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.
Wildwood Flower
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
With myrtle as bright as the emerald dew
The pale and the lyd-er and eyes of light blue
Oh he promised to love me, he promised to love
And to cherish me always all others above.
I woke from my dream and my idol was clay
Oh he taught me to love him; he called me his flower
A blossom to cheer him through life's weary hour
But now he is gone and left me alone
The wild flowers to weep and the wild birds to mourn.
I will dance and I'll sing and my life shall be gay
I will charm every heart and each crown I shall sway
Though my heart now is breaking he never shall know
How his name makes me tremble, my pale cheeks to glow.
I will dance and I'll sing and my heart will be gay
I'll banish this weeping, drive troubles away.
I'll live yet to see him regret this dark hour
When we won and neglected this frail wildwood flower.
The song "Wildwood Flower" is a traditional folk song that was first published in 1860 under the title "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets." The song has been performed by numerous artists over the years, but the version by 10000 Maniacs is particularly notable for its insightful lyrics that explore the themes of love, heartbreak, and resilience.
The song tells the story of a woman who has been betrayed by her lover. At the beginning of the song, she speaks of twining herself with her lover's raven-black hair and adorning herself with red roses and fair lilies. She promises to love him always and be his faithful companion. However, she soon discovers that her lover has been unfaithful to her, and her passion for him begins to fade away. She is left alone, with only the wild flowers and birds to mourn her lost love.
Despite her heartbreak, the woman is determined to be strong and move on with her life. She dances and sings, vowing to banish her weeping and drive her troubles away. She knows that her lover will one day regret neglecting her, but she is determined to be the strong and resilient "wildwood flower" that he discarded.
Overall, the lyrics to "Wildwood Flower" are a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of heartbreak and adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I will twine with your mingles of raven black hair
I will intertwine my hair with yours, which is dark like a raven's feathers.
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
I will also add red roses and fair lilies to this hair decoration.
With myrtle as bright as the emerald dew
I will also use bright myrtle that appears dewy like an emerald.
The pale and the lyd-er and eyes of light blue
I will use pale and lyd-er colored flowers to match your light blue eyes.
Oh he promised to love me, he promised to love
He made promises to love and cherish me always above all others.
And to cherish me always all others above.
He promised to cherish me above anyone else for eternity.
I woke from my dream and my idol was clay
I suddenly realized that the person I had put on a pedestal was not who I thought they were.
My passion for loving had vanished away.
My intense feelings of love had disappeared as I came to terms with reality.
Oh he taught me to love him; he called me his flower
He was the one who showed me how to love and referred to me as his flower.
A blossom to cheer him through life's weary hour
He saw me as someone who could bring joy and relieve his weariness in life.
But now he is gone and left me alone
He has left me behind and abandoned me.
The wild flowers to weep and the wild birds to mourn.
Only the wildflowers and birds are left to mourn alongside me.
I will dance and I'll sing and my life shall be gay
I will forget my sorrows and dance and sing to live a joyful life.
I will charm every heart and each crown I shall sway
I will win over everyone's hearts and be admired by all.
Though my heart now is breaking he never shall know
Despite my heartache, I won't let him know the effect he has on me.
How his name makes me tremble, my pale cheeks to glow.
I can't help but tremble or feel a blush on my cheeks at the mention of his name.
I'll banish this weeping, drive troubles away.
I will stop crying and push my problems aside.
I'll live yet to see him regret this dark hour
I will live long enough to see him regret abandoning me in this difficult time.
When we won and neglected this frail wildwood flower.
He will regret his actions when he realizes that he has hurt a delicate wildflower like me.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alvin Pleasant Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind