New Monster Avenue

Lyrics

Banter

• It took me a long time to write the new record [Get Lonely]. I didn’t really know what I was supposed to do next after the last one. I just didn’t know. Started just trying to write random stories about stuff, didn’t feel right. Didn’t know what to do. But I had this idea, when I was digging through my childhood stuff; I remembered how much I really liked monsters and so I started to write these songs about monsters. Mentioned that on NPR and then I got a lot of mail going, ‘So you’re still working on the monster concept album?’ No. But anyway, I got a couple of them, a couple songs about monsters done before I found some other direction. But there was something in them. There’s always something, you know- I assume you’re like me, that when you see the monster movie and all the citizens of the town gather to burn the monster alive, you go, 'Were people in the 30s in favor of the town in this set up?’ Because I would look at it as a kid and I’d go, 'Why- Why are they going to kill the innocent monster from the depths? He hasn’t- He was living in a cave under the ocean and then one of your people was swimming because you wanted to get some underwater footage and now he has to die so you can film people swimming under- it doesn’t seem right.’ That was my position on the monsters; that remains my position on the monsters. (2006-08-22)
• This song is sort of about the feeling that you get if you stay in your house for too long and you feel like maybe you don’t relate to anybody at all. And you sort of resent them, but you’re certain they’re going to come and get you. I’m here to tell you you’re absolutely right. (2006-09-26)

Live Performances

Footnotes