Mat Brooke and Jenn Champion formed Carissa's Wierd out of Seattle in 1995, and released three albums before their 2003 breakup. Their plaintive, melancholy, beautiful music won over many who were exposed to it. The band's lineup changed throughout the band's existence. Mainstays in the band included violinist Sarah Standard, drummer (and later bassist) Ben Bridwell, drummer Sera Cahoone, drummer Creighton Barrett, and keyboard/accordian player Jeff Hellis. Their final album, Songs About Leaving, was a modest success in the Northwest, topping many critics charts and leaving fans hungry for more. Sadly, the band decided to go their separate ways in September of 2003. Jenn is now performing under the name S and Brooke and Bridwell went on to create Band of Horses. Brooke has since moved on to become part of Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone has launched her solo career. As of April 2007, both Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone have been signed to Sub Pop Records. In March 2010, Hardly Art announced that it would release a compilation of Carissa's Wierd material, with songs picked by Brooke and Champion, followed by reissues of the group's first three full-length records. The band played a reunion show on July 9, 2010 to support the compilation.
On August 2, 2011, Hardly Art announced pre-orders for a new 7", called 'Tucson,' and would include two new songs, the band's first recordings in over seven years featuring the original lineup. The 7" would include the songs 'Tucson' and 'Meredith & Iris,' and on August 4, 2011, Meredith & Iris was put up for stream on soundcloud. It was also announced that the band would be playing another reunion show in Seattle on September 24, 2011.
Alphabet on the Manhole
Carissa's Wierd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shit, this makes no sense
She wants to tell me real bad
She drove her home
Though you'll never know
You'll never know
She wants an explanation
She wants to tell you that
Dont think there is one
She wants an explanation
She wants to know what went wrong
Didnt know what had made me run for
Really dont think there is one
She wants an explanation
Didnt know what had made me run for
She wants an explanation
Wonder if i'll try to remember
I hope this makes you cry
I hope this makes you sad
This whiskey's just as dry as i am
She'd look more beautiful if she'd cried
I just want to lie down
How would i know she would break down
If i get a map and follow down
And alphabet written on the manhole
Smiling there it means i finally
Hold you head high
Slip into the mood of our lie
I finally hold your head high
So we'll just give up
And we'll keep on going over
Learn to keep your mouth shut
Regret if we find the enemy hands
Never fights with me
But all these ghosts never leave me alone
Give everyone a call
Tell them we hope to see them soon
Give everyone who's dead a call
Tell them you think you'll be home soon
Try not to sleep and scare these self affirming notions
Try not to think and scare these self affirming thoughts
The lyrics to Carissa's Wierd's song Alphabet on the Manhole speak of a relationship that has ended but is still unresolved. The singer is struggling to understand why they ran from the person they loved and wishes they could explain it. The person they loved, though they drove her home, will never know why the singer left. The singer repeatedly expresses a desire for an explanation and wants to know what went wrong, but they feel there may not be one. They then hope that their actions will make the person they left cry and feel sad. The singer then references whiskey, suggesting that they may have turned to alcohol to cope with their emotions.
The song takes a surreal turn when the singer mentions an alphabet written on a manhole and smiling there. This strange detail is followed by the words "it means I finally hold your head high,” implying that the singer has found closure and a new perspective on their situation. The song ends with a reference to ghosts that never leave the singer alone, and advice to "try not to think and scare these self-affirming thoughts."
One possible interpretation of this song is that it is about the difficulty of ending a relationship and the desire for closure and understanding even when those things may not be possible. The alphabet on the manhole could represent a new way of looking at things or a fresh start, and the ghosts that haunt the singer could be the memories and emotions that continue to affect them even after the relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Its cos your out of sight
The singer believes that their feelings are invalid because the person they are thinking of is no longer present in their life.
Shit, this makes no sense
The singer acknowledges that their thoughts and emotions may seem irrational or nonsensical to others.
