After a pair of well-received singles, Superchunk released Superchunk in 1990, a critically-lauded LP. In spite of the ensuing interest from major labels, Superchunk decided to stay independent, going with Matador Records for their second, just as critically-lauded LP, No Pocky for Kitty, followed by a collection of singles, Tossing Seeds and another pair of well-reviewed LP's, On the Mouth and Foolish.
Superchunk singer Mac McCaughan and bassist Laura Ballance decided to release future albums on their own Merge Records, which they had started in 1989. The band continued touring and recording, appearing on Lollapalooza and backing a minor hit in "Hyper Enough" (from Here's Where the Strings Come In). In 1999, Superchunk released Come Pick Me Up.
McCaughan was a member of Seam and has also recorded several albums as Portastatic. Initially a solo project, Portastatic has evolved into a full band, which currently includes Superchunk's Jim Wilbur as a member. Before forming Superchunk, McCaughan was a member of the Slushpuppies, Wwax, and Bricks.
In 2008, the band announced they would be performing live shows and working on new material. That new material manifested itself as 2009's Leaves in the Gutter EP, which was followed by a full-length in 2010.
In 2013 bassist Laura Ballance announced that she would no longer tour, due to a worsening hearing condition (hyperacusis). However, the band continues to release new material, including the 2018 album "What a Time to be Alive."
Driveway to Driveway
Superchunk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I lay you down in those?
The names on the stones were all erased
And I thought it was you that I had chased
Driveway to driveway drunk
I don't remember this too well
Glad I have the scrapes to prove
Prove it was me who fell
And the names were all we knew
And the names were all erased
From stage to stage we flew
A drink in every hand
My hand on your heart had been replaced
And I thought it was you that I had chased
Driveway to driveway drunk
I don't remember this too well
Glad I have the scrapes to prove
Prove it was me who fell
And the names were all we knew
And the names were all erased
The song Driveway to Driveway by Superchunk touches on themes of love, confusion, and uncertainty. The singer of the song seems to have had a drunken encounter with someone, possibly a past lover, and is left questioning whether it was truly them. The lyrics "Did I lay you down in those?" indicate a sexual encounter, and the briars in their clothes suggest that it may have taken place in an outdoor or natural setting. The ambiguity of the encounter is further highlighted by the line "And I thought it was you that I had chased," as if the singer is unsure whether they actually caught the person they were chasing.
Throughout the song, the names on the stones serve as a motif, representing a connection to the past that has been lost or erased. The singer reflects on the fact that they don't remember the encounter well and is glad to have physical evidence of their fall, suggesting that they might regret what happened or fear consequences. The reference to flying from stage to stage, possibly on tour, and having a drink in every hand adds to the sense of chaos and disorientation.
The repetition of the chorus and the fading of the guitar at the end give the impression of fading memories and a desire to hold onto something that is slipping away. The song is a powerful reflection on the fleeting nature of memory and the difficulty of holding onto moments of clarity in a confusing world.
Line by Line Meaning
I still have briars in my clothes
I can still feel the physical impact of our past love, and I wonder if it was worth it.
Did I lay you down in those?
I wonder if our past intimacy played a role in the tangled state of my clothes.
The names on the stones were all erased
The memories of our past relationships and their significance have lost their meaning, much like the names we once carved onto stones.
And I thought it was you that I had chased
As I reflect on our past, I realized I was chasing an illusion of you, but it was never really you that I was after.
Driveway to driveway drunk
Reckless behavior during the course of our relationship was the norm.
I don't remember this too well
The alcohol prevented me from retaining clear memories of our past, but the scars prove it did in fact happen.
Glad I have the scrapes to prove
Despite the emotional pain I suffered, I'm thankful for the physical marks that serve as evidence of our past relationship.
And the names were all we knew
Our relationship was based on superficialities like names and appearances, but it was never a deep connection.
From stage to stage we flew
Our relationship was constantly transitioning, never truly grounded and lasting.
A drink in every hand
We were always trying to numb the pain of our relationship not working out with alcohol.
My hand on your heart had been replaced
The deep emotional connection we once had is gone, replaced by something empty and void of meaning.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James August Wilbur, Jonathan Patrick Wurster, Laura Jane Ballance, Ralph Lee Mccaughan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind