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.
Eat For Two
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Dream child in my head is a nightmare born in a borrowed bed
Now I know lightning strikes again
It struck me once, then struck me dead
My folly grows inside of me
I eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now
Well, the egg man fell down off his shelf
You know where this will lead, to hush and rock in the nursery for the kicking one inside of me
I eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now
When the boy was a boy, the girl was a girl, they found each other in a wicked world
Strong in some respects, but she couldn't stand for the way he begged and gave in
Pride is for men; young girls should run and hide instead
Risk the game by taking dares with "yes"
Eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now
Walk for two? I'm stumbling
Breathe for two? I can't breathe
Five months, how it grows
Five months now, I begin to show
"Eat For Two" by 10000 Maniacs is a poignant song that describes the struggles of a pregnant woman who unintentionally finds herself expecting a child. The imagery of baby blankets, shoes, slippers, spoons, and walls of baby blue represent the baby's imminent arrival. However, the baby's presence was not welcomed, and it feels like a nightmare born in a borrowed bed. The singer says she knows lightning strikes again, which suggests that the unexpected pregnancy is possibly not the first time she is struggling with a difficult situation. The thought of her growing folly inside her is palpable and is enhanced by her eating, walking, and breathing for two individuals. She must be both the mother and the father to the child.
The second verse of the song mentions the egg man who fell from his shelf, and all the good king's men could not repair the damage, which indicates that something has been lost beyond repair. This could be a reference to the singer's life before she gets pregnant, which is now irreversibly changed. Now, she knows that she must prepare for the birth and spend countless hours hushed and rocking in the nursery for the kicking child inside of her. As the pregnancy progresses, she is becoming more aware of the toll it is taking on her and her body, and she is struggling to perform the same activities that were once easy for her. She stumbles while walking, and her breathing becomes strained due to the weight she is carrying. The song finishes with a description of the physical changes that are apparent to her and to others as she begins to show.
Line by Line Meaning
O, Baby blankets and baby shoes, baby slippers, baby spoons, walls of baby blue
The mother is surrounded by everything that reminds her of the baby and the upcoming arrival.
Dream child in my head is a nightmare born in a borrowed bed
The mother is anxious about the baby's birth and what lies ahead for her and her family.
Now I know lightning strikes again
The mother is aware that something life-changing is about to happen to her and her family.
It struck me once, then struck me dead
The mother feels overwhelmed by everything that is happening and is struggling to cope.
My folly grows inside of me
The mother knows that she made a mistake and is now dealing with the consequences of her actions.
I eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now
The mother is pregnant and taking care of herself and the baby growing inside of her.
Well, the egg man fell down off his shelf
This line is open to interpretation and could mean different things to different people.
All the good king's men with all their help struggled 'til the end for a shell they couldn't mend
This part of the song could be a metaphor for the difficult and often futile attempts to fix a broken relationship or situation.
You know where this will lead, to hush and rock in the nursery for the kicking one inside of me
The mother knows that she will soon be taking care of her baby and rocking it to sleep in the nursery.
When the boy was a boy, the girl was a girl, they found each other in a wicked world
This may refer to the parents of the baby and how they came together in a difficult or challenging situation.
Strong in some respects, but she couldn't stand for the way he begged and gave in
This line could refer to the mother's relationship with the father or a previous relationship she had where she didn't like how the man behaved or treated her.
Pride is for men; young girls should run and hide instead
This line may be suggesting that women should not be too proud in relationships and should avoid danger or risky situations.
Risk the game by taking dares with "yes"
The mother may be reflecting on her past and the risky or dangerous situations she found herself in.
Eat for two, walk for two, breathe for two now
The mother is pregnant and taking care of herself and the baby growing inside of her.
Walk for two? I'm stumbling
The mother is struggling to adjust to the changes in her body and the added weight from the baby.
Breathe for two? I can't breathe
The mother is having trouble breathing due to the baby pressing against her lungs.
Five months, how it grows
The mother is five months pregnant and is noticing the changes in her body and the growth of the baby.
Five months now, I begin to show
The mother's pregnancy is becoming more noticeable to others around her.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind