Credits

Manchester Orchestra is:

Andy Hull – Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, Keys

Jonathan Corley – Bass, Group Vocals

Jeremiah Edmond – Drums, Percussion, Group Vocals

Christopher Freeman – Keys, Percussion, Background Vocals

Robert McDowell – Guitar, Background Vocals

Mean Everything To Nothing

Written by Manchester Orchestra In January, March, April, and August of 2008

© 2008 Chrysalis Songs / Good Things, Bad People Music (BMI).  All Rights Reserved.  Used By Permission.

Recorded between September and November of 2008

Joe Chiccarelli guided everyone through the process and produced the album in conjunction with Dan Hannon and Manchester Orchestra.

Joe Chiccarelli and Dan Hannon also provided their engineering skills to the album along with Brad Fisher.

The Process Included:

- Pre-production rehearsals at Vision Studios in Chamblee, GA

- Initial tracking at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN with engineering assistance by Lowell Reynolds

- Overdubs at Tree Sound Studios in Norcross, GA with engineering assistance by Ryan Hobbs

- Overdubs at Vintage Song Studios in Alpharetta, GA with help from Matt Young, Lane Johnson, & Megan O’Connell

- Mixing at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, CA by Joe Chiccarelli with engineering assistance by Bill Mims

- Mastering at Sterling Sound in New York City, NY by Ted Jensen

Additional musicians featured on the album include:

Dan Hannon – Additional Guitars and Keys

Oliver Kraus – Cello and Violins

Erica Froman – Additional Vocals

Mary Alice Hull – Handclaps & Vocals

“Go”
Produced by Andy Hull
Engineered by Robert Mcdowell
Andy Hull – Vocals, Guitar, Drums
Chris Freeman – Drums
Robert McDowell – Guitar, Bass

Layout and Design by Brian Manley at Funwithrobots.com

All Art & Photo Manipulations were created by Brian Manley and Jeremiah Edmond

All Photographs were taken by James Minchin and Brian Manley

Art Direction by Frank Harkins and Jeremiah Edmond

Nick Kirk was kind enough to lend us several instruments and gadgets to aid us in the recording process.

Steve Ralbovsky and Jay Harren took care of A&R responsibilities and were instrumental in the making of this album.

Jack Hedges is Product Manager at Canvasback Music.

We thank God for Family, Fans, and Friends. We will never deserve your unconditional support.

Joe required excellence throughout the entire making of this album.  He never allowed us to settle for less.  We laughed and screamed and laughed some more but it was his humility and work ethic that speaks louder than any instrument on the record.  Thank you, Joe.

Dan required depth and meaning to each note, lyric, and sound we carefully added to the once skeletal album. Dan is gifted with the power of influence and inspiration.  If he wasn’t around we wouldn’t know what to do. Thank you, Dan.

Our team of loyal friends has grown and without the following none would be possible:

- Management by Brad Oldham at Vector Management

- Legal representation by Reid Hunter at Serling, Rooks and Ferrera LLP

- Publishing by James Cerreta at Chrysalis Music Group

- Publicity: Ken Weinstein at Big Hassle Media

- Booking by Andrew Ellis at Paradigm Agency (North America) / Mike Greek at CAA (UK & Europe)

Manchester Orchestra is proud to be part of Favorite Gentlemen Recordings and Canvasback Music.

Special Thanks: Joe Kirk, Harrison Hudson, and Mike AlmQuest

Andy Hull and Robert McDowell play:

- Fender Guitars

- Gibson Guitars

- Ernie Ball Strings

Jonathan Corley plays:

- Fender Basses

- Ampeg Bass Amps & Cabinets

- Ernie Ball Bass Strings

Jeremiah Edmond Plays:

- C&C Custom Drums

- Vater Percussion Drumsticks

- Paiste Cymbals

Christopher Freeman plays:

- C&C Drums

- With Your Brain

“Eternal Nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it” – Woody Allen

Lyrics

The Only One

i am the only one that thinks i’m going crazy

i don’t know what to do

i am the only son of a pastor i know

who does the things i do

but if it was you i don’t think that it would matter

oh and if it was true then i just wouldn’t matter

i was amazed at the colour and shapes that you drew

a paper cut for two

i am the only son of a bastard i know

that knows the bastard too

because it was you i called it a different story

but if i was you i’d make this a simpler story

i bet you did what you did when you did it

to do it again by the time you were done with it

i bet you did what you did when you did

just to tell every friend that you had that the lord did it

i finally knew that i simply couldn’t matter

you finally knew that you simply couldn’t matter

i guess that it’s true you never know the passive power of the truth so cut me loose

if i could write another phrase we might be better off this way

but there’s no use.

no there’s no use.

Shake It Out

shake it out.

god i need another and another and another (and another)

i could feel it now

how i felt the lord in my father’s house

i can see.

i can see standing.

we were seventeen

make it clean

are you the living ghost of what i need?

are you going to get the best of me?

we will see.

