Father John Misty Shares Brand New Song, “The Memo”
"Narcissus would have had a field day if he could have got online."
Sep 25, 2015 Father John Misty
Father John Misty (real name Josh Tillman) has shared a brand new song, “The Memo.” This tops a week or so where he released the amusing “The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apartment” video, then covered Ryan Adams covering Taylor Swift before swiftly taking them down, and then getting accused of ripping off a Funny or Die video for the “Night Josh Tillman…” clip. Whether or not “The Memo” was freshly written and recorded in response to all that or predates this week is unclear. The lyrics do deal with some of Tillman’s frustrations with contemporary pop culture, the music industry, and how the media covers both. Check out the song and its lyrics below.
“The Memo” Lyrics:
I’m gonna steal some bedsheets
From an amputee
I’m gonna mount em on a canvas
In the middle of the gallery
I’m gonna tell everybody it was painted by a chimpanzee
But just between you me
Here at the cultural low water mark
If it’s fraud or art
They’ll pay you to believe
I’m gonna take five young dudes
From white families
Gonna mount em on a billboard
In the middle of the country
I’m gonna tell everybody they sing like angels with whiter teeth
But just between you and me
They’re just like the ones before
With their standards lower
Every concert goer will pay you to believe
Caffeine in the morning, alcohol at night
Cameras to record you and mirrors to recognize
And as the world is getting smaller
Small things take up all your time
Narcissus would have had a field day if he could have got online
And friends it’s not self-love that kills you
It’s when those who hate you are allowed
To sell you that you’re a glorious shit the entire world revolves around
And that you’re the eater, and not the eaten
But that your hunger will only cease
If you come binge on radiant blandness at the disposable feast
Just quickly how would you rate yourself
In terms of sex appeal and cultural significance
Do you usually listen to music like this
We can recommend some similar artists
Are you feeling depressed?
But your feedback’s important
To us
Gonna buy myself a sports team
And put em in a pit
Gonna wage the old crusade
Against consciousness
All I need is a couple winners to get every loser to fight in it
You keep the golden calf
I just need the bullshit
They won’t just sell themselves into slavery
They’ll get on their knees and pay you to believe
Father John Misty’s I Love You, Honeybear is out now via Sub Pop. His tour dates are below. Also read our recent print article on Father John Misty and our recent bonus Q&A with Tillman (also read our 2012 interview with him).
Father John Misty Tour Dates:
Sep. 25 - Rochester, NY - Anthology **
Sep. 26 - Boston, MA - Boston Calling
Sep. 28 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live **
Sep. 29 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz **
Sep. 30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre ** [Sold Out]
Oct. 01 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City **
Oct. 03 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
Oct. 05 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom #
Oct. 07 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant #
Oct. 08 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre #
Oct. 09 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall #
Oct. 10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
Oct. 12 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre **
Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Outdoor stage)
Oct. 15 - Las Vegas, NV - Pool at the Cosmopolitan **
Oct. 16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern ** [Sold Out]
Oct. 17 - Los ANgeles, CA - The Wiltern ** [Sold Out]
Oct. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Music Festival
Oct. 22 - Galway, IE - Roisin Dubh
Oct. 23 - Belfast, UK - Mandela Hall
Oct. 24 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street [Sold Out]
Oct. 26 - Sheffield, UK - Plug [Sold Out]
Oct. 27 - Cambridge, UK - The Junction [Sold Out]
Oct. 28 - London, UK - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire [Sold Out]
Oct. 29 - London, UK - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire [Sold Out]
Oct. 31 - Paris, FR - Pitchfork Music Festival Paris
Nov. 01 - Bologna, IT - Locomotiv
Nov. 02 - Munich, DE - Strom
Nov. 03 - Weisbaden, DE - Schlachtof
Nov. 04-08 - Reykjavik, IS - Iceland Airwaves
Nov. 06 - Wangles, DE - Weissenhauser Strand
Nov. 09 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
Nov. 10 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belguique
Nov. 11 - Nantes, FR - Stereolux
Nov. 12 - Lyon, FR - Epicerie Moderne
Nov. 13 - Koln, DE - Luxor
Nov. 15 - Stockholm, SE - Berns Hotel
Nov. 16 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega [Sold Out]
Nov. 17 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega [Sold Out]
Nov. 21-22 - Mexico City, MX - Corona Capital Music Festival
Dec. 03 - Auckland, NZ - St. James Theatre
Dec. 05 - Berry Park, AU - Fairgrounds Festival
Dec. 06 - Brisbane, AU - Max Watt’s
Dec. 08 - Sydney, AU - Sydney Opera House
Dec. 09 - Melbourne, AU - Forum
Dec. 10 - Melbourne, AU - Forum [Sold Out]
Dec. 12 - Geelong, AU - Meredith Music Festival [Sold Out]
Dec. 11-13 - Perth, AU - Disconnect Festival
** w/ Mikal Cronin
# w/ Tess & Dave
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Comments
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September 28th 2015
12:21am
I think you made some good points in Features also. Keep working, great job!