January 21: Five Iron Frenzy

Even though I grew up in Wisconsin and my husband grew up in Massachusetts (and we are 4 years apart in age), our childhoods share quite a few similar features. My brother is about his age and his brother is about my age, and those relationships informed a lot of who we are. We played a lot of video games as kids and watched a lot of the same TV shows and movies. We were both the smart kids, we both had high school soulmates/sweethearts, we were both in the school band (I with woodwinds, he with brass). We were both Christians (though I protestant and he Catholic). And we both listened to Five Iron Frenzy [FIF] (me for the Christianity, he for the ska). In fact, during our very first conversation when we met, he showed me a picture from his trip to Denver to see FIF (though to be fair, it had nothing to do with FIF; it was a picture of a flight of beer, because I had just taken a picture of *my* flight of beer and that was his "in" to speaking to me 💕). 

So when FIF announced another Kickstarter last year to fund their new album, we knew we had to contribute. A few days ago, I finally received the coveted link to download the new album that we helped fund, and yesterday I finally had a chance to listen to it. And it was pure delight! I love their style of music, often bright, energetic, and playful with absolutely delightful horn lines (thanks to some amazing horn players like my idol and fellow saxophone player Leanor Ortega Till.) While listening through the album, I made a mental note of songs I liked most (One Heart Hypnosis, So We Sing) and those I didn't like so much (Lonesome for Her Heroes, While Supplies Last), based purely on the music/sound. Especially with While Supplies Last, I thought it sounded too harsh and angry and not something I would love listening to on repeat. 

In preparation for this blog today, I googled the lyrics and listened along again, and I was delightfully surprised that the lyrics completely changed my opinion of several songs, most especially While Supplies Last. I now understand that it sounds so harsh and angry because it IS an angry song, a song expressing anger with how so much of the world is operating nowadays and rebuke of those who claim to be a Christian but certainly don't act like a Christian. In fact, after reading the lyrics, I uttered a "Wow" out loud (that's how you know it's meaningful, I just can't keep it inside!). Now when I listen to the song, I love it, because I understand the anger, and totally agree with it. What a GREAT outlet for the anger I feel with the world. Thanks Reese!

Here are some of the most meaningful snippets of lyrics from "While Supplies Last" by Five Iron Frenzy:

You’re offended at the wrong thing, brother-
And you’re burning all your bridges with hate
You fell asleep while Jesus stayed up weeping
While the Pharisees were plotting our fate
..
When you’re out of food
You’ll just eat the poor
..
Did you waste your prayers protecting snipers
While you hoarded all the Lysol and diapers?
Save some profits for your cadre of vipers
Because your God only favors survivors
If you vote to stop abortions
Damn the pregnant girls and orphans
Blame your decline on the LGBTQ
Offer platitudes not portions
Then your rancor is your fortune
And your poison is what’s poisoning you
..
You said “we all deserve this”
For not forcing kids to pray-
While your party loots the earth
And you tell us “Jesus saves”
You’re ignoring half the gospel
Wearing clothing made by slaves
..
You voted for the devil
Let that narcissist embezzle
Put the hen-house in the mouth of the FOX

The song I loved immediately upon listening was "One Heart Hypnosis." And the lyrics were NOTHING like I had imagined the song being about, which is a rebuke of social media and constant connectivity with the internet, which neglects connectivity amongst people in real life. Again, very powerful and meaning words. 

We're busy people we can't look up

We have our devices and that is enough

With scoliosis we're going blind

The images burned in the back of our minds

..

One heart--analytics will apply

Two hearts--We have been notified

Three hearts--The days are passing by

Four hearts--And we've all been hypnotized

..

Through the filters the colors are bright

Everyone's thin and their teeth are so white

Not much to say when we're home at night

Left to our devices when we turn out the light

..

Let the patient fix his affections on a subject far from home

Fill him with distrust and suspicion 'til in fact he's all alone

An inversion, a quiet diversion from the love he might have known

In several songs, they mention tragedies like Columbine and Sandy Hook, and this one lyric really got to me, from the song "Renegades": "You want your ledgers black, We want our children back."

Another repeated theme is welcoming and loving the misfit, those who are bullied, neglected, and left out, which most definitely speaks to me and people like me. I especially love these lyrics from "Huerfano":

They pushed you down on the frozen ground
The bullies gathered all around
They had no right to steal your song (you belong)
But you are here and they are gone
So sing on
...
Now fly you orphans
Here you belong
Welcome you wayward souls
Now lift your song

Music has also been a saving grace for me, and it has been delightful to be able to support one of my favorite bands and to enjoy the experience of listening to their newest album. 

With delight, 

♥Jamie