David Berman, creative force behind the Silver Jews, poet extrordanaire, and star of a recent documentary, penned an admission of farewell late last night on the band's message board.

An excerpt from his initial post reads: 

"I guess I am moving over to another category. Screenwriting or Muckraking.

I've got to move on. Can't be like all the careerists doncha know.

I'm forty two and I know what to do.

I'm a writer, see?

Cassie is taking it the hardest. She's a fan and a player but she sees how happy i am with the decision.

I always said we would stop before we got bad. If I continue to record I might accidentally write the answer song to Shiny Happy People.

What, you thought I was going to hang on to the bitter end like Marybeth Hamilton?

love david"

If thats not shocking, then hold on to your hats, because Berman followed this post with another post proporting to reveal a grave secret, "worse than suicide, worse than crack addiction." What follows is a powerful and emotional note regarding his father, Richard Berman, a notorious D.C. lobbyist whose motives are in direct opposition to those of Berman. This is the first time Berman has mentioned publicly who his father is, and it's perfectly understandable why he didn't care to let it be known, as David's sense of creative and civil justice seems to cause him a lot of grief in the shadow of his father's unjust actions. Like father, like son - not a chance.

Both full posts can be read here: Silver Jews End-Lead Singer Bids his Well-Wishers Adieu. Let's hope that Berman doesn't put down his guitar for too long. The only gig scheduled for the Jews (who didn't even tour for the first decade of their career) is in an underground cave. 

Excuse me while I listen to "Trains Across the Sea" on repeat.

"Half hours on earth, what are they worth?" Indeed.