’cause i’m done being done with a funeral, at least for now.

are you tired of being alone? are you tired of being alone?

shake it out.

tired of another and another wasn’t really what i wanted

so we bled it out over the floor of my neighbor’s house

i could see.

god i’ve never seen a thing so complete

i am the living ghost of what you need

i am everything eternally

god, just speak.

’cause I’m done being done with a funeral at least for now

are you tired of being alone? are you tired of being alone?

so speak to me.

oh god you got to shake it out

you got to take it out, take it down.

i’ve got to come around

i need it now more than i ever have

oh god you’ve got to shake it out, shake it out.

you’ve got to break it down, break it out.

you’ve got to come around.

i feel it now more than i ever have.

i felt the lord begin

to peel off all my skin

and i felt the weight within

reveal a bigger mess

that you can’t fix

i swear, i swear i’ll go

lead me into my home

don’t stop, don’t ever go

i swear you’ll never know

you’ll never know

oh god you got to shake it out, shake it out.

you’ve got to break it down, break it out.

I’ve Got Friends

dirty on the ground is what i need

i got another one to tell you and another one to make you believe

pity on the grass; i tried to be the one you needed

when i told you that you wanted something bigger than me

i’ve got friends in all the right places

i know what they want and i know they don’t want me to stay

’cause you and i will ride

but when i need you

i need it quickly

in case you never know

I can’t play where I’m not supposed to anyway

any way, anyways, any way. anyways…

dirty on the ground is what i see

i need another reason why i need another reason

tell me to breathe

the dirtier the sound the best i breathe

i tried to do it all for you

it didn’t do anything for me

i’ve got friends in all the right places

i know what they want and i know they don’t want me to stay

and you and i will find

that when i need you

i need it quickly

in fact you’ll never know

i’ve got friends in all the right places

i know what they want and i know they don’t want me to stay

Pride

finally i felt the calming breeze

stepping out to watch the final scene

after all it’s you, my pride, and me

i can’t speak, whatever i can speak

now i found the way to meet the means

fake a face to make the kingdom clean

after all it’s me and the king and the beast

whatever whatever i can’t speak a thing

how can i explain my wounded feet?

we cut them off in second market scenes

you cut me off before i start to sing

but i can cry as long as money’s seen

you see me

see me, me, me.

sound.

i’m a dead neck.

what a habit

so i’ll dig it up and bury it in ground

what a broke head

i think i’m dying

i need another one to incubate.

the sound.

what a broke head.

what a habit.

i need another and another one.

the ground.

what a dead head

i think i’m dying

i think i’m dying for another one.

the sound.

what a broke neck

what a lion

i need another and another one.

the sound.

what a cheap trick

what a habit

what a habit when i needed you

the sound.

what a dead neck

what a lion

i need another and another one.

the sound.

what a cheap trick

what a habit

i think i’m dying for the sound

what a dead neck

what a habit

i think i’ll dig it up and bury it in ground.

what a broke head!

i think i’m dying

i think i’m dying

In My Teeth

i felt a black man in my teeth

what a way jesus is coming

he acts my age and he always looks the same

i said a good seed was on your grave

wasn’t a mistake anyway

well jesus is coming

better act our age and clean everything

and make it seem

like we never really needed it anyway

yeah we never really needed it anyway okay?

well john spoke a theory straight into my brain

god damn, did you mean to do that to me?

well jesus don’t come ’round unless we pray each day for 500 days

and i don’t know what you want anymore

no i don’t know what you want anymore

so we can see

that you never really needed it anyway

no you never really needed it anyway

so we can see

that the bottom is going to bury us anyway

so i’m doing what i gotta to do stay awake

yeah i’m doing what i gotta to stay away

what happens when i don’t know what happens?

so stop and go and stop and go til you can’t go… not anymore

so stop and go and stop and go til you can’t go

and make it seem

like we never really needed it anyway

yeah we never really needed it anyway

so we can see

that the bottom is going to bury us anyway

yeah you’re doing what you’ve gotta to stay awake

yeah i’m doing what i’ve gotta to stay awake

okay?

