In 1996, after attending the Evergreen State College for two years, Wozniak moved east to New York, where Marcy Playground began to coalesce around the songs that would become the self-titled album. Bassist Dylan Keefe and drummer Dan Rieser filled out the band's sound, and complemented Wozniak's songwriting. The self-titled album was released in 1997, and Marcy Playground emerged into the mainstream with the success of the single "Sex and Candy." Marcy Playground is quiet and minimalist in tone. Wozniak's songs run in many different styles: some are modern folk music; many have undertones reminiscent of children's songs; the blurred sound of psychedelia makes appearances; and then there are the songs with a clear rock sound. The only band member who contributed to all of the album was Wozniak himself; several others filled in for Rieser and Keefe on some of the songs, notably Jared Kotler (bass and drums).
Marcy Playground's next outing was 1999's Shapeshifter, not as much of a success commercially as the self-titled album.
A minor controversy came to light when Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers revealed on Marcy Playground's website forum that the cover art for Shapeshifter had originally been conceptualized and commissioned by Leary for his band's aborted After the Astronaut album. He admitted to being a fan of Marcy Playground, but accused the band of an apparent lack of imagination and originality. Leary's outrage was eased once he learned that Capitol Records, former home of the Butthole Surfers and then-current home of Marcy Playground, had pitched the artwork to Wozniak as original work from their own art department and that Marcy Playground had no knowledge of the work's origins. Upon learning the truth, Wozniak proclaimed that he was "honored" to have an album cover designed by Paul Leary. There were apparently no bad feelings between the bands once the controversy had been cleared up.
After Shapeshifter, drummer Dan Rieser left the band to pursue other interests. The position was eventually filled on his recommendation by Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera, a friend whose previous band Lincoln had opened for Marcy Playground.
After a considerable hiatus and at least one failed attempt to record a follow-up to Shapeshifter, Marcy Playground's third album, MP3, was finally released in 2004 with even less commercial success than the two preceding albums.
Marcy Playground did little if any touring in support of MP3. Despite releasing many singles, the band never matched the success of their single "Sex and Candy".
As of July 12'th 2008, John Wozniak posted a blog on MySpace stating his unreleased solo effort is now officially going to be a Marcy Playground record and is going to be released within the next few months along with a separate "Rarities and B-Sides" album. They are still performing live although to their many fans dismay, venues are sporadic. Meanwhile, Keefe has held the job of WNYC radio program On the Media's technical director, a position he left in December 2007.
Sex and Candy
Marcy Playground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had so much time to sit and think about myself
And then there she was, like double cherry pie
Yeah, there she was
Like disco super-fly
I smell sex and candy here, mmm
Who's that lounging in my chair? Mmm
Who's that casting devious stares in my direction?
Mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, dig it
Hangin' 'round downtown by myself
And I've had too much caffeine, and I was thinkin' 'bout myself
And then there she was, in platform double suede
Yeah, there she was
Like disco lemonade
I smell sex and candy here, mmm
Who's that lounging in my chair? Mmm
Who's that casting devious stares in my direction?
Mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, dig it
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
I smell sex and candy here, mmm
Who's that lounging in my chair? Mmm
Who's that casting devious stares in my direction?
Mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, dig it
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
Yeah, mama, this must be my dream
The lyrics to Marcy Playground's hit song "Sex and Candy" paint a picture of a young man hanging around downtown by himself, lost in his own thoughts. He's had too much caffeine, and he's pondering his own existence when suddenly he sees her - a woman who catches his eye like a double cherry pie. She's a perfect 10, like disco super-fly, and he can't help but be drawn to her.
But as he approaches her, he begins to notice something strange. He smells sex and candy in the air, and he realizes that someone else has been in his chair. He sees that someone is casting devious stares in his direction, and he wonders if this is all a dream. He can't believe that he's found such a perfect woman, but something seems off, and he can't shake the feeling that this might not be real.
The lyrics to "Sex and Candy" are open to interpretation, but many people believe that the song is about a young man who is struggling to find his place in the world. He's searching for love and companionship, but he's also aware of the darker side of human nature. He senses that there are people around him who are predatory and deceitful, and he's not sure if he can trust anyone.
Overall, "Sex and Candy" is a hypnotic and engaging song that captures the feeling of being young and on the cusp of adulthood. It's a song about desire, temptation, and the quest for something real in a world that often feels fake and shallow.
Line by Line Meaning
Hangin' 'round downtown by myself
I was alone in the city
And I had so much time to sit and think about myself
I had plenty of time to reflect on myself
And then there she was, like double cherry pie
Then I saw her, as sexy as cherry pie
Yeah, there she was
Like disco super-fly
She was so cool, like the disco era
I smell sex and candy here, mmm
I sense lust and sweetness in this moment
Who's that lounging in my chair? Mmm
Who's relaxing in my seat?
Who's that casting devious stares in my direction?
Who's giving me that sly look?
Mama, this surely is a dream, yeah
This must be too good to be true
Yeah, mama, this surely is a dream, dig it
Yes, this is definitely a dream
And I've had too much caffeine, and I was thinkin' 'bout myself
I had consumed too much caffeine and was lost in my own thoughts
And then there she was, in platform double suede
Then there she was, in her stylish platform shoes
Yeah, there she was
Like disco lemonade
She looked as refreshing as a cool drink in a disco
Yeah, mama, this must be my dream
I can't believe this is happening, it must be a dream
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John K. Wozniak
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind