10,000 Maniacs have gone through a variety of musicians throughout the history of the band. Here is a partial list of the past, present, and touring musicians:
Jerry Augustyniak - Jerry has been the drummer of 10,000 Maniacs since 1983. He's also played with the bands The Stains, Only Humen, League of Blind Women, The Michael Lee Jackson Band, Buffalo Rising, The Damn Straights, etc. He has been the band's main backing vocalist since 1994.
Rob Buck - Rob was the lead guitar player from 1981 to 1999. He co-wrote many of the band's most popular songs. Rob died December 19, 2000 of liver failure at the age of 42.
Duane Calhoun - Duane played lead guitar for 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 while Rob Buck was officially in the band, but not performing with them.
Chet Cardinale - Chet was an early drummer for the band. He left to pursue a career in acupuncture.
Jim Colavito - Jim played saxophone with the band in 1981.
Dennis Drew - Dennis has been the keyboard player in the band since 1981. He's also played with The Mighty Wallop!, where he co-wrote much of the band's material, played keyboards, and had lead and harmony vocal duties.
Jeff Erickson - Jeff took over lead guitar after his friend and guitar teacher Rob Buck died, beginning by playing a short set during the band's only 2001 appearance. The first time he played with the band was December 12, 1998 on the song "These Are Days", while Buck was away from the band. Jeff was a lead singer/guitar player in the short-lived band The Mighty Wallop!.
Tim Edborg - Tim played drums with 10,000 Maniacs in 1981.
Morgan Fichter - Morgan was a touring musician with the band in 1992-1993, playing violin and singing backing vocals. She's also played with Camper Van Beethoven and Phish among others.
Jim Foti - Jim was the studio drummer for the band's 1982 EP Human Conflict Number Five.
Steve Gustafson - Steve has been the band's bass player since 1981. He has also been one of the band's backing vocalists in their live performances since 1994. He was also the bass player in The Mighty Wallop!.
Debbie Heverly - Debbie played piano with the band in 1981.
Michael Lee Jackson - Michael replaced Rob Buck as the touring lead guitar player on December 11, 1998 and stayed in that spot until the summer of 1999, when Buck returned. Michael has played in Animal Planet and The Michael Lee Jackson Band.
Amanda Kramer - Amanda was a touring musician with 10,000 Maniacs in 1992 and 1993 as a second keyboard player, also lending her harmony vocals to some of the songs. Occasionally, she'd back Rob up on guitar, picking up an acoustic on several songs. She was formerly the Keyboardist for the 80's New Wave band Information Society
John Lombardo - John, the band's rhythm guitar player and occasional odd vocalist, co-wrote most of the early Maniacs songs, but left the band in 1986, right before the band "made it big." He returned in 1994 with his duo partner Mary Ramsey, and picked up right where he left off by writing and shaping the band's music. He left the band again in 2002 after the first rehearsal before the "hits" tour.
Natalie Merchant - Natalie was the voice of 10,000 Maniacs from 1981 until she decided to embark on a solo career in 1993. In her later years with the band, she played piano as well.
Terry Newhouse - Born February 19, 1957 in Corry, Pennsylvania, Terry was a keyboard player and vocalist in the band "Still Life", which was the band's name before they began calling themselves "10,000 Maniacs." At one time, she was married to Rob Buck. Newhouse died June 8, 2005 at WCA Hospital in Jamestown, New York at the age of 48.
Mary Ramsey - Mary opened up shows with John Lombardo as John & Mary in 1990 and would play viola and sing backing vocals with the band on a few songs in 1990-1991. She a touring musician with the band in 1992-1993, playing viola and singing backing vocals. When Natalie Merchant left the band in 1993, Mary replaced her on lead vocals and added the viola as a main instrument of the band, starting with live shows in 1994 and continuing on until 2001. Oskar Saville replaced her as lead singer in 2002, but Mary agreed to become a touring musician with the band in 2006, singing backing vocals and playing viola on select songs. Mary agreed to be the lead singer for the band again for their final show of 2007 after Oskar Saville left the band.
Oskar Saville - Oskar took over lead vocals from Mary Ramsey in 2002. She occasionally plays acoustic guitar during live performances. May 8, 2003 was her first live performance with the band. During the song "Stockton Gala Days", she pulled the band's webmaster (at the time) Adam Zeitz on stage to share lead vocals. Oskar was the former lead singer of Rubygrass and also has a solo career. She left the band in late Summer, 2007 and was replaced by the woman she replaced, Mary Ramsey.
Because The Night
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Hold me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed
Come on now, try and understand
The way I feel under your command
Take my hand, as the sun descends
Can't hurt you now
Can't hurt you now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Have I doubt, baby, when I'm alone
Love is a ring on the telephone
Love is an angel, disguised as lust
Here in our bed 'til the morning comes
Come on now, try and understand
The way I feel under your command
Take my hand, as the sun descends
They can't hurt you now
Can't hurt you now
Can't hurt you now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
With love we sleep, with doubt the vicious circle turns, and burns
Without you, I cannot live, forgive the yearning burning
I believe in love too real to feel, take me now, take me now, take me now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Saying anybody saving face belongs to her
The song 'Because the Night' by 10000 Maniacs, originally written by Bruce Springsteen, is a passionate reflection of intense desire and love. The lyrics of the song describe the hunger and need for love, where the singer yearns to be held and understood by their lover. The lines "Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe, love is a banquet on which we feed" express how the desire for love is an important and necessary part of life, while love itself is a fuel that sustains us.
The singer of the song feels a strong attachment to their lover, where the line "They can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now" shows a sense of protection and comfort that the singer feels in their lover's embrace. The song also explores the idea that love can transcend doubt and turn vicious circles of negativity into positive ones. The lines "With love, we sleep, with doubt the vicious circle turns and burns, without you, I cannot live, forgive the yearning burning" express how the singer believes that love is the solution to their doubts and the cure for the pain and yearning they feel.
Overall, the song is a passionate and heartfelt expression of love and the need for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me now, baby, here as I am
I want you to accept me for who I am, right now
Hold me close, try and understand
Show me you care by holding me closely and making an effort to understand my needs
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
My desire for you is a powerful force that consumes me
Love is a banquet on which we feed
Love nourishes and sustains us in the same way that food at a banquet does
Come on now, try and understand
Please make an effort to comprehend what I'm going through
The way I feel under your command
Your presence has power and influence over my emotions
Take my hand, as the sun descends
Let's hold hands as the day comes to an end
They can't hurt you now
No one can harm you when you're with me
Because the night belongs to lovers
The night is a time for intimacy and romantic connection
Because the night belongs to us
We have the power and freedom to express our love at night
Have I doubt, baby, when I'm alone
Sometimes I question my own feelings when I'm by myself
Love is a ring on the telephone
Even a simple phone call from you can make me feel loved and connected
Love is an angel, disguised as lust
Love can be intense and passionate, disguised as physical desire
Here in our bed 'til the morning comes
Let's stay in bed together until the morning arrives
With love we sleep, with doubt the vicious circle turns, and burns
When we're in love, we can rest peacefully, but doubt can cause a painful and destructive cycle
Without you, I cannot live, forgive the yearning burning
My longing for you is so strong that I can't bear to be without you
I believe in love too real to feel, take me now, take me now, take me now
My love for you is so real that it's almost overwhelming, and I want you to take me in your arms right now
Because the night belongs to lust
The night can also symbolize and celebrate physical passion and desire
Saying anybody saving face belongs to her
It's important to maintain dignity and protect oneself in a romantic relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Patricia Lee Smith, Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind