The writing of “Oliver” began in the autumn of 2015 after being inspired by something Jarvis Cocker had said about the songwriting of Scott Walker. My idea was to write about some mundane person doing something completely unremarkable, but elevating that into something unusual. I started with the line “Oliver walks from one room to the next”, because what could be so unremarkable while still being an action? From there, the song pretty much wrote itself.
Lyrics
Oliver walks from one room to the next
Holding his hands harmlessly at his sides and
That’s not all
That’s not all Oliver does.
Oliver makes a nice cup of Earl Grey
He thinks it makes him seem OK
That’s not all
That’s not all Oliver does.
Oliver selects the smallest room in the house
He lines it with throws and pillows
It’s the warmest
And the softest room in the house.
Oliver leaves the other rooms to the ghosts
They don’t care what he does
They’re sadly happy
Sadly happy anyway.
The tea grows cold and the ghosts leave a mess
The blankets cover up his nakedness
While outside the postman
The postman delivers the mail.
Oliver walks from one room to the next.
B-side
An noisier track “Sick of It” came out of a desire to write something more straight forward noise-rock feel. It’s obviously still very much electronic pop, but has a bit of a harsh edge with a cavern of fuzzy reverb that I find delicious.
Lyrics
Clockwork Atlantis
We’re sinking in 4/4 time
Lay the foundation for a regret nation
So sick of it
Hands shaking wildly gesturing
So sick of it
Sick of it, so sick of it
Sweat dripping eyes blacking out
Can’t think straight
Eat your face and tell them off
So sick of it
Sick of it, so sick of it
Enough enough
Comprehend nothing, nothing makes sense
Sick of it, so sick of it
IJR2017S002
