night
Sample
Put it there, get the money (watch me now)
In the back of a Volvo car
Sample
Holdover
Pay up, sign up, L.A.
Watch me now
Within the eclectic catalog of alt-J, a band notorious for their cryptic and often perplexing lyrics, resides ‘Deadcrush,’ a track as enigmatic as it is rhythmically infectious. The song, which appears on their third studio album ‘Relaxer,’ twists through a maze of historical references, cryptic lines, and shadowy imagery.
To decipher ‘Deadcrush’ is to embark on a journey through time, to grasp at the muses who trapped the hearts and imaginations of artists and rulers alike. It’s a song that maintains the band’s signature blend of the abstract and the concrete, wrapped in a soundscape that demands both emotional and intellectual reaction.
Beyond the Beat: Dissecting Deadcrush’s Sonic Seduction
The compelling rhythm of ‘Deadcrush’ belies its complex construction. The song’s foundation is built on a bedrock of haunting vocal loops, pulsating beats, and a bass line that crawls under the skin. It’s a sound that instigates movement, be it physical or cerebral, leading the listener’s body to sway and their mind to explore.
Beyond the song’s immediate auditory allure, it employs an auditory patchwork that nods to various eras and styles. From the contemporary electronic touches to the almost Gregorian chant-like background vocals, ‘Deadcrush’ serves as a melodic time machine, threading past influences with modern experimentation.
Historical Heartthrobs: The Muses Behind the Music
The title ‘Deadcrush’ itself suggests an affection for the no longer living, a posthumous infatuation. This is vividly brought to life through the lyrical mentions of Lee Miller, Man Ray’s muse and famous WWII photographer, and Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s ill-fated queen. Each woman impacted their respective eras, leaving imprints on the canvas of history.
Lyrically, the song is a conversation with the past, an homage to these women’s lasting influences. From Miller’s surreal beauty to Boleyn’s notorious demise, alt-J’s lyrics act as a medium through which these historical figures are both adored and mourned, celebrated and consumed.
A Peek Behind the Curtain: The Hidden Meaning of Deadcrush
Interpreting ‘Deadcrush’ invites a delving deep into the subconscious, navigating the space between admiration and obsession. The mention of ‘man Ray went cray cray over you’ is not only catchy but also serves to highlight the fine line where adoration can slip into madness, paralleling modern society’s own celebrity worship.
By blurring the line between past and present, ‘Deadcrush’ also comments on the timeless nature of human desire. Whether coveting an untouchable figure from the recesses of history or an unreachable icon of today’s digital age, the song implies that our ‘deadcruhses’ continue to haunt and motivate us.
The Volvo and the Falcon: Decoding Symbols of Desire
Repeated references to modernity such as ‘In the back of a Volvo car’ juxtaposed with historical allusions like ‘Falcon for you, Anna,’ paints a rich canvas of symbols that span centuries. The car could represent the routine and commonplace nature of contemporary life, while the falcon, an emblem of regal pursuit, alludes to courting rituals of yesteryear.
The song draws parallels between the timeless acts of chasing what one desires, regardless of the era. These symbols, dissected and analyzed, reflect the continuum of the human condition, the eternal reach for what is dazzlingly out of grasp, be it in love or in art.
Lingering Lyrics: The Lines That Haunt Us
Among the myriad of memorable lines in ‘Deadcrush,’ few resonate quite like ‘Beauty lingers out of reach,’ encapsulating the song’s essence in one succinct phrase. It’s a sentiment that has reverberated throughout time, capturing the universal experience of yearning for the unattainable.
Similarly, the line ‘You’re my DC oh Lee, oh’ uses repetition and rhythm to cement the subject of the song’s fascination, emblazoning the name Lee Miller as the chorus hauntingly circles back, much like the memory of a lost love or an enduring obsession.
