The band consisted of vocalist Kate Fenner, vocalist and organist Chris Brown, vocalist and guitarist Andrew Whiteman, guitarist Chris Miller, saxophone and vocals Chris Plock, bassist Jason Mercer and drummer Gregor Beresford. Vocalist Dave Wall joined the band in 1988, and vocalist and saxophonist Gene Hardy joined in 1989.
They released three independent cassettes—First Taste of Bourbon in 1987, If Hell Had A Houseband in 1989 and Sister Anthony in 1990. The single "Put Your Head On" b/w "As Right As They Want To Be" (1990), attracted the attention of film director Bruce McDonald, who included it on the soundtrack to his 1991 film Highway 61. Both songs were later available on the CD reissue of Sister Anthony in 1995, although the original version of "As Right As They Want To Be" was replaced with a live version.
With the exposure they gained from "Put Your Head On", the band signed to the independent label Yonder Records, and released Superior Cackling Hen in 1992. The singles "Make Amends", "Afterglow" and "Original Grin" were all hits on campus and modern rock radio stations in the next year.
Following that album, Whiteman left the band in 1993. After leaving the Bourbons, Whiteman recorded as a solo artist, and subsequently became a member of the bands Que Vida, Broken Social Scene and Apostle of Hustle. Beresford left the band in 1994, and performed drum tracks on Tom Cochrane's 1995 album Ragged Ass Road.
Howie Beck and Daniel Barnes also played with the band during this era.
In 1995, the band released Shy Folk, which featured contributions from Ani DiFranco and was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda. The singles from Shy Folk, "All Peace" and "Be My Witness", kept the band successful in alternative rock circles. A CD reissue of Sister Anthony was also released the same year.
Following Shy Folk, the band relocated to New York City to make its bid for stardom, but instead the band soon broke up.
After the breakup, Brown and Fenner continued to record and perform as a duo, Mercer played with DiFranco's band, Wall recorded two albums (Lozenge and The Spell I was Under) as a solo artist, performed in a duo with Marilyn Lerner and performed as a member of the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and Both Ends of the Earth, and Miller worked in film postproduction. Hardy and Plock became session musicians who have played on albums by a wide variety of Canadian rock, pop, jazz and blues musicians, and Beresford joined David Wilcox's band.
A retrospective album, Simply the Best 1985–1995, was released in 2000.
Simple
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's not compete
An ending's beginning
A body's retreat
There's no perfect silence
And no selfish sound
This pain we can share it
There's enough to go around
So let's keep this simple
And space won't defeat us
No pity, no pedestals
No distance to cheat us
We're right at the edge now
And ready to fall
From instinct and reason
To nothing at all
And here's where the experts must suffer
So much wiser to stay dumb
And pay attention to our heart beats
Here they come, Here they come
Here come the bullets
And here come the nails
The shots that we fire
Attachments we wail
So let's break this right down
I know the changes sound wrong
It's time to dispose all arrangements
And time to get down to song
And our hearts are made stronger
But tell me when this trial ends
Is this some sort of rehearsal?
I think I'm missing the point
Now fill our heads up with details
When all methods disappoint
Oh there really ain't no purpose
There really ain't no point
So let's keep this simple
And space won't defeat us
Rest your beautiful face now
There's no death between us
The lyrics of "Simple" by Bourbon Tabernacle Choir convey a message of simplicity and connection. The song encourages the listener to let go of competition and ego and embrace the beauty of simplicity in life and relationships.
The opening lines suggest a desire to keep things uncomplicated and not engage in unnecessary competition. It speaks to the idea that endings can bring new beginnings, and retreating from a situation can sometimes be the best course of action. The lyrics emphasize that silence and sound coexist, and both can carry pain that can be shared and understood.
The song then suggests that space will not separate or defeat the individuals involved. It rejects the notion of pity or pedestals, urging a connection based on authentic closeness rather than distance or artificiality. The lyrics touch upon being on the brink of a fall, from instincts and reason to a state where nothing matters at all.
The chorus introduces a sense of vulnerability with the line "Here come the bullets, and here come the nails." It refers to the metaphorical shots fired in relationships and the emotional pain they can cause. The lyrics advocate for breaking down barriers and rejecting preconceived notions of how things should be. It emphasizes the importance of getting to the core of a situation or relationship, stripping away unnecessary arrangements and going back to the essence of things.
The song acknowledges that hearts can grow stronger through trials, but questions when the trial will end and whether it is just a rehearsal for something greater. It recognizes that details and methods may fail us, and that ultimately there may be no purpose or point to it all. The closing lines suggest a deep connection that transcends death, allowing for a beautiful face to rest.
Overall, "Simple" by Bourbon Tabernacle Choir urges the listener to embrace simplicity, genuine connection, and the inherent beauty of life's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's keep this simple
Let's not make things complicated or complex
Let's not compete
Let's not engage in competition or rivalry
An ending's beginning
The end of something marks the start of something else
A body's retreat
A person's withdrawal or departure
There's no perfect silence
Complete silence is impossible to achieve
And no selfish sound
No sound that is driven by self-interest or ego
This pain we can share it
We can experience and support each other through this pain
There's enough to go around
There is sufficient pain or suffering for everyone to share
And space won't defeat us
Distance or separation cannot hinder us
No pity, no pedestals
No feeling of sorrow or superiority
No distance to cheat us
No physical or emotional distance can deceive or harm us
We're right at the edge now
We are on the brink or threshold
And ready to fall
And prepared to let go or surrender
From instinct and reason
Moving away from instinctual and logical thinking
To nothing at all
To emptiness or insignificance
And here's where the experts must suffer
This is the point where knowledgeable individuals must endure hardships or challenges
So much wiser to stay dumb
It is more intelligent to remain ignorant or naive
And pay attention to our heart beats
To focus on the rhythm or emotions of our hearts
Here they come, Here they come
The heartbeats are approaching or becoming noticeable
Here come the bullets
Here come the attacks or criticisms
And here come the nails
And here come the painful experiences or challenges
The shots that we fire
The actions or words that we use to hurt others
Attachments we wail
Our strong emotional connections that cause us to cry out
So let's break this right down
Let's analyze or dismantle this situation completely
I know the changes sound wrong
I understand that the transformations seem incorrect
It's time to dispose all arrangements
It is time to get rid of all the plans or agreements
And time to get down to song
And time to focus on expressing ourselves through music
And our hearts are made stronger
Our hearts become more resilient or powerful
But tell me when this trial ends
But inform me when this test or challenge will be over
Is this some sort of rehearsal?
Is this a practice or preparation for something greater?
I think I'm missing the point
I believe I am not understanding the true meaning or purpose
Now fill our heads up with details
Now overwhelm our minds with specific information
When all methods disappoint
When all approaches or strategies fail to satisfy
Oh there really ain't no purpose
Oh, there truly isn't any ultimate meaning or objective
There really ain't no point
There truly isn't any significance or purpose
Rest your beautiful face now
Relax and find peace, my beloved
There's no death between us
There is no separation or end in our connection
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRIS BROWN, RICHARD MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind