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.
Hello In There
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Me and Loretta liked living there
It'd been years since the kids had grown
A life of their own
Left us alone
John and Linda live in Omaha
Joe is somewhere on the road
We lost Davey in the Korean War
Don't matter anymore
[Chorus]
You know that old trees grow stronger
And old rivers grow wilder everyday
Old people, just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say Hello in There
Hello
Me and Loretta we don't talk much more
She sits and stares through the back door screen
And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream
That we've both seen
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
We worked together at the factory
But what could I say if he asks "what's new?"
"Nothin' what's with you?"
Nothin' much to do
[Chorus]
So if you walking down the street some time
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don't just pass em by and stare
As if you didn't care
Say hello in there
Hello
The song "Hello In There" by 10000 Maniacs tells the story of an older couple who feel isolated and forgotten in their city apartment. The opening lines of the song introduce us to the couple: "We had an apartment in the city, Me and Loretta liked living there." The couple's children have grown up and moved on with their own lives, leaving them alone. The song describes the couple's feelings of loneliness and the lack of connections they have in their lives. The couple's friends and acquaintances are scattered, lost, or have passed away, such as Joe being "somewhere on the road", John and Linda living in Omaha, and Davey dying in the Korean War.
The chorus contrasts the strength and energy of nature with the decline and loneliness of old age. The metaphorical comparison of "old trees" and "old rivers" with "old people" emphasizes the idea of growing old being a natural part of life. However, the song acknowledges that growing old can lead to loneliness with the words "old people just grow lonesome, waiting for someone to say Hello in There".
The last verse urges listeners to not ignore the elderly and to remember that they were once young and vibrant like the rest of us. The singer implores the listener to make an effort to connect with those who may feel forgotten, urging them to "Say hello in there, hello".
Line by Line Meaning
We had an apartment in the city
Once upon a time, my partner Loretta and I had a sweet little apartment in the city.
Me and Loretta liked living there
Both of us were very satisfied with our life when we were living there.
It'd been years since the kids had grown
It had been quite a long time since our kids left the home after becoming a grown-up.
A life of their own
After leaving the home, they built their own futures and lives.
Left us alone
Both of us were left alone after our children became independent and started living their lives without us.
John and Linda live in Omaha
One of our sons, John, and his wife, Linda, live in Omaha.
Joe is somewhere on the road
One of our sons, Joe, is travelling somewhere and we don't know his whereabouts.
We lost Davey in the Korean War
We lost our son, Davey during the Korean War, many years ago.
And I still don't know what for
Till this very moment, we don't understand why Davey had to lose his life at such a young age.
Don't matter anymore
Nowadays, it hardly matters what reason led to Davey's untimely demise.
You know that old trees grow stronger
Old trees get even stronger as they grow older.
And old rivers grow wilder everyday
Rivers, too, become more robust and fierce every day as they age.
Old people, just grow lonesome
As we age, we end up becoming lonely, and sometimes it's challenging to deal with the isolation.
Waiting for someone to say Hello in There
Sometimes, all we want is someone to talk to and make us feel acknowledged.
Hello
This is such a simple word, and just saying it can mean so much for a person.
Me and Loretta we don't talk much more
Nowadays, Loretta and I don't get a chance to speak to each other as much as we used to earlier.
She sits and stares through the back door screen
She remains seated, looking through the door screen, with her mind occupied with something.
And all the news just repeats itself
Every day, the news channels play the identical stories over and over again, without anything new to report on.
Like some forgotten dream
Watching the news feels as though we are witnessing an extinct dream.
That we've both seen
The stories on the news are mundane to us, and we have seen it all before.
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
One day, I hope to call up Rudy, who used to work with me at the factory.
We worked together at the factory
Rudy and I worked together at the same factory to earn our livelihood.
But what could I say if he asks "what's new?"
Rudy might ask me, "What's new?" and I wouldn't have any updates to give him.
"Nothin' what's with you?"
I'd reply, "Nothing. What about you?"
Nothin' much to do
These days, there isn't much to do or talk about.
So if you're walking down the street some time
If by chance you find yourself taking a stroll down the street
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
And if you notice some tired, bored-looking eyes gazing back at you.
Please don't just pass em by and stare
Please do not ignore them and walk past them without even acknowledging their presence.
As if you didn't care
As if their feelings and existence do not matter to you.
Say hello in there
Take a moment to say hello and talk to them - this little gesture could make all the difference in their day.
Hello
This simple greeting could have a significant impact on someone's mood and outlook on life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind