“Know Your Onion” (from Oh, Inverted World) is a reflection song from the viewpoint of a guy in his 20s looking back on his youth in the ‘80s. I had been very shy as a younger kid—that’s what we call it from the outside. What it feels like on the inside is that the other humans are a threat. A mild threat, but nevertheless something that you have to contend with. Hence the lyrics in the bridge, “…parking their cars on your chest.” I think a lot of people can relate to the subject matter because if you go back in your life far enough, there’s the vulnerable child. Each of us has that. There’s also an angle to this song that is about finding self-reliance. Realizing at some point you’re just going to have to go it alone, and the same is probably true of everyone else in the end. What is it, late-20s when you have your Saturn Return? Something like that.
You can hear me talk more about it below…