Travis Morrison

Story Behind The Song

This song was recorded on and off between August 2007 and August 2008, mostly at Josiah and Todd's apartment. The Casio was recorded at Zach's house, and the glockenspiel was recorded in the sanctuary of University Lutheran Church.

Song Description

"Travis Morrison" -- sung and played mostly by Todd Hoover -- begins innocuously enough with some guitar feedback before launching into its main, descending power chord riff, backed by Josiah Kilduff on drums. The first verse features Hoover singing through a walkie-talkie about losing faith in life's usual pleasures and wanting to return to childhood, where all one really cared about was when the ice cream truck was going to drive by. After returning to the main riff briefly, the second verse introduces Hoover's sister, Taryn, on backing vocals and Ingrid Wells on clarinet; this verse's lyrics unload a nervous laundry list of projections about Todd's musical future and laments for friends who have moved away. The louder third verse finds Todd seeking refuge in a song called "The Jitters" by The Dismemberment Plan (whose singer's name is Travis Morrison), and then detours into a clarinet solo of sorts backed by some raucous drums and chords. The song then slows down for a deliberately plodding bridge, during which Hoover realizes the shallowness of seeking music as the exclusive answer to one's bouts of depression. The music gradually speeds up (and throws in some glockenspiel and Casio keyboard, the latter of which was played by Zach Burba) for a chorus of sorts, representing Todd's gradual recovery borne from simply calling up some old friends, and ultimately getting back in touch with God. After a complete breakdown in tempo -- featuring a cell phone and some amusing commentary from Wells -- the song concludes with a climactic blitzkrieg of guitars, bass, drums, Casio and clarinet.

Song Length 7:14 Genre Rock - Indie/Low-Fi, Unique - Gospel
Tempo Multiple Tempos Lead Vocal Mixed Vocals
Mood Joyful, Anxious Subject Friendship, Worry
Similar Artists R.E.M., Weezer Language English
Era 2000 and later

Lyrics

TRAVIS MORRISON

Travis Morrison, I've got the jitters like you wouldn't believe. I feel like I've lost my faith in E, Joel Saltzman and cognitive restructuring. I almost wish I was still a child -- I want to go back to that simple life, 'cause when I hear the ice cream truck go by, it makes me cry. I think about all the killers who are waiting on death row, and I wish they'd just had somebody to talk to. And I think about whether or not I'm an heir to Elliott Smith's throne or just another whiny Chris Carrabba. And I think about the angels in my life and why they've flown so far away from here -- to Tucson or to Flagstaff or to Florida or to Oregon or to Africa. Don't they know I need them all to stay right here with me? Travis Morrison, I've got the jitters like you wouldn't believe but at least I know that you will never abandon me. Yeah, right now you're the only one I need 'cause I know exactly what you're going to say when I press play and you begin to sing to me. But somehow it doesn't satisfy -- it's been a while and it's begun to lose its life. And I've spent so much time just listening to the same old words and all I really want to do is talk now. So maybe I should turn to something else -- I'm sure I could find some other form of help. So I will pick up that
phone and I will dial every number, 'cause far beyond those missing angels and far beyond this album, there's still plenty of people who'd be willing and able to help. Yes, I will pick up that phone and I will dial every
number and talk to every single angel that I know. 'Cause Travis Morrison, you let me know I've got the jitters (thanks), but you can't do a thing to shake them off. And right now, all I want to do is talk ...

(C) 2009 Made to Make Music

Lyrics Todd Hoover/Ingrid Wells Music Todd Hoover
Producer Todd Hoover Publisher Made to Make Music (self-published)
Performance Zach Burba/Taryn Hoover/Todd Hoover/Josiah Kilduff/Ingrid Wells Label Made to Make Music (self-released)

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