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."
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Renovating
Buffalo Tom Lyrics
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He gave you to me
(to lie tenderly in the grass with clover?)
God never lies
He gave you and I
The burnt autumn skies and the fields of (dover)
But Im never gonna be the same
I aint never gonna talk to you
I'll forget about the things you do
It's just like renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
God never cheats
He saves you and me
(?)
But cherries are red
Cherries are red
And god never said that would make us closer
But Im never gonna be the same
I aint never kissing you again
I aint never gonna talk to you
I'll forget about the things you do
Just like renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
Renovating
(spending my whole life)
I know Jesus will call you
I know Jesus will call you
The lyrics to Buffalo Tom's "Renovating" are open to interpretation, but at its core, the song seems to be about someone who has lost their faith in a higher power and is trying to move on from a painful past relationship.
The first verse references God as a benevolent force in the singer's life who has given them a beautiful partner and surroundings to enjoy. However, the second verse twists this sentiment by pointing out the harsh reality that even in the midst of beauty and goodness, things can still go wrong. The line "cherries are red / and God never said that would make us closer" seems to imply that just having nice things or a perfect partner isn't enough to sustain a relationship, and that sometimes love just isn't enough.
The chorus provides the central metaphor of the song, likening the process of moving on from a relationship to renovating a house. The singer acknowledges that it will take time and effort ("spending my whole life") to heal and move on, but they are committed to the process of rebuilding.
The final line of the song, "I know Jesus will call you," is somewhat cryptic, but could be interpreted as a reference to judgement day or a higher power taking someone away from the singer. It could also be seen as a message of hope or comfort, suggesting that the singer trusts that their former partner will find peace or closure in the afterlife.
Overall, "Renovating" is a poignant reflection on loss and renewal, with a catchy chorus that captures the sense of starting over and rebuilding one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
God never cheats
The idea of deceit is beyond God's divine nature
He gave you to me
God is responsible for bringing us together
God never lies
God speaks only the truth
He gave you and I
God created the perfect atmosphere for our relationship to thrive
The burnt autumn skies and the fields of (dover)
We were blessed with beautiful fall landscapes for our romantic dates
But I'm never gonna be the same
Our relationship is over and I am forever changed
I ain't never kissing you again
I am done with physical affection for you
I ain't never gonna talk to you
I am cutting all communication with you
I'll forget about the things you do
I will erase you from my memory
It's just like renovating
Moving on from you is like tearing down a dilapidated house and building anew
Renovating
Transforming my life and my heart to let go of our past relationship
I know Jesus will call you
In the end, we will all have to answer to a higher power
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.