Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician T… Read Full Bio ↴Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician Tommy Walter, as well as the name of the band in which he plays. He began playing music at a young age, first with the bass guitar and then the French horn. He attended University of Southern California, followed by the Pacific University. Teaching classical music theory, Walter began working with various Los Angeles-area musicians.

Walter soon began working with a singer-songwriter who went by E and drummer Butch Norton as The Eels. After a promising debut, Walter left the band due to differences with E. He formed a short-lived band, Tely, who released a CD that was distributed on the internet. He was also in the touring band for the Ken Andrews solo project ON, though in the end the band saw little touring. Later he went on to form Abandoned Pools and recorded a solo album, Humanistic, in 2001. Humanistic actually features a couple of songs that were once performed by Tely, like "Start Over."

In 2002 they performed the theme song for the short-lived MTV animated series Clone High. Many of their songs can be heard in the background during the show.

Walter teamed up with drummer Bryan Head and guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme in 2004 to record "Armed to the Teeth," the follow up to Humanistic. In June of 2005, they released an EP, consisting of a few songs from the new album along with b-sides and demos, called The Reverb EP. This was followed by the full album in September 2005.

In January of 2006, Walter wrote in his blog that Universal Records had stopped promoting the album. However, he has included several song snippets on his MySpace and has said he is writing songs for a new album.

In March of 2010, Walter announced via Twitter that he would enter the studio to work on a third Abandoned Pools album after five years of hiatus.

In mid-May 2011, via the Abandoned Pools' MySpace page, two new songs, "Marigold" and "In Silence" from the upcoming album, "Sublime Currency" were made available for streaming and download, or iTunes, as well as a full length demo of the first album, "Humanistic." The third studio album was expected to be released in late 2011, but is now due out sometime in 2012. On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Abandoned Pools' Facebook page posted: "Announcement coming on Monday." (January 30th)

Amazing Days
Abandoned Pools Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I wish I knew you when
Before the world came creeping in
Before we knew the sting that living brings
There's magic in the misery
We're bonded by the tragedy
The chaos blooms and rust will never sleep

Amazing days

We're running through the thick of it
For the season for all time
The saving grace
We're small and fragile miracles
With no reason, with no rhyme
We're made of stars

A doubting chorus in my ear
You wouldn't recognize me dear
I am the worst person to ask why
And you can be my Goldilocks
With puzzle pieces in a box
Is this what we've been waiting for all our lives?

Amazing days
We're running through the thick of it
For the season for all time
The saving grace
We're small and fragile miracles
With no reason, with no rhyme
We're made of stars
We're made of stars
We're made of stars
We're made of stars

Amazing days

We're running through the thick of it
For the season for all time
The saving grace
We're small and fragile miracles
With no reason, with no rhyme
We're made of stars
We're made of stars
We're made of stars
We're made of stars

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Abandoned Pools's song "Amazing Days" reflect a longing for a past time when innocence and simplicity still reigned. The singer wishes they had known someone before the harsh realities of the world took their toll, before the pain and challenges of life became apparent. Despite the hardships, there is a sense of bonding and connection that comes from shared suffering, referred to as "magic in the misery." The chaos of life is acknowledged, with the idea that rust (symbolizing decay or stagnation) never sleeps, hinting at the constant struggle against time and decay.

The song emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the urgency to embrace life's moments fully. It describes running through the challenges and obstacles, acknowledging that these tough times are not just temporary but encompass all seasons and times. The concept of being "small and fragile miracles" underscores the vulnerability and preciousness of human existence, suggesting that there is no clear logic or explanation for our existence - we are simply made of stars, hinting at a sense of cosmic connection and wonder.

There is a sense of self-doubt and introspection in the lyrics, with the singer questioning their own identity and purpose. The reference to being a "doubting chorus" highlights uncertainty and insecurity, particularly in the face of someone close who may no longer recognize them. The analogy of Goldilocks and puzzle pieces in a box suggests a search for meaning and completeness in a seemingly chaotic world, wondering if this elusive fulfillment is what they have been searching for their whole lives.

Overall, "Amazing Days" captures a sense of wonder, vulnerability, and introspection about the complexities of life and human relationships. The repeated chorus emphasizes the resilience and beauty in our fragility, reiterating the idea that we are all connected and made of stardust, hinting at a universal interconnectedness and shared humanity despite the challenges and uncertainties we face. The song ultimately conveys a message of embracing life's struggles and uncertainties while recognizing the inherent beauty and resilience that lies within each individual.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I wish I knew you when
I yearn to have known you before this moment

Before the world came creeping in
Before the troubles of life affected us

Before we knew the sting that living brings
Before we experienced the pain that existence brings

There's magic in the misery
There is beauty in the suffering

We're bonded by the tragedy
We are connected by our hardships

The chaos blooms and rust will never sleep
Disorder flourishes and decay is constant

A doubting chorus in my ear
I hear a voice of uncertainty within myself

You wouldn't recognize me dear
You wouldn't know who I am now

I am the worst person to ask why
I am unable to answer questions about purpose

And you can be my Goldilocks
You can be my perfect match

With puzzle pieces in a box
With pieces of the puzzle neatly stored