100 Dollars

several women’s magazines

stacked up on top of a picture of me

when i tried to call…

no one answered

it’s not even that i’m all angry

just want to know why you would do this thing

you said there’s an understanding

i offered you a small dog in the kitchen

just wanted you to feel at home

and that’s why

i am fine

i am fine

i am fine

i am fine

i just need one hundred dollars

i am fine

i am fine

i am fine

i am fine

i just need one hundred dollars

from you and you and you and you and you

I Can Feel A Hot One

i could feel a hot one taking me down

for a moment i could feel the force

veiny to the point of tears

and you were holding on to make a point

what’s the point?

i am but a clean man, stable and alone man

make it so i won’t have to try

the faces always stay the same

so i’ll face the fact that i’m just fine

i said that i’m just fine

i remember head down after you had found out

manna is a hell of a drug

i need a little more i think

because enough is never quite enough

what’s enough?

i took it like a grown man crying on the pavement

hoping you would show your face

well i haven’t heard a thing you’ve said

in at least a couple hundred days

what’d you say?

i was in the front seat shaking it out

and i was asking if you felt alright

and i never want to hear the truth

i want to hear your voice is sounding fine

my voice is sounding fine

i could feel my heart beat taking me down

and for the moment i would sleep alright

veiny with a selfish fear

to keep me up another restless night

another restless night

your blood was dry it was sober

the feeling of audible cracks

and i could tell it was over

from the curtains that hung from your neck

and i realized it then you were perfect

with my teeth ripping out of my head

and it looked like a painting i once knew

back when my thoughts were not tire leak intact

so i prayed for what i thought were angels

ended up being ambulances

and the lord showed me dreams of my daughter

she was crying inside your stomach

and i felt love again

My Friend Marcus

my friend marcus he sleeps in my basement

his father touched more than spirit

now he can hardly sleep. sleep.

i don’t give a good shit if you’re lonesome

i think that you should go home son

find a father and your meaning

now i can see you mean everything to nothing

now i believe you mean everything

my friend marcus he works on a train set

and i still can’t move on my broke track

he’s helping me find my meaning

now i can see we mean everything to nothing

now i believe you mean everything

it’s funny how many don’t know

how many of us don’t have homes

Tony The Tiger

i was alone so i set a fire

and i wasted it all on you

you were a seed i can hardly remember

and i knew it’d be over soon

if i was a tree i knew you couldn’t take it

on a sunday afternoon

we were a bridge on top of gaudy water

when i had something left inside you

what is the price to be a bargain beggar?

so lonely but always free

and what did you mean when you said “it’s destructive”?

and you sank yourself right into me

i know you think you know, but you probably don’t

and i know you think you know, but you probably don’t know

didn’t think that you would actually do it

and we slept the entire drive home

it was you, my sister, and i

didn’t think that you would actually do it

Everything to Nothing

definitely not the things that i’m seeing

did i think i’d see so instantly

i found a note in my grandfather’s coat

when i read it out loud i got cold

’cause he said:

i’m not complaining

i was just saying

i’m a man, i’m a lost one you see?

come down with me to a place

we’ll get clean

and we’ll meet with them eventually.

you mean everything

i don’t know much but a crutch is a crutch

if it’s holding you from moving on

i don’t know what to do

not anymore

not anymore

and you

well you mean

everything

you mean everything to nothing

you mean everything to nothing

you mean everything to nobody but me

The River

I fought the spirit with a sword in my side

Cheat… what a way out

Crack my rib, wait to die.

I think i know you the best when i sleep

I think i know everything

Me and my brothers, we have tongues sharp as knives

i found a way out, make a noise, close your eyes

i think i talk to you best when i sing

i sing about almost everything

oh God i need it

so let me sing again

take me to the river

and let me see again

oh my God

let me see again

oh my god

let me see again

let me see again

grace taught a debtor

daily i’m strained to be

god how i feel it

fetter pride to your feet

i’m going to leave you the first chance i get

i’m going to leave you the first chance i get

i’m going to leave you the first chance i get

i’m going to leave you the first chance i get

oh god i need it

well i was wrong again

take me to the river

and make me clean again

oh my god

make me clean again

oh my god

let me see again

Jimmy, He Whispers

God knows you’re on my mind

you can try to tell him otherwise

God knows it’s only time

before i break the chain in my eyes

and fear keeps you hiding at night

from the creatures play ball outside

well chances are slim that we are right

but i’d never think it any otherwise

so we’ll find the answers in time

when the bodies pile up sky high

and i’ll sail the ship towards the sky

but i’ll end all alone on the other side

if you could pull that rope just a little higher

we would dangle alone like a firefly

so jimmy i’ve heard the voice of God

and he whispered fear is logical

and he said it’s magic wonderful

and he swears to him it’s wonderful

and the lake you speak of is magical

so i skip stones on it practical

and i make sure that we’re both wonderful

you’re a brother and that’s all right

you’re a brother and that’s alright

you’re a brother and that’s alright

we’re brothers it makes it right

’cause his blood is so red in spite

of the way that our sharp teeth bite

oh the way that our sharp teeth bite

in each other during the night

with the creatures that play outside

we’re the creatures that play outside

’cause jimmy i’ve heard the voice of God

and he whispered “fear is logical”

and the words that we heard aren’t repeatable

with a thought that could kill comprehendible

and we’re brothers and that’s alright

yeah we’re brothers and that’s alright

yeah we’re brothers and that’s alright

yeah we’re brothers until we die

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