Earlier recordings consisted of a few psychedelic-era cover songs. At the time of the release of their album Breaking No New Ground, Rolling Stone compared them to Jefferson Airplane mainly due to their cover of Moody Blues signature song Ride My See-Saw as well as their cover of the Carole King composed song - made famous by the Monkees called The Porpoise Song. The ambitious duo also put their signature on Led Zeppelin songs like Dazed and Confused, sung in Mandarin and re-named Dazed and Chinese, as well as a more conventional cover of Zeppelin's Four Sticks. The band's style ultimately evolved into a more poppy, approach which according to Kramer, is why their album The Big Sell Out was named as such. The album still retained some of the band's earlier edge as well as retaining the surreal and wicked, often self-deprecating wit which had distinguished the group's earlier releases. Magnuson's performance art or spoken word "cut up's" (often taken from her dream journal excerpts) would become a integral part of Bongwater's sound. David Bowie was impressed by their humorous song David Bowie Wants Ideas and in a Rolling Stone interview jokingly called Magnuson "...a brilliant and very dangerous artist..."
They distinguished themselves as interpreters of songs by other artists, in particular of 1960s psychedelic rock songs, although they also covered occasional oddities like Bedazzled by Dudley Moore and Rock and Roll, Part II in which Ann Magnuson added a stream of consciousness performance art piece with hilarious lyrics making fun of Paul Newman's Own food products. They also covered Kisses Sweeter than Wine by The Weavers which had also been covered and made popular by Johnny Cash . Bongwater also covered The 13th Floor Elevators You Don't Love Me Yet. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine was tributed to Magnuson's deceased brother, Bobby, and others lost to AIDS which she mentions in the song. Bongwater also covered the classic Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young penned song Mr. Soul on the early 90s tribute album to Neil Young called "The Bridge." They also put their unique stamp on The Beatles song Julia.
The group created a number of arty low budget home movie-style music videos, three being directed by Magnuson's then-boyfriend, Brad Dunning. The video for "The Power of Pussy" which was more slick and polished, was financed by and aired on the Playboy Channel.
Bongwater had two college radio hits, "The Power of Pussy" and the marathon-length "Folk Song". Artistic differences, ego and Magnuson's lawsuit over profits caused the group and the eventual destruction of the true "indie" Shimmy Disc record label "... to shatter into a million pieces..." as Kramer wrote in the liner notes in the "Box of Bongwater" collection and elsewhere.
Havana
Bongwater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anna was bad but anna was real good to me
Everyone was phony just like a fad
But anna had a dream, you see
So i ran up a letter on paper made from a tree
Then i sealed it with a tear that ran away from the sea
Anna where is your nightmare
With you i'd spend the night there
I'd cut off my eye if only i could see you
Cut off my hair if only i could see you...
If i could have anna
Fly to havana
Anna was bad but anna was real good to me
Everyone was phony just like a fad
But anna had a dream, you see
It's only anna and her dream i was desperate to see
The song "Havana" by Bongwater is a love song about a woman named Anna who was bad but good to the singer. The singer seems to be disillusioned with everyone else around him, who are "phony just like a fad," but he finds solace in Anna and her dream. He writes her a letter, sealed with a tear that "ran away from the sea," expressing his desire to be with her and be part of her dream. The singer is willing to do anything to be with Anna, even cutting off his eye or his hair if it meant he could see her.
The lyrics may be interpreted as a commentary on the superficiality and fakeness of modern society, contrasting with the genuine connection between the singer and Anna. Anna represents an escape from the phoniness, a symbol of hope and authenticity. The tear on the letter and the reference to Havana add to the atmosphere of longing and desire.
Overall, "Havana" is a poignant song about the search for genuine connection and the longing for escape from the shallowness of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
Anna was bad
Anna was not a good person.
Anna was bad but anna was real good to me
Despite her flaws, Anna treated me well.
Everyone was phony just like a fad
Everyone else around me was fake and temporary.
But anna had a dream, you see
Anna had a true passion and desire for something.
So i ran up a letter on paper made from a tree
I wrote a letter to Anna on natural materials.
Then i sealed it with a tear that ran away from the sea
I sealed the letter with my own tear, a symbol of my devotion.
Anna where is your nightmare
I wonder what scares Anna, what demons she faces.
With you i'd spend the night there
I would be willing to face those fears with Anna.
It's only anna and her dream i was desperate to see
I yearned to witness Anna's aspirations and goals.
I'd cut off my eye if only i could see you
I would make great sacrifices if it meant being with Anna.
Cut off my hair if only i could see you...
I would do anything to be with Anna, even something drastic like cutting off my hair.
If i could have anna
If I had the chance to be with Anna...
Fly to havana
...I would take her to Havana, a place of escape and freedom for us both.
Anna was bad but anna was real good to me
Despite all her negative qualities, Anna treated me kindly.
Everyone was phony just like a fad
The people around me were all fake and temporary.
But anna had a dream, you see
Anna had a true passion and desire for something.
It's only anna and her dream i was desperate to see
I yearned to witness Anna's aspirations and goals.
Contributed by Jayce A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bob Shop
on Folk Song
It’s Tina Chow, not Tina Child. Ex-wife of restaurateur Michael Chow of NYC hotspot, Mr. Chow and mother of actress/model China Chow. Tina Chow contracted AIDS and pursued alternative medicines at a time when the virus was a certain death sentence. Hence the 12 grand crystal and wheat grass juice. “Hello Death” is less a reference towards Ann Magnuson own mortality than Death becoming a constant companion as AIDS tools dozens of her friends.
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
And feed little Dorean with a tin
And feed little Doreen from a tin
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
Then I start to think
Then I start to freak
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
Dorean was born in 1971, and she is half-black. Mulatto
Doreen was born in 1971, and she is half-black. mulatta
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
With their ornate, ivory handles and witching middle-eastern vibes.
With their ornate, ivory handles and witchy, middle-eastern vibes.
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
It′s a little girl, and her name is Dorean
It′s a little girl, and her name is Doreen
Mert Turner
on Then the Babies Return
My old boyfriend Peter appears, and hits me up for a (?)
My old boyfriend Peter appears, and hits me up for a C note.
C note is slang for $100.