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.
To Be There Now
Carissa's Wierd Lyrics
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I don′t have to remember here
You're really close this time
I think it′s better to keep in your head
All the things you tried to have
Maybe we already had the good times
Maybe we left them behind
So forget the way it made you feel
And all these scars
Just wont ever seem to go away
Do you ever think about the way
All these things they used to be
I think I lost it all out there
I think you know exactly what I mean
So I'll never go back
Do you wish they remember still
It can happen again
Maybe you should save in your head
All the things you tried to hide
Did you ever think about her
Did she ever make you cry
And all these scars
Just wont ever seem to go away
Did you ever think about
The way these things they all just used to be
I think you lost it all out there
I think you know exactly what I mean
So just to be there now
One more time with you
I could safely say
It′s finally the end of all this
So just to be there now
One more time with you
We could safely say
It′s finally the end of all this
So just to be there now
One more time with you
We could safely say
It's finally the end of all this
The lyrics to Carissa's Wierd's song "To Be There Now" convey a sense of longing, regret, and reflection on past experiences. The singer contemplates the idea that sometimes we get what we wish for but it may not bring the happiness or satisfaction we anticipated. They suggest that it is better to keep certain memories or desires within one's own mind rather than pursuing them in reality. The lyrics hint at the idea that perhaps the best times have already passed and were left behind, and that it is important not to forget how certain experiences made us feel, even if they were painful or caused us to struggle.
The repetition of the line "all these scars just won't ever seem to go away" suggests emotional wounds that linger and remain unresolved. The singer questions whether the listener ever thinks about how things used to be, emphasizing the nostalgia and loss associated with past times and relationships. The lyrics also imply that the singer feels like they have lost something significant, and they believe the listener understands this feeling too.
Overall, the lyrics of "To Be There Now" evoke a bittersweet sentiment, reflecting on the complexities of desire, nostalgia, and the inevitable passage of time. The song reminds us that revisiting the past may be tempting, but it can also signify the end of a chapter and the need to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you get what you wish
Occasionally, your desires are fulfilled
I don't have to remember here
I don't need to reminisce in this moment
You're really close this time
You are in close proximity right now
I think it's better to keep in your head
I believe it's preferable to remain in your thoughts
All the things you tried to have
All the desires you pursued
Maybe we already had the good times
Perhaps we have already experienced the enjoyable moments
Maybe we left them behind
Perhaps we abandoned those moments
So forget the way it made you feel
Therefore, disregard the emotions it evoked in you
Don't forget it made you want to die
But remember it caused you to desire death
And all these scars
And all these enduring marks
Just won't ever seem to go away
Simply cannot seem to disappear
Do you ever think about the way
Do you ever ponder the manner
All these things they used to be
All these things they were in the past
I think I lost it all out there
I believe I lost everything out there
I think you know exactly what I mean
I believe you understand precisely what I intend
So I'll never go back
Thus, I will never return
Do you wish they remember still
Do you desire that they still remember
It can happen again
It can occur once more
Maybe you should save in your head
Perhaps you should retain in your thoughts
All the things you tried to hide
All the things you attempted to conceal
Did you ever think about her
Did you ever contemplate about her
Did she ever make you cry
Did she ever cause you to weep
Just won't ever seem to go away
Simply cannot seem to vanish
Did you ever think about
Did you ever ponder about
The way these things they all just used to be
The way all these things were before
I think you lost it all out there
I believe you lost everything out there
I think you know exactly what I mean
I believe you understand precisely what I intend
So just to be there now
Therefore, just to be present at this moment
One more time with you
One additional occasion with you
I could safely say
I could confidently declare
It's finally the end of all this
It's ultimately the conclusion of all these circumstances
We could safely say
We could confidently declare
It's finally the end of all this
It's ultimately the conclusion of all these circumstances
So just to be there now
Therefore, just to be present at this moment
One more time with you
One additional occasion with you
We could safely say
We could confidently declare
It's finally the end of all this
It's ultimately the conclusion of all these circumstances
Writer(s): Jennifer Hays
Contributed by Thomas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.