She wants to tell me real bad
The singer is aware that someone has something important they want to express but has not done so yet.
She drove her home
An unspecified woman has been taken home, likely by a friend or acquaintance.
Though you'll never know
The artist doubts that the person they are thinking of will ever find out about their feelings or actions.
You'll never know
The singer reiterates their belief that the person they are thinking of will remain unaware of their thoughts and emotions.
She wants an explanation
The singer is aware that someone is seeking an explanation for something that has occurred.
She wants to tell you that
A woman feels compelled to share something with another person.
Didnt know what had made me run for
The artist is unsure of what prompted them to flee from a situation or person.
Dont think there is one
The artist believes that there is no discernible reason for their actions or emotions.
She wants an explanation
Another person is seeking an explanation for something that has occurred.
She wants to know what went wrong
Someone desires to understand what caused a situation to fall apart or not go as planned.
Didnt know what had made me run for
The singer repeats their uncertainty about why they felt compelled to flee a situation or person.
Really dont think there is one
The singer is strongly convinced that there is no obvious cause for their actions or emotions.
She wants an explanation
The same person is still seeking an explanation for something that has occurred.
Wonder if i'll try to remember
The artist contemplates whether they will try to hold onto memories of a person or event.
I hope this makes you cry
The artist desires to evoke a strong emotional response in another person, likely someone who has caused them pain or sorrow.
I hope this makes you sad
The singer wishes for the same emotional reaction but uses a different word to emphasize the depth of their desire to wound the other person emotionally.
This whiskey's just as dry as i am
The singer is lonely, possibly inebriated, and looking for comfort, which they do not find in alcohol.
She'd look more beautiful if she'd cried
The artist believes that tears would enhance another person's appearance or make them appear more vulnerable and therefore more attractive.
I just want to lie down
The artist is exhausted, emotionally or physically.
How would i know she would break down
The artist admits that they could not have predicted that a woman would become overwhelmed with emotion.
If i get a map and follow down
The singer expresses a desire for direction or guidance in a situation.
And alphabet written on the manhole
The artist suggests that there is a code or message hidden in plain sight.
Smiling there it means i finally
The singer seems to indicate that they have found a solution or something that brings them peace or relief.
Hold you head high
The singer encourages someone to have confidence and pride in themselves.
Slip into the mood of our lie
The singer refers to a story or fantasy that they and another person have constructed, and suggests that they both enter into that fiction again.
I finally hold your head high
The artist has apparently achieved the confidence that they encouraged someone else to possess earlier in the song.
So we'll just give up
The artist appears to resign themselves to a situation or outcome, suggesting they will quit trying to change things or gain resolution.
And we'll keep on going over
Despite the resignation expressed in the previous line, the singer refers to a continued effort or process with no clear resolution.
Learn to keep your mouth shut
The singer advises someone to practice discretion and not reveal too much information or emotion.
Regret if we find the enemy hands
The artist expects consequences or punishment if they or someone else is caught in an undesirable situation.
Never fights with me
The artist seems to suggest that they avoid confrontation or arguments with someone, possibly the same person referred to throughout the song.
But all these ghosts never leave me alone
The artist expresses a sense of being haunted or plagued by past events or memories.
Give everyone a call
The singer suggests reaching out to others, possibly for support or guidance.
Tell them we hope to see them soon
The artist expresses a desire to reconnect with others and spend time together.
Give everyone who's dead a call
The singer suggests communicating with people who have passed away, either as a sincere belief in an afterlife or as a metaphor for memory or reflection.
Tell them you think you'll be home soon
The singer suggests making peace with the past and preparing to enter into a new phase of life or relationships.
Try not to sleep and scare these self affirming notions
The singer suggests avoiding rest or distraction to prevent an internal sense of balance or confidence from being disrupted or unraveling.
Try not to think and scare these self affirming thoughts
The artist suggests further avoidance of thought or emotional processing to maintain a sense of confidence or stability.
Contributed by Caroline W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.