2) The shortlived Atlanta based grind outfit Charmer unleashes sheer visceral madness. Trimming down to merely a vocalist, guitarist, and drummer, their sole release has been a self-titled 7" (of which only 150 were pressed and all were sold on Charmer's most recent tour). Due to the damage caused by their furious live shows, the members have done a helluva job keeping their identities more or less a secret, having been known to perform adorned in gas masks and under many different aliases.
Since the band's break-up, guitarist "Emmerson Longfellow" and vocalist "Pelham Winchester" began writing under the guies of End Life (http://myspace.com/endfuckinglife).
Bummer Summer
Charmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then autumn came along the day I started taking adderall
Really it's a bummer that
I wasted all of my summer
Trying to convince everyone that
I was actually getting any better
With every winter semester
Really it's a bummer
Waste my entire summer
Trying to convince everyone
I was ever getting better
(Never getting better)
Every single winter semester
I'm never getting better
Really it's a bummer that
You had to move before the summer
You really could have helped me
Get a whole lot better
I'll remember to take my adderall before noon
So I don't stay up all night
Waiting for a wake up text from you
These lyrics are about the frustration of feeling stagnant in life while time continues to move forward. The writer expresses disappointment in spending too much time focusing on the future and not enough time living in the present. The use of the seasons as a metaphor for the passing of time highlights this theme. The writer reflects on wasting their summer, attempting to improve themselves and convince others of their progress, but ultimately realizing that they are not getting any better. They mention taking Adderall, a medication commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which could be interpreted as a desire to increase productivity and focus, but also possibly a dependency on the drug.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote too many songs about the fall
I focused too much on the negative aspects of my life, dwelling on the hardships and struggles.
Then autumn came along the day I started taking adderall
I began taking a medication that is meant to increase focus and productivity but its effects ended up taking away my creative spirit and inspiration.
Really it's a bummer that I wasted all of my summer
It's truly disappointing that I didn't use my summer wisely and instead lost it to unproductive habits or negative thinking patterns.
Trying to convince everyone that I was actually getting any better
I continued to put on a facade of being alright when in reality I wasn't making any progress and felt stuