Athenaeum was an alternative pop rock four-piece band from Greensboro, Nort… Read Full Bio ↴Athenaeum was an alternative pop rock four-piece band from Greensboro, North Carolina, USA formed in 1990 at an eighth grade dance by Nic Brown and Mark Kano.

After several personnel changes, Kano and Brown recorded an eight song EP in 1995 with bassist Alex McKinney and lead guitarist Grey Brewster. The "Green Album," as it is widely known, sold about 10,000 copies.

In 1996 the band was signed by Atlantic Records. They released their major label debut, Radiance, in 1998. The first single, "What I Didn't Know," was a minor hit. During the recording phase for their next album, Brown left the band to attend college. He was replaced by Jeremy Vogt, who performed with the likes of Tonic and The Connells. Brewster also dissolved his membership with the group and was replaced by Mike Garrigan, the lead singer and songwriter of Collapsis.

This new line up played their first show on March 31, 2001, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The new set included Garrigan's Collapsis anthem, "October". [correction they actually played their first show with this lineup in Boone, NC]

Athenaeum's sophomore album Athenaeum was released on September 18, 2001. However, it received little promotion in the wake of the September 11th attacks.

Athenaeum was eventually dropped by Atlantic Records. They toured for an additional three years and released their final record, Hourglass, a collection of rare outtakes and demos, before performing their last show at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on December 28, 2004.

Kano and Garrigan subsequently formed the band mg4 (with Alex McKinney, the original bassist for Athenaeum and Jeremy Vogt), who released an EP in the summer of 2004 titled Gravity Affects Me. "mg4" continues touring to date and information on shows can be found at Mike Garrigan's official website.

Discography and stand-out tracks :
- Radiance (1998): "What I Didnt know", "Flat Tire", "Radiance"
- Athenaeum (2001) : "Comfort", "Frozen in time", "Suddenly"
- Hourglass (2002) : "On Her Way", "Family Tree", "One Day at a time"

So Long
Athenaeum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Was I a fool to ever think,
That we could be together, till the end?
I was afraid to be alone,
In touch with my imaginary friend.
So long, so long.
You put your foot where your mouth belongs
For so long, so long.
I was afraid.

You made me say
That I was just a little immature.
Now I am older than before;
Diseased and you can never find a cure.
So long, so long.
You put your foot where your mouth belongs
For so long, so long.
Can I get by
Without a tear from a broken eye?

Can I?
Can I?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Athenaeum's song So Long evoke the feelings of regret, betrayal, and the pain of letting go. The opening line, "Was I a fool to ever think, that we could be together, till the end?" is a reflection of the singer's realization that their relationship was never meant to last. The singer was afraid to be alone and hence relied on their "imaginary friend," which could also be an interpretation of their own subconscious. The chorus of the song, "So long, so long. You put your foot where your mouth belongs," refers to the other person's actions that lead to the end of their relationship. The repetition of the phrase signifies the weight of the hurt and betrayal the singer feels.

The second verse, "You made me say that I was just a little immature. Now I am older than before; Diseased and you can never find a cure," is an admission of the personal fault the singer feels that led to the relationship's downfall. The self-loathing is evident, and the reference to being "diseased" and finding no cure is a metaphorical expression of the inner turmoil that cannot be healed easily. The final lines of the song, "Can I get by without a tear from a broken eye? Can I? Can I?" is the singer questioning their resolve to move on from the pain and the feelings of being unable to do so.

Overall, the song "So Long" conveys the emotions of a person who has been hurt, betrayed, and is struggling to let go. There is an undertone of self-awareness and introspection, but the pain is still raw and fresh, clouding the singer's ability to move on.

Line by Line Meaning

Was I a fool to ever think,
Questioning the foolishness of believing that a relationship would last forever.

That we could be together, till the end?
Expressing doubt as to whether the relationship could last forever.

I was afraid to be alone,
Admitting a fear of being alone and vulnerable.

In touch with my imaginary friend.
Acknowledging the reliance on an imaginary friend for comfort and companionship.

So long, so long.
Saying goodbye to the relationship.

You put your foot where your mouth belongs
Pointing out that the other person said something they shouldn't have.

For so long, so long.
Reinforcing the length of time of the relationship and the hurt caused.

I was afraid.
Admitting fear and vulnerability in the relationship.

You made me say
Blaming the other person for forcing them to say something immature.

That I was just a little immature.
Acknowledging immaturity in the past.

Now I am older than before;
Pointing out that they have matured and grown older.