From the Flicted album .. 2022.
Sidelines features: Bruce Hornsby (piano, dulcimer, vocals, bass); Ezra Koenig (vocals); Blake Mills (guitar); Gibb Droll (guitar); J.V. Collier (bass); Chad Wright (drums, shaker); Ethan Gruska (stuff)
Bruce says “Sidelines” is about “hysteria in various forms, starting with the Salem witch trials of the 1600s to the present day pandemic era panic”.
The song is inspired by Don DeLillo’s writing.
Sidelines meaning
“Sidelines” is a vivid exploration of hysteria and fear throughout history, drawing parallels between past and present societal panics. He uses the Salem witch trials and modern pandemics to reflect on how fear can distort reality, with a particular focus on how these moments of hysteria affect individuals and society.
Hysteria and fear throughout history
The song links the Salem witch trials of the 1600s—a period of mass hysteria that led to the persecution of innocent people—to the panic observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Salem reference evokes a time when fear overtook reason, leading to wrongful accusations and irrational behaviour. By mentioning modern-day “crowded sky of ventilators” and “every surface lethal,” Hornsby suggests that today’s hysteria manifests through a different lens—one shaped by disease, technology, and uncertainty.
Salem witch trials as a symbol of hysteria
Sidelines’ opening lines refer to traveling to Salem, where the speaker is a “judge at a jury trial.” This could represent the role of authority in times of crisis, where those in power make life-altering decisions influenced by the overwhelming fear around them. The Salem trials are a metaphor for the ways society often seeks scapegoats during times of fear, perpetuating injustice in the name of safety or control.
Pandemic panic and societal anxiety
The singer uses contemporary imagery to illustrate how the hysteria from the Salem era parallels today’s world. Lines like “crowded sky of ventilators” and “now every surface lethal” describe the collective panic during the pandemic, when the invisible threat of a virus heightened anxiety. The constant cleaning and paranoia, reflected in “wipe it down and change your mood,” allude to the precautions people took, often leading to mental strain and altered perceptions of reality.
Shapeless fear and its all-consuming nature
The description of fear as a “shapeless, creeping, growing thing” reveals how hysteria spreads uncontrollably. Like the witch trials, which were driven by an intangible fear of evil, the modern fear of infection is similarly formless but omnipresent. Hornsby contrasts the eras but highlights the same underlying emotions: fear of the unknown and the desperate need to control it. The phrase “Salem barrister’s Waterloo” suggests that, just as the Salem trials were a catastrophic failure for justice, today’s responses to crises can also be a downfall.
Modern society’s relationship with hysteria
Technology and altered perceptions
The line “signs generating reality” points to how the media and constant information overload shape our understanding of events. Whether through billboards, news feeds, or social media, the reality we perceive is often dictated by external influences, much like the hysteria of Salem was fuelled by public sentiment and paranoia. The image of “rental cars, tubes and tires and chains” flying by further highlights the disconnection and confusion in a fast-paced world, where technology and modern conveniences are silently linked to the way fear spreads.
Ventilators and antennas as symbols of survival and connectivity
The repeated imagery of “crowded sky of ventilators” reflects the medical and technological responses to the pandemic. Ventilators became symbols of survival during the COVID-19 crisis, while “antennas out” suggests the constant search for information and connection. Hornsby ties this modern panic to the historical panic of Salem, showing how, despite advancements in science and communication, fear and hysteria persist in different forms.
“Sidelines” serves as a reflection on how fear, whether during the Salem witch trials or in the modern pandemic era, shapes society. Hornsby examines how hysteria spreads, fuelled by unseen forces, distorting perceptions of reality and leading to widespread paranoia. Through the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary imagery, the song highlights the universal nature of fear, showing that while the sources may change, the effects remain the same. Whether it’s witch hunts or wiping down surfaces in a pandemic, the societal reactions to fear mirror each other across time.