Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
Caroline
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've felt the summer wind
For the first time since your goodbye
And the thirst I've kept inside
Has swallowed me alive.
[Chorus]
You had to fall to take my hand,
Stay on for me my new star, keep on lighin' up, push me on, Caroline
Caroline I heard your name again,
Said by a distant friend,
To my surprise she hadn't heard
When your love flies, you hit the dirt
You know it's time to rise now
[Chorus]
Ah dear light I know you're with us all,
And you laugh when we fall,
And when we cry, find you everywhere,
Everything, I see reminds me, every care,
You turn it all to air,
[Chorus]
"Caroline" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters is a melancholy song that describes a man's struggle to move on after a significant love lost. The song opens with the singer describing how he has finally begun to experience joy again after his breakup with Caroline. The summer breeze and the sunshine that he feels are all metaphors for the renewal of his spirit. However, he laments that the thirst that he had suppressed inside of him after his breakup has now consumed him entirely. The phrase "swallowed me alive" is a metaphor for how his desire for Caroline has only intensified with time.
The chorus of the song is perhaps the most touching and powerful part of the song. It describes how sometimes we need to lose something significant before we can appreciate what we have. Caroline had to fall out of his life before he realized how much he loved her. The phrase "Stay on for me my new star, keep on lighting up, push me on, Caroline" is an indication that even though Caroline is gone, she still has a significant impact on the singer's life. The singer uses Caroline's memory as inspiration to keep moving forward in life.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that Caroline will always have a place in his heart, and he imagines that she is watching over him. In the line, "And you laugh when we fall," he is suggesting that Caroline has moved on from this world and is now in a better place. But he still feels her presence everywhere, reminding him of every care. Despite this, he is grateful for the time they shared and the memories that he still cherishes.
Line by Line Meaning
Caroline I've seen the sun again
I've finally started to find hope and happiness again after feeling down and depressed following Caroline's departure.
I've felt the summer wind
I've been able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life again, like feeling the breeze on a warm summer day.
For the first time since your goodbye
It's been a while since Caroline left, and only now am I able to feel better and move on from her.
And the thirst I've kept inside
I've been suppressing my emotions and desires, but now they're all coming back in full force.
Has swallowed me alive.
It's been overwhelming to deal with all these emotions at once, and they've taken over my life entirely.
You had to fall to take my hand,
I had to hit rock bottom before I could start to see things clearly and appreciate things that I was taking for granted, like love and companionship.
You had to leave to make me understand.
It took Caroline leaving for me to realize how much she meant to me and how much I needed her in my life.
Stay on for me my new star, keep on lighin' up, push me on, Caroline
I need Caroline to stick around as a source of inspiration and support as I try to move on and start anew with her.
Caroline I heard your name again,
I've been reminded of Caroline's name by someone else even though I'm trying to forget her.
Said by a distant friend,
It's someone who's not very close to me or to Caroline, which makes it even more surprising.
To my surprise she hadn't heard
Caroline is not as well-known as I thought, and it's a bit of a relief to know that not everyone is talking about her.
When your love flies, you hit the dirt
After losing someone you love, it's easy to feel like your life has hit rock bottom and you've lost all purpose.
You know it's time to rise now
It's important to start picking yourself up and moving on, even though it may be difficult and unpleasant.
Ah dear light I know you're with us all,
Even though things may be dark and difficult, there's always a guiding light that's there to help and support us.
And you laugh when we fall,
Life can be tough and unpredictable, but it's important to keep a sense of humor and not take ourselves too seriously.
And when we cry, find you everywhere,
Even in our most vulnerable and emotional moments, there's always a source of comfort and support nearby, if we look for it.
Everything, I see reminds me, every care,
Every little thing in my life is a reminder of Caroline and everything we went through together, both good and bad.
You turn it all to air,
Despite the heaviness and weight of everything I'm feeling, there's always a way to find release and let go of those emotions.
Chorus
The chorus reiterates the importance of Caroline in the singer's life, and how she's helped him grow and learn from his experiences.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ADRIAN GURVITZ, GRAEME EDGE *
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind