Taking their name from the number of Susans in the line up, Band of Susans released one EP - Blessing and Curse - on Poss's own Trace Elements label before being signed to Mute Records's Blast First imprint for their first album Hope Against Hope. After the release, Rogers, Lyall and Tallman quit to be replaced by Karen Haglof (guitar) and Page Hamilton (guitar). After a second album - Love Agenda - and a Peel Sessions EP the two new members quit (Hamilton to form Helmet) and were replaced by Anne Husick (guitar) and Mark Lonergan (guitar), forming the line up which made three more albums and one EP. On the band's final U.S. and European tours a young Jay Braun filled in for Mark Lonergan. The band's final production was a version of Wire's Ahead for a collection of Wire cover versions called Whore, released in 1996.
Musically, BoS organised their three guitarists into providing an overwhelming wail of feedback and guitar noise layered under more conventional song structures (Poss had worked with guitar enemble composer Rhys Chatham and was a big fan of The Rolling Stones - the latter resulting in covers of Child of the Moon and Paint it Black). Although pretty much unconnected with it, Band of Susans are generally included in the New York No Wave scene that produced Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca.
After the dissolution of the band, Poss and Stenger performed with Bruce Gilbert of Wire as GilbertPossStenger. Poss then concentrated on production and solo work whilst Stenger played live with The Creatures for a period. An open-ended promise to reform under a new name has yet to happen.
Following My Heart
Band Of Susans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pressed against the glass
Remembering the ones who lured me off the path
Following my heart
Swept away with the tide
Dreams like water under the bridge
The pins of light
Following my heart
The controllers of fate
The keepers of the flame
Defenders of the faith on a new crusade
Off the beaten path
Wired for sound
Fighting to death for another round
Following my heart
The lyrics of "Following My Heart" by Band of Susans are about following one's heart despite the obstacles encountered in life. The song is written from a reflective perspective, with the singer looking back on their journey and the choices they made. The opening line, "Staring into the sun," suggests a sense of longing, perhaps for something beyond the physical world. The singer is "pressed against the glass," which could refer to an intangible barrier, such as fear or doubt.
The second part of the verse speaks to the influence of others on the singer's journey. They "remember the ones who lured me off the path" but ultimately chose to follow their heart despite these distractions. The chorus, "Following my heart," is repeated throughout the song and serves as a mantra for the singer's journey.
The second verse describes the singer being carried "away with the tide," suggesting a lack of control. They also mention "pins of light" and "needles of the day," which could represent moments of hope or motivation. The song shifts gears in the bridge, depicting a group of people who act as "controllers of fate" and "keepers of the flame." These could be interpreted as societal or cultural forces that try to influence an individual's choices. However, the singer remains "off the beaten path" and "wired for sound," indicating that they still prioritize their own intuition over outside influences. The final lines, "fighting to death for another round" suggests that their journey is ongoing and they're willing to continue to fight for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring into the sun
Intensely looking towards the bright light of hope and opportunity.
Pressed against the glass
Feeling trapped and confined, longing for a way out.
Remembering the ones who lured me off the path
Recalling those who led to past distractions, causing a delay in progress.
Following my heart
Trusting gut instincts and inner desires to lead the way forward.
Swept away with the tide
Being carried away with emotions and passions in rhythm like the waves of the sea.
Dreams like water under the bridge
Past hopes and aspirations seem to have slipped away and cannot be recovered.
The pins of light
Guiding lights and illuminations showing the correct path to follow.
The needle of the day pricks me back to life
The morning sun rising, giving the energy to start anew and chase after goals again.
The controllers of fate
The unseen forces that dictate and shape the course of life's journey.
The keepers of the flame
The guardians of important traditions or beliefs, passing them down to future generations.
Defenders of the faith on a new crusade
Fighting to uphold the principles and values that they believe in on an ongoing journey.
Off the beaten path
Choosing to take an unconventional or uncharted route towards achieving a purpose.
Wired for sound
Prepared and equipped with the necessary tools or knowledge to tackle an upcoming challenge.
Fighting to death for another round
Willing to expend all energy and resources to take another opportunity at success.
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.