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.
Silently Leaving the Room
Carissa's Wierd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
gathering your thoughts from the floor
hopefully no one will hear you
silently closing the door
down the long stairs to the hall
out to the streets where you'll find
rumored accounts and hearsay
was it me who acted that way
I don't recall ever acting that way
was it you who should've stayed
the truth was deceiving
when the hosts of the evening
found the ghost that was bleeding
drops of blood from the ceiling
someone was laughing, we all prayed for a favor
that the ghost would entertain us with some songs and some notes
but by the ? blood covered all the wood floors
opened all of the windows and all of the doors
broke all of the bottles on streets down below
some blood was frozen
blessed by wounded love
when the ice skates came on the girls finally sang songs
to the tunes of the laughter
while silently leaving the room
The lyrics to Carissa's Wierd's song Silently Leaving the Room describe a scene of someone leaving a place quietly and quickly after gathering their thoughts from the ground. The hope is that no one will hear them and as they silently close the door behind them, they make their way down the long staircase, out into the streets where they can find rumored accounts and hearsay. There is a feeling of uncertainty about who should have stayed and who acted in a particular way. The truth is deceiving when the hosts of the evening found a ghost that was bleeding drops of blood from the ceiling. Someone was laughing, and they all prayed for a favor that the ghost would entertain them with some songs and notes. But instead, the blood covered all the wooden floors, all the bottles were broken on the streets down below, and some blood was frozen.
There is an underlying theme of loneliness and sadness that runs throughout the lyrics. The person leaving seems to be grappling with their own problems and doubts, unsure of what to believe or who to blame. The mention of the ghost bleeding suggests that perhaps there is some sort of supernatural element to the story, which adds to the sense of unease and uncertainty. The image of the girls finally singing songs to the tunes of the laughter while silently leaving the room is both haunting and poignant.
Overall, the lyrics to Silently Leaving the Room are evocative and powerful, drawing the listener in with their vivid imagery and sense of melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
silently leaving the room
Exiting quietly without causing attention
gathering your thoughts from the floor
Picking up scattered ideas from the ground
hopefully no one will hear you
Wishing to leave unnoticed
silently closing the door
Shutting the door in silence
down the long stairs to the hall
Descending a lengthy flight of stairs to the corridor below
out to the streets where you'll find
Venturing out to the public where encounters may take place
rumored accounts and hearsay
Speculations and unsubstantiated rumors
was it me who acted that way
Questioning one's own behavior
is it you who should stay
Wondering if the other person should remain
I don't recall ever acting that way
Professing to have no memory of behaving in such a manner
was it you who should've stayed
Querying if the other person should have stayed in the situation
the truth was deceiving
Realizing that the reality was misleading
when the hosts of the evening
During the time the event organizers were around
found the ghost that was bleeding
Encountering a bleeding apparition
drops of blood from the ceiling
Small speckles of blood on the ceiling
someone was laughing, we all prayed for a favor
A person was laughing, and all of us requested for divine intervention
that the ghost would entertain us with some songs and some notes
Hoping that the spirit would amuse us with music and melody
but by the ? blood covered all the wood floors
The floors were stained with blood
opened all of the windows and all of the doors
All the windows and doors had been flung wide open
broke all of the bottles on streets down below
Smashed all of the bottles on the street below
some blood was frozen
Part of the blood had frozen
blessed by wounded love
Juxtaposed with love's pain
when the ice skates came on the girls finally sang songs
As soon as the girls put on their skates, they started to sing joyously
to the tunes of the laughter
Harmonizing with the sound of laughter
while silently leaving the room
Quietly departing the scene
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.