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.
Figure It Out
Carissa's Wierd Lyrics
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now you will be the one who's wrong by the end of the summer if you figure it out, if you just move along now, there's nothing left to see. there's nothing left to do, so how about me and how about you?
well i can't tell you where to go that will swallow you whole. if you don't turn around, if you don't do it now, count these hours up to six. i've been out since five. i'll come 'round there at ten. you'll do it all again. did that make you feel proud when you cried out loud? but for crying out loud, you do it all the time.
The lyrics of "Figure It Out" by Carissa's Wierd are about someone who is struggling with giving advice to another person who is lost and confused, but is also trying to offer comfort through their own experience. They are acknowledging the fact that they cannot force someone to make a decision or know what is best for them, and that the other person needs to take the necessary steps to figure out their situation. The repetition of "if you don't turn around, if you don't do it now" emphasizes the urgency of taking action.
The line "did that make you feel proud when you cried out loud?" implies that the other person may be feeling sorry for themselves or seeking attention in their current state, and the singer is questioning if this behavior is really helping their situation. However, the lyric "but for crying out loud, you do it all the time" also acknowledges that this is a recurring pattern for the person.
The song ends with the message that the other person needs to make the decision to move on, and that there is nothing left for them to do or see. The lyrics "how about me and how about you?" suggest that the singer is also struggling with their own issues and may be looking for someone to lean on.
Line by Line Meaning
well i can't tell you where to go that will swallow you whole.
I don't know where you should go, but I do know that wherever it is, it will consume you entirely.
if you don't turn around, if you don't do it now, count these hours up to six. i've been up since five. i'll be coming 'round at ten. you'll do it all again.
If you keep making the same mistakes and refuse to change your ways, the hours will pass by and I'll witness you repeating the same patterns again and again.
did that make you feel proud when you cried out loud? but for crying out loud, you do it all the time.
When you express your emotions loudly and publicly, does it make you feel better about your actions? Because the truth is, you do this constantly.
now you will be the one who's wrong by the end of the summer if you figure it out, if you just move along now, there's nothing left to see. there's nothing left to do, so how about me and how about you?
If you don't change your ways, you will end up regretting your actions by the end of the summer. It's time to move on because there's nothing left to experience together. What about me and you? Are we going to move on too?
Contributed by Caleb M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.