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.
Noah's Dove
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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I never felt cheated.
You were the chosen one, the pure eyes of Noah's dove.
Choir boys and angles stole your lips and your halo.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
In your reckless eyes, you only have time and your love of danger to it your no stranger.
In your reckless eyes, it's never too late for a chance to seize some final breath of freedom.
Very, so very wise.
Don't reveal it.
I'm tired, tired of knowing where it is you're going.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
In your reckless eyes, you only have time and your love of danger to it you're no stranger.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
In your reckless eyes, it's never too late for a chance to seize some final breath of freedom.
The lyrics of 10,000 Maniacs' song "Noah's Dove" tell the story of a person who is a masterful liar, so much so that the singer believes their lies without question. The liar is described as having the purity of Noah's dove, symbolizing innocence and goodness, but has been corrupted by choir boys and angels who have stolen their lips and halo. It is suggested that the liar lives recklessly, acting as if they have more lives to spare and enjoying danger.
The second verse reveals that the liar's time is limited, as indicated by the August breeze of forgotten trees, and that they seem to be aware of this fact. Despite this, they continue to live recklessly, seeking freedom and one final breath. The singer expresses weariness in trying to keep up with the liar's unpredictable nature and is aware that they hold wisdom but won't reveal it. The repeated refrain emphasizes that the liar has no fear of death, indicating that they are willing to take risks and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
You won a prize for that, for telling lies like that so well that I believed it.
You were so skilled at lying that I fell for it completely, and you were rewarded for it.
I never felt cheated.
Even though you were lying to me, I never felt like I was being deceived or cheated.
You were the chosen one, the pure eyes of Noah's dove.
You were someone special and pure, like Noah's dove chosen to lead the way.
Choir boys and angels stole your lips and your halo.
You were once pure and good, but somehow you lost that, perhaps to the influence of others.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
You are constantly risking your life and acting as if you are invincible.
In your reckless eyes, you only have time and your love of danger to it you're no stranger.
You enjoy living dangerously and it seems as though you feel like you have all the time in the world.
In that August breeze of those forgotten trees, your time was set for leaving, come a colder season.
There was a sense that you were destined to leave and move on to something else, and it was only a matter of time.
In your reckless eyes, it's never too late for a chance to seize some final breath of freedom.
You always seem to be searching for one last chance to be free, no matter how dangerous or risky it may be.
Very, so very wise.
You are very wise in your own way, even though your actions may sometimes seem reckless and dangerous.
Don't reveal it.
Don't let others know about your wisdom and your true motivations.
I'm tired, tired of knowing where it is you're going.
I'm tired of trying to make sense of your reckless behavior, and of trying to figure out where you are headed or what you are trying to accomplish.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
You are constantly risking your life and acting as if you are invincible.
In your reckless eyes, you only have time and your love of danger to it you're no stranger.
You enjoy living dangerously and it seems as though you feel like you have all the time in the world.
In your reckless mind, you act as if you've got more lives.
You are constantly risking your life and acting as if you are invincible.
In your reckless eyes, it's never too late for a chance to seize some final breath of freedom.
You always seem to be searching for one last chance to be free, no matter how dangerous or risky it may be.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind