Post-Hydrate Update

Song Meaning

Robert Pollard's "Post-Hydrate Update" is a deceptively simple meditation on renewal and the pervasive, almost banal, presence of both beauty and sorrow. The opening lines, referencing a "post-hydrate update" that "sink[s] in to the skin," suggest a process of cleansing, both literal and metaphorical. This 'update' aims to 'sponge the blemish,' hinting at an attempt to erase imperfections and achieve a state of purity. But the acknowledgement that the update 'can really sink in' carries a subtle undertone of discomfort or even pain, implying that transformation isn't always seamless or pleasant. The stark declaration that "there is loneliness everywhere" cuts through the initial imagery of cleansing with a blunt force. It's a grounding statement, a reminder that even in the pursuit of renewal, the human condition remains marked by isolation. This loneliness exists alongside the scrubbed, 'squeaky clean' exterior, the 'grey sky finish' that is 'fine' but hardly exuberant. It speaks to an acceptance of a muted existence, a life where the pursuit of flawlessness yields a certain blandness, a sacrifice of vibrancy for the sake of perceived safety. Yet, the song refuses to wallow entirely. The repetition of "everywhere" in the lines about molecules, children, gentlemen, and loveliness serves as a counterpoint to the initial loneliness. It suggests an abundance, a constant hum of existence that persists despite the individual's internal state. Even the seemingly absurd image of a woman running off with an elephant and a reindeer introduces a note of surreal escape, a rejection of the ordinary and a embrace of the fantastical. In the end, "Post-Hydrate Update" balances the tension between the desire for personal improvement and the acceptance of life's inherent absurdities and contradictions.