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
Souvenir
Buffalo Tom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hot mold plastic dinosaur
You'll stop it from fogging it up
Give the machine another quarter
Watch you and me
Get a souvenir
Take yourself a handful of sand
His rubber band
You could be my good luck charm
When you and me
Souvenir
Souvenir
I waited for you all year
Souvenir
I waited for you all year
I am so evil in the morning
Now that we have come this far
Don't say I gave you no warning
Don't make me stop this car
When you and me
Souvenir
Souvenir
I waited for you all year
Souvenir
I waited for you all year
Souvenir
Souvenir
Souvenir
I waited for you all year
The song Souvenir by Buffalo Tom features vivid and poetic lyrics that deal with the theme of nostalgia and longing. The chorus of the song, "Souvenir, I waited for you all year," reflects this sense of anticipation and yearning for something to hold onto and cherish. The opening lines, "Your blue ribbon as a branch, a hot mold plastic dinosaur, you'll stop it from fogging it up, give the machine another quarter," describe the items that are often found in vending machines - small and insignificant objects that are still able to create a lasting memory.
The second verse of the song continues with this idea of holding onto mementos - "take yourself a handful of sand, put it in your eye, his rubber band, you could be my good luck charm." The lyrics suggest a willingness to hold onto even the tiniest of things as a way of remembering a specific moment or person. The final verse of the song takes on a darker tone, with the lines "I am so evil in the morning, now that we have come this far, don't say I gave you no warning, don't make me stop this car." These lyrics could be interpreted as a moment of realization that something has changed, and that the memories and souvenirs that were once so important may no longer hold the same value.
Overall, Souvenir is a beautifully written song that captures the essence of holding onto things that are transient and fleeting. It speaks to the power of memory and how we use it to make sense of the past and give meaning to the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Your blue ribbon as a branch
Your prize possession (represented by a blue ribbon) is both delicate and strong like a branch.
A hot mold plastic dinosaur
A cheap, mass-produced trinket, like a hot plastic dinosaur out of a mold.
You'll stop it from fogging it up
You clean the surface of the souvenir or object to prevent it from fogging up or getting cloudy.
Give the machine another quarter
Insert more money into the vending machine to get another souvenir or object.
Watch you and me
As we obtain and admire the souvenir or object together.
Get a souvenir
Obtain a trinket or object to remember this moment or experience.
Take yourself a handful of sand
Pick up something small and seemingly insignificant, such as a handful of sand.
Put it in your eye
Find a way to incorporate that small and insignificant thing into your being or part of your identity, like putting it in your eye.
His rubber band
A memento that may not be worth much to others but holds sentimental value and is representative of a specific person.
You could be my good luck charm
By carrying this memento or object, it could serve as a talisman or object of good luck to the artist.
When you and me
The singer and the person addressed previously in the song both share a connection to these objects, traditions and mementos.
Souvenir
The importance of holding onto objects, memories and traditions as a way to remember and cherish the past.
I waited for you all year
The desire and anticipation of sharing these memories and traditions with someone special and important to the singer.
I am so evil in the morning
The singer may be feeling frustrated or irritated when they first wake up, which may exacerbate any problems or conflicts that arise in their relationship.
Now that we have come this far
Despite past or current struggles, issues or problems in the relationship, the singer and the addressed person have made it through together.
Don't say I gave you no warning
The artist wants to ensure that the person they are speaking to recognizes the potential consequences of their actions or decisions.
Don't make me stop this car
If the person they are speaking to doesn't listen or act in a way the artist deems appropriate, the artist warns of stern actions they may take, namely stopping the car and putting an end to the journey they are currently on.
Souvenir
The importance of holding onto objects, memories and traditions as a way to remember and cherish the past.
I waited for you all year
The desire and anticipation of sharing these memories and traditions with someone special and important to the singer.
Souvenir
The importance of holding onto objects, memories and traditions as a way to remember and cherish the past.
Souvenir
The importance of holding onto objects, memories and traditions as a way to remember and cherish the past.
Souvenir
The importance of holding onto objects, memories and traditions as a way to remember and cherish the past.
I waited for you all year
The desire and anticipation of sharing these memories and traditions with someone special and important to the singer.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BILL JANOVITZ, CHRIS COLBOURN, TOM MAGINNIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind