According to Songfacts, Buffalo Tom's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer Tom Maginnis. The band epitomized the rise of indie guitar rock in the 1990s, but unfortunately they had only limited commercial success, despite the consistently high quality of their records.
While Buffalo Tom never 'officially' broke up, they took a seven year break, starting around 1999/2000. During that time while singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz and singer/bassist Chris Colbourn worked on solo material and other projects (Bill with his band, The Crown Victoria, Chris with former Fuzzy singer/guitarist Hilken Mancini). Drummer Tom Maginnis took up a day job in publishing.
In 2007 the trio began playing again and released an album of new material, Three Easy Pieces.
As of 2018 they are again active, touring behind their album released 3/2/2018, "Quiet and Peace."
www.buffalotom.com
www.myspace.com/buffalotom2007
www.billjanovitz.com
Flushing Stars
Buffalo Tom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tiny avalanches crumbling, gliding, falling down
And she's calling us, calling our cause
They're all waiting for her to come down from her stars
When her problems come they come and go like winter time
And I'm pacing with her fitting in just like a rhyme
And she's calling us, calling our cause
They're all waiting for her to come down from her star
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
When the sidewalk opens it lets you into better things
She learned that long ago opponents lash with wicked things
And she's calling us, calling all cars
They're all waiting for her to come down from her stars
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
No!
"Flushing Stars" is a song by Buffalo Tom that showcases the emotional turmoil of a woman. The lyrics are cryptic and mysterious, using vivid imagery to describe the singer of the song. The opening line, "When she combs her hair she flushes stars down her back" suggests that she is magical or ethereal. The following line, "Tiny avalanches crumbling, gliding, falling down" could mean that she is breaking down or falling apart. She may be overwhelmed by her own problems or the expectations of others.
The chorus, "And she's calling us, calling our cause, they're all waiting for her to come down from her stars," seems to suggest that other people are relying on her or waiting for her to come back to reality. Her problems come and go like winter time, but the singer is pacing with her and fitting in just like a rhyme. He may be trying to understand her or support her through her struggles.
The bridge of the song, "When the sidewalk opens it lets you into better things, she learned that long ago opponents lash with wicked things," may be an allusion to the idea that sometimes we have to take a leap of faith to move on from difficult situations. The singer has learned that her opponents can be cruel, but she is still calling out for help.
Line by Line Meaning
When she combs her hair she flushes stars down her back
When she combs her hair, the way it falls down her back looks like a spectacular shower of stars.
Tiny avalanches crumbling, gliding, falling down
The tiny pieces of hair falling down her back resemble snowflakes or an avalanche, slowly drifting and tumbling.
And she's calling us, calling our cause
She's reaching out to others for help, calling on them to support her cause.
They're all waiting for her to come down from her stars
Others are anxiously waiting for her to come back down to earth and rejoin them.
When her problems come they come and go like winter time
Her problems are cyclical and come and go regularly, like the seasons changing.
And I'm pacing with her fitting in just like a rhyme
Despite her problems, the singer is always by her side, moving in rhythm with her and fitting in perfectly.
When the sidewalk opens it lets you into better things
New opportunities and better things come along unexpectedly, like a sidewalk opening up to reveal a better path.
She learned that long ago opponents lash with wicked things
She's experienced the cruelty of others before and knows that opponents can be vicious and use underhanded tactics to hurt her.
They're all waiting for her to come down from her stars
People are still eagerly anticipating her return to their world after being lost in her own thoughts and problems.
But I can't wait forever, I've no time
The artist is encouraging her to come back down to earth and urging her not to take too long, since they're short on time.
No!
An exclamation of determination or intensity, indicating a refusal to back down or give up.
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.