The feelings of fatherhood are quite complicated, and capturing the fear, pride, self-consciousness, joy, excitement, and overall feeling of being totally overwhelmed that comes with being a father into a song is quite the task. But we gave it our best shot with "The Man You Thought Was King."
I love my father, but as most people would probably also say, my feelings for him can be pretty, to put it lightly, layered at times. This wouldn't alarm me very much except for the fact that as my son has grown older (he's 9, almost 10 now), I've started to fully realize the possibilities of him harboring similarly, eh, layered feelings toward me. To put it lightly, this is a heartbreaking notion. As the child, we don't see it as that big of a deal. We grow. We develop our own views on life and how certain situations should be dealt with. We look back on what we know about our parents lives, and we make judgements and form opinions. Nobody's perfect. Everyone has their flaws. Why should we expect Dad to be any different? However, it isn't until you're a father yourself that you can understand just how terrifying that concept is.
When he gets to be my age, will my son feel about me the way that I feel about my father? That's what this song is aimed to ask.
Happy Father's Day,
Leo and the rest of Vox and the Hound
Produced by Eric Rogers and Vox and the Hound
Mixed by Chris George
Recorded at The Living Room Studios in Algiers, LA, February 2012
lyrics
I grow concerned about where I'll be
Detached from love but far from free
I try to make this world OK
But will he know?
The push and pull, the give and take
To be a man but not be fake
I shove my heart into the light
But will it show?
'Cause nothing stays the same as it seems
Nothing stays the same as it seems
So just stay, just stay
Stay with me
All I ever want to be is something that he'd want to be
I want to see him want to be me
But will it be the same thing that it was for me?
End up growing much too soon
Pulling on that tattered string
Just to find there's no balloon
No, I know what it's like to be
Behind the man you thought was king
Blaze a path and I will follow
Give a pill and I will swallow
Not the king, you're not the king, you're not the king
Daddy did you know?
No, no, you're not the king, you're not the king
You're not the king
Daddy did you know?
I'm the apple of his eye
To see him sparkle makes me cry
To fall from favor, I would die
I try and try and try and try
But if that apple of his eye goes rotten
Then will I know?
Nothings stays the same as it seems
Nothings stays the same as it seems
Nothings stays the same as it seems
Nothings stays the same as it seems
So don't stay, don't stay
Son, don't stay like me
credits
released June 17, 2012
Lyrics: Leo DeJesus
Music: Vox and the Hound
Rory Callais: guitars
Leo DeJesus: vocals, guitars
Andrew Jarman: bass, vocals, guitar
Daniel Ray: keyboards, trombone, vocals
Eric Rogers: drums, percussion
A sleek take on paisley pop and 60s-by-way-of-the-80s garage rock from this Detroit three-piece, equal parts fuzz and sparkly sugar. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 16, 2024
On this Spaghetti Western soundtrack minus the movie, LA surf band Trabants pay tribute to iconic scores of 60s Italian exploitation films. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 16, 2018
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2018
Old school, melodic punk without frills from this New Orleans band on venerable French label Six Tonnes De Chair Records. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 7, 2018
A slow drip of Tropicália-infused psychedelia from New Orleans rock outfit Blue Basin: balmy one moment, aggressive the next. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 22, 2022