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.
The Pursuit Of Happiness
Band Of Susans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He kicks down the door and he takes you away
Snuffed and cold there's a face in the glass
You're locked in a room with the smell of decay
Something is in the air
You better say a prayer
Something is in the air
A spasm of faith that flickers and fades
Day dreams lapse into a coma of waiting
You sit inventing crimes to pass the time
Before you get caught your confession is made
Look at yourself you're a flash in the pan
You're a spark that's out, you don't remember your name
You're fossilized, you want blood from stone
You've got a hero's heart but play a loser's game
I'm talking to you
I'm watching what you do
I'm keeping the score
One, two, three, four
The apostle of love comes to bid good night
He opens the door there's the scent of an old flame
In a room of my own there's a face that I know
A conspiracy of needs and the swoon of a new game
Something is in the air
I better say a prayer
Something is in the air
The lyrics of the song "The Pursuit of Happiness" by Band of Susans are quite mysterious and open to interpretation. At first glance, it seems to be about a person who is being pursued by the "Assassin of love." This person is taken away, locked in a room smelling of decay, and forced to confess their crimes before ultimately fading into obscurity. However, the song also touches on themes of faith, waiting, and the search for happiness.
The chorus, "Something is in the air, you better say a prayer," suggests that the person being pursued is aware of their impending doom, but can do nothing to stop it. The mention of the "Apostle of love" and the "scent of an old flame" in the final verse suggests that perhaps the person being pursued is actually running from their own desires and aspirations, rather than a physical assailant.
Line by Line Meaning
The Assassin of love has your name on a list
Someone who is against love is targeting you personally.
He kicks down the door and he takes you away
This anti-love person is taking you away by force.
Snuffed and cold there's a face in the glass
You feel helpless and see your fate reflected in your surroundings.
You're locked in a room with the smell of decay
Your environment is not good, and you feel trapped in it.
A spasm of faith that flickers and fades
You are trying to hold on to faith, but it is not strong enough to sustain you.
Day dreams lapse into a coma of waiting
Your hopeful dreams slowly fade into a state of waiting with no progress.
You sit inventing crimes to pass the time
You are so bored and frustrated that you start to invent your own problems.
Before you get caught your confession is made
You confess to things out of fear, even if you are not guilty.
Look at yourself you're a flash in the pan
You are fleeting and temporary, not having an impact or lasting power.
You're a spark that's out, you don't remember your name
Your potential was short-lived and you are now unsure of who you are.
You're fossilized, you want blood from stone
You are stuck in the past, wanting something that is impossible to obtain.
You've got a hero's heart but play a loser's game
You have noble intentions but always end up in situations that lead to failure.
I'm talking to you
The singer is directing their message to you personally.
I'm watching what you do
The singer is keeping a close eye on your actions.
I'm keeping the score
The singer is keeping track of your successes and failures.
One, two, three, four
The singer is counting your mistakes and shortcomings.
The apostle of love comes to bid good night
Love is leaving you or you are saying goodbye to love.
He opens the door there's the scent of an old flame
Memories of a past love come flooding back.
In a room of my own there's a face that I know
The singer sees a familiar face in their surroundings.
A conspiracy of needs and the swoon of a new game
A new opportunity or desire is presenting itself and feels exciting or dangerous.
Something is in the air
There is a sense that something big or important is about to happen.
I better say a prayer
The singer feels the need to pray or seek divine protection.
Something is in the air
Reinforcing a sense of anticipation, excitement or fear.
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Óscar Murcia
Definitivamente Robert Poss sí sabe para qué es una guitarra eléctrica.
Se puede rastrear acá la influencia de Rhys Chatham/Glenn Branca/Arto Lindsay.
Qué grupazo.
guodade
Amazing song, as much a precursor of the post-rock movement of the 1990s as anything of its time. The Susans' music might be heavy and visceral, but its flowing nature reminds me a lot of Roxy's masterwork "The Thrill of it All". The short solos, too, add to the song a great deal, whilst the idiosyncratic, "androgynous" character of both Poss and Stenger as vocalists fits the material well but is not likely to appeal to most listeners.
HelmutNewton
Awesome! One of my favorite bands. More videos please!
Oscurer Luna
Que buena banda de rock!!! Poderosos riffs,solos de guitarra esplendidos,Bajo cautivante,profundo ejecutado magistralmente,las voces se acoplan perfectamente al sonido apabullante,LAS GUITARRAS LO VALEN TODO Great,great great ROCK BAND :) LOVE AGENDA it's amazing
Morgan Engle
GREAT BAND!! God I miss them!!
Sean Twomey
Cool! I wish I could get a hold of there stuff! I loved the wire cover they did, on the wire tribute album. That was an amazing song! Ahead it was called, brilliant stuff!
kjsp94
THE best punk\alt band ever to come out of NYC. Every time I hear wall of sound guitar wanabes I have to back to the orignial! Sorely missed. Drone On!
Arnaud Broussel
Love Agenda is one the best LP I know.
524
Fucking underrated band
MacDougalPuppy
So much G&L in this video. YES!