Holland, 1945

Neutral Milk Hotel

About Holland, 1945

"Holland, 1945" is a song by the American indie rock group Neutral Milk Hotel. It was released as the only single from the band's second and final studio album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea in October 1998. "Holland, 1945" is one of the album's louder, more upbeat songs, featuring overdriven and distorted guitars. The song also showcases fuzz noise on all of the instruments, a quality created by producer Robert Schneider. "Holland, 1945" was one of the last songs Neutral Milk Hotel frontman Jeff Mangum wrote for In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. It remained untitled until art director Chris Bilheimer asked Mangum what to title the song in the liner notes; when Mangum told him to use either "Holland" or "1945", Bilheimer suggested combining the two. 


Year:
2011
3:15
183 

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The only girl I've ever loved
Was born with roses in her eyes
But then they buried her alive
One evening in 1945
With just her sister at her side
And only weeks before the guns
All came and rained on everyone
Now she's a little boy in Spain
Playing pianos filled with flames
On empty rings around the sun
I'll sing to say my dream has come

But now we must pack up every piece
Of the life we used to love
Just to keep ourselves
At least enough to carry on

And now we ride the circus wheel
With your dark brother wrapped in white
Says it was good to be alive
But now he rides a comet's flame
And won't be coming back again
The Earth looks better from a star
That's right above from where you are
He didn't mean to make you cry
With sparks that ring and bullets fly
On empty rings around your heart
The world just screams and falls apart

But now we must pack up every piece
Of the life we used to love
Just to keep ourselves
At least enough to carry on

And here's where your mother sleeps
And here is the room where your brothers were born
Indentations in the sheets
Where their bodies once moved but don't move anymore
And it's so sad to see the world agree
That they'd rather see their faces filled with flies
All when I'd want to keep white roses in their eyes

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Neutral Milk Hotel

Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation. more »

1 fan

Written by: Jeffery Nye Mangum

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Holland, 1945" is an indie rock song, drawn from the sub-genres of lo-fi and noise pop.
Album Details
The song was released as part of the band's second album, "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," on February 10, 1998.
Conceptual Basis
The album, including "Holland, 1945," is a concept album heavily influenced by the story of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis during World War II.
Song's Meaning
"Holland, 1945" is particularly linked to Anne Frank's story. It is contemplated that the song speaks about Anne's life and death.
Band's Hiatus
After the album "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" was released, Neutral Milk Hotel went on a hiatus for nearly 15 years, making "Holland, 1945" one of their last released songs for a long time.
Lead Vocalist
The song was written and sung by Jeff Mangum, who is the lead vocalist and driving force behind Neutral Milk Hotel.
Critical Reception
The song is celebrated as one of Neutral Milk Hotel's best songs, and is considered a deft fusion of abstract, poetics with harsh, immediate emotion.
Instrumentation
The song is notable for its intense, energetic instrumentation featuring distorted guitars, bombastic drums, and a singing saw, giving it a unique sound among indie rock tracks.
Frequent Use
"Holland, 1945" has been used on numerous TV shows and movies, significantly adding to its widespread popularity.
Death Imagery
Many listeners and critics interpret "Holland, 1945" as expressing themes of death and resurrection, reflecting Anne Frank's tragic life and Mangum's emotional response to her diary.
Lyrical Complexity
The song's lyrics are famously complex and heavily symbolic, sparking numerous theories and debates among fans and critics alike.
Vinyl Rarity
A vinyl copy of "Holland, 1945" is a coveted collector's item due to the band's brief period of activity and relative rarity of physical copies.
Live Performances
It is a song commonly performed live by Jeff Mangum during his solo shows, even during the band's long hiatus period.
Personal Attachment
Jeff Mangum has often spoken of his deep emotional bond with "Holland, 1945" and the heavy emotional toll that performing it can take.
Song Duration
The song is relatively short, lasting just over three minutes, but it condenses a high level of musical and lyrical intensity into that brief time frame.

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