Codeine released their first album Frigid Stars on the German label Glitterhouse in 1990. The album was released on Sub Pop the following year.
Their second release, the Barely Real EP was issued in 1992. Immerwahr rejected several of the songs after the recording session. Some of these songs were re-recorded for the final album. The song w. is a solo performance on piano by David Grubbs (of Bastro, Squirrel Bait and Gastr del Sol). A somewhat different full-band version of the song appears on Codeine's next album, but titled Wird.
Brokaw left the band after the release of Barely Real to play full-time with his other band Come. He was replaced by Douglas Scharin of the band Rex.
Codeine's next and final release was the full-length album The White Birch, released in 1994. David Grubbs also participated on the album. After this release the band broke up. Stephen Immerwahr has since then been playing with the band Raymond, while Douglas Scharin continued in June of 44 and later HiM.
The band reformed in May 2012 for a Mogwai-curated ATP I'll Be Your Mirror in London. They played their final reunion show in July 2012 in New York.
D
Codeine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D for intent
D because you pay the rent
D for love
D for insight
D because you're heaven sent
I want you to need me - not to feed me
I want you to need me - not to feed me
D for dishes
F for floors
Can't make the grade anymore
D for love
D for intent
D because you pay the rent
You kick my head
Lying on your ten - your ten foot bed
You say you're all alone, that's just 'cause, you don't want anybody home
See a smile, make it sad
Take it all so bad.
The lyrics in Codeine's song D seem to be about someone struggling to meet the expectations of their partner or loved one. The "D" in the lyrics seems to stand for "effort, intent, love, insight, or doing the bare minimum to pay the rent" for someone else. The singer wants their loved one to need them for emotional fulfillment, rather than just physical or practical support. Despite their efforts, the singer can't seem to keep up with the expectations of their loved one, as they receive a "D" for their efforts in doing the dishes or cleaning the floors.
The lyrics also contain some introspection on the part of the singer, as they recognize that their loved one is pushing them away and they feel alone. The line "You kick my head, lying on your ten - your ten foot bed" seems to indicate that the singer feels physically and emotionally rejected. The lyrics "See a smile, make it sad, take it all so bad" suggest that the singer takes their loved one's criticisms and expectations very seriously, and it affects them deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
D for effort
Giving it your all, putting in your best effort
D for intent
Having good intentions
D because you pay the rent
Doing what you need to do to keep a roof over your head
D for love
Putting your heart into it, doing it with love
D for insight
Understanding and insight about the situation
D because you're heaven sent
Doing it because you were meant to, because you feel it's right
I want you to need me - not to feed me
I want you to love me for who I am, not just what I can provide
D for dishes
Doing what needs to be done, even if it's not glamorous
F for floors
Failing to keep up with everything, falling short
Can't make the grade anymore
Feeling like you're not measuring up
You kick my head
Putting me down, making me feel insignificant
Lying on your ten - your ten foot bed
Being defensive, pushing people away
You say you're all alone, that's just 'cause, you don't want anybody home
Feeling alone, but pushing people away on purpose
See a smile, make it sad
Intentionally making things worse, finding negativity in positivity
Take it all so bad
Feeling too deeply, taking things to heart
Contributed by Ava L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.