The name "Blake Babies" was provided by the poet Allen Ginsberg; following a reading at Harvard University, the group (which had just begun to play together) raised their hands and asked him to name their band. Ginsberg's suggestion was likely inspired by the first half of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience. The name proved quite apt in regard to what was perhaps the group's most distinctive aspect: the juxtaposition of Hatfield's pure, somewhat thin and childlike (yet forceful) vocal quality with often surprisingly acerbic lyrics.
Musically, the Blake Babies' songs are highly melodic, with instruments supporting rather than covering vocals; in this way, their music falls somewhere between pop and rock and could be described as "power pop". Songs are generally upbeat and the group's work features both female (Hatfield) and male (Strohm) vocals, often together in harmony or in octaves. Strohm's intricate guitar picking style and preference for a "clean" (as opposed to distorted) guitar tone owes much to R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, although Neil Young and punk rock are other important influences. Close listening shows that Hatfield's bass playing is particularly expressive, using octaves and sliding tones to create melodies as well as anchoring bass lines. Songs are carefully constructed, with sophisticated harmonic and dynamic shifts showing the results of the band members' training at the Berklee School of Music.
The Blake Babies toured the United States and Europe, eventually achieving a moderate amount of notice, particularly among listeners of college age who were appreciative of the group's "intelligent" brand of rock music. The band's music (released on the independent North Carolina-based record label Mammoth Records) received little airplay on commercial radio, instead being played primarily on college radio stations.
The group formally disbanded in 1991 but reunited briefly in late 1999, performing a few shows in 1999 and 2000 and embarking on one last U.S. tour in 2001.
Following the band's breakup, Hatfield went on to fame as a solo artist, and Strohm and Love continued to perform together in the Indiana-based group Antenna. Hatfield and Love have since worked together in the band Some Girls along with fellow musician Heidi Gluck.
Grateful
Blake Babies Lyrics
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I don't like to sit too long, for fear that I might sink.
I don't like to fly too far, for fear that I might fall.
Why can't I be steady, is there no middle ground at all?
All-all, all-all.
I need too much sleep, the days are always hazy.
Maybe I'll wake up some day, or maybe I'll get crazy.
Don't ever blink, just think of what you might miss.
Miss, miss
I have to go vomit now, but my mother isn't calling.
I don't like cliffs or roofs, I'm scared of jumping and falling.
Yesterday was years ago, I don't remember when I grew.
It might stop today, so can I spend the time with you?
You, you. You, you.
When I die, will I get to see everyone crying over me?
When I die, will I get to see everyone crying over me?
Oooooo!
When I die, will I get to see everyone crying over me?
In Blake Babies' song Grateful, the singer contemplates their own mortality and their place in the world. They start with the acknowledgement that the song wasn't originally theirs, but that they added their own touch to it. The singer admits their restlessness, feeling like they can't sit still or fly too far without worrying about sinking or falling. They are searching for a sense of balance, a "middle ground," but seem unable to find it.
The singer also reveals some insecurity and anxiety, admitting to needing too much sleep and feeling hazy during the day. They wonder if they'll ever truly wake up or if they'll go crazy instead. The singer seems to feel a sense of envy towards others who seem more satisfied with their lives, telling themselves not to complain because they "have it all." But the singer is still searching for something or someone to spend their time with, asking, "It might stop today, so can I spend the time with you?"
The chorus adds to the contemplation of mortality, with the singer questioning what will happen after they die. They wonder if they'll get to see everyone crying over them, suggesting a desire for some kind of emotional validation and significance.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the human condition - the search for balance, the struggle with anxiety and insecurity, and the ultimate uncertainty of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody gave me this song, I just supplied the links.
I didn't write this song, but I'm sharing it with you because it means something to me.
I don't like to sit too long, for fear that I might sink.
I'm afraid of becoming complacent and losing my motivation to keep moving forward.
I don't like to fly too far, for fear that I might fall.
I'm scared of taking risks and failing, so I often hold myself back.
Why can't I be steady, is there no middle ground at all?
I feel like I'm always teetering between extremes and can't find a sense of balance.
I need too much sleep, the days are always hazy.
I struggle with feeling tired and unfocused, which makes it hard for me to stay productive.
Maybe I'll wake up some day, or maybe I'll get crazy.
I hope that things will get better, but sometimes I worry that I'll lose my grip on reality.
Don't complain, you have it all, all there is is this.
I know I have a lot of good things in my life, and I try not to take them for granted.
Don't ever blink, just think of what you might miss.
I'm always trying to be present and appreciate the little things, because I know how quickly time can pass by.
I have to go vomit now, but my mother isn't calling.
I'm struggling with anxiety or some other issue that makes me feel sick, but I'm on my own to deal with it.
I don't like cliffs or roofs, I'm scared of jumping and falling.
I avoid situations that feel dangerous or risky, because I don't want to get hurt.
Yesterday was years ago, I don't remember when I grew.
I feel like time has flown by and I haven't really grown or changed much.
It might stop today, so can I spend the time with you?
Life is unpredictable and short, so I want to make the most of the time I have with the people I care about.
When I die, will I get to see everyone crying over me?
I wonder what impact I'll have on the people around me when I'm gone.
Oooooo!
An expression of emotion or feeling that's hard to put into words.
When I die, will I get to see everyone crying over me?
Repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the singer's curiosity and introspection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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