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.
Don't Talk
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Don't talk, you keep your distance
For I'd rather hear some truth tonight than entertain your lies
So take you poison silently
Let me be, let me close my eyes
Don't talk, I'll believe it
Don't talk, listen to me instead
The drink you drown your troubles in is the trouble you're in now
Talk talk talk about it, if you talk as if you care
But when your talk is over tilt that bottle in the air
Tossing back more than your share
Don't talk, I can guess it
Don't talk, well now you're restless
And you need somewhere to put the blame for how you feel inside
You'll look for a close and easy mark and you'll see me as fair game
Talk talk talk about it, you talk as if you care
But when your talk is over you tilt that bottle in the air
Tossing back more than your share
You talk talk talk about it, you talk as if you care
I'm marking every word and can tell this time for sure
Your talk is the finest I have heard
So don't talk, I was sleeping
Don't talk, let me go on dreaming
How your eyes they glow so fiercely I can tell you're inspired
By the name you just chose for me, now what was it? Oh, never mind it
We will talk talk talk about this when your head is clear
I'll discuss this in the morning, but until then you may talk but I won't hear
The lyrics to 10,000 Maniacs' song "Don't Talk" are about a person who is tired of hearing empty promises and lies from someone they care about. The singer wants the truth, and they are willing to distance themselves from the person if they refuse to be honest. The song begins with the lines "Don't talk, I will listen / Don't talk, you keep your distance," indicating the singer's weariness with the other person's lack of sincerity. The singer reflects on the idea that the person is drinking to drown their sorrows, but the drink is causing more problems than it solves.
The singer urges the person to stop talking and instead listen to what they have to say, as they know what is really going on. Even though the other person talks as if they care, they continue to drink and behave recklessly. The singer realizes that the person is looking for someone to blame for their troubles, and they see the singer as an easy target. The song ends with the singer telling the person they will discuss things when their head is clear and urging them to stop talking for now so they can sleep and dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talk, I will listen
I am willing to listen to you without any interruption.
Don't talk, you keep your distance
Stay away from me since I do not want to hear your lies.
For I'd rather hear some truth tonight than entertain your lies
I want you to speak the truth even if it hurts me rather than making false statements that lead to nothing.
So take you poison silently
If you have nothing truthful to say, it is better if you stay quiet and not poison the environment with lies.
Let me be, let me close my eyes
Leave me alone in peace since I am tired of hearing lies and need some rest.
Don't talk, I'll believe it
I will trust you even without any explanation, so you do not need to convince me of anything.
Don't talk, listen to me instead
I have something important to say, so you should listen to me carefully and not interrupt me.
I know that if you think of it, both long enough and hard
If you ponder on an issue for a long time, you can eventually figure out the truth of the matter.
The drink you drown your troubles in is the trouble you're in now
The solution that you adopt often leads to more problems, and the solution becomes the problem itself.
Talk talk talk about it, if you talk as if you care
You keep talking about your problems, as if you care, but you do not seem to do anything to solve them.
But when your talk is over tilt that bottle in the air
After speaking, you often consume too much alcohol to forget about the issue, which does not solve anything.
Tossing back more than your share
You drink excessively and can consume more than your body can handle.
Don't talk, I can guess it
I can guess what you are about to say, and I do not want to hear it.
Don't talk, well now you're restless
Your restlessness indicates that you want to talk, but I do not want to hear your lies.
And you need somewhere to put the blame for how you feel inside
You want to blame someone else for your internal problems, but it is not going to solve anything.
You'll look for a close and easy mark and you'll see me as fair game
You will target someone who is easy to blame, and since you think I am an easy target, you will blame me.
I'm marking every word and can tell this time for sure
I am paying attention to every word you say, and I can tell if you are telling the truth or lying.
Your talk is the finest I have heard
You are very smooth with your words, but I can see through your lies.
So don't talk, I was sleeping
I was sleeping, so do not disturb me by speaking.
Don't talk, let me go on dreaming
I want to continue dreaming, so please do not wake me up by speaking.
How your eyes they glow so fiercely I can tell you're inspired
Your intense eyes indicate that you are inspired by something, and I would like to know what it is.
By the name you just chose for me, now what was it? Oh, never mind it
You called me by a name, and I asked what it was, but since you are not answering, I do not care anymore.
We will talk talk talk about this when your head is clear
Let us discuss the issue only when you are sober and can think rationally without any bias.
I'll discuss this in the morning, but until then you may talk but I won't hear
I will discuss the matter in the morning, but until then, you can talk to yourself since I will not hear you.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: DENNIS DREW, NATALIE MERCHANT, NATALIE A MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind