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.
If You Intend
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Then open your eyes and don't pretend
You're feeling there's nothing worth believing.
God, if you persist you'll die like this,
And wither in the midst of your first season,
Cut down with no reason.
How can you be so near and not see everything?
If you intend to live again,
Then take the outstretched hand of the one that needs you.
It's been so long, we've missed you.
Why do you intend to speed your end?
Lie in the dark and let your limbs grow weaker, sinking low then deeper.
How can you be so near and not see everything?
Feel what might be. See what I see.
Again and again and again and again say you don't.
You say you don't, but you will.
How can you be so near and not see?
The song "If You Intend" by 10,000 Maniacs is a reflection on the hopelessness and despair that people can experience when they are unable to see the beauty and value of their own lives. The singer encourages the listener to open their eyes and stop pretending that there is nothing worth believing in, for if they persist in their self-destructive behavior, they will die. The singer pleads with the listener to take the outstretched hand of those who care about them, to come back into the light, because they have been missed. At the core of this song is a message of hope – that no matter how dark things may seem, there are people who care, and there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth.
The lyrics of "If You Intend" are somewhat ambiguous, and could be interpreted in a number of ways. Some might see the song as a plea to a loved one who is struggling with addiction or depression, while others might see it as a broader commentary on the human condition. Regardless of how one interprets the lyrics, however, the message of hope that runs through the song is inspiring and uplifting.
Line by Line Meaning
If you intend to live again,
If you truly desire to live again,
Then open your eyes and don't pretend
Wake up and face reality, don't pretend anymore.
You're feeling there's nothing worth believing.
You feel hopeless, like there is nothing worth believing in.
God, if you persist you'll die like this,
Oh my God, if you continue like this, you will perish.
And wither in the midst of your first season,
You will die in the prime of your life, without achieving anything.
Cut down with no reason.
You will die fruitlessly, with no reason or purpose.
How can you be so near and not see everything?
How can you be so close yet ignorant of what surrounds you?
Then take the outstretched hand of the one that needs you.
Reach out and take the hand of the person who needs you.
It's been so long, we've missed you.
We have missed you for so long, where have you been?
Why do you intend to speed your end?
Why do you want to hasten your own death?
Lie in the dark and let your limbs grow weaker, sinking low then deeper.
Lay in the darkness and let your body become weaker, sinking deeper and deeper.
Feel what might be. See what I see.
Feel the possibility in your life and see what I see.
Again and again and again and again say you don't.
You keep denying it, again and again and again.
You say you don't, but you will.
You say you won't act, but you will eventually.
How can you be so near and not see?
How can you be this close and still not understand?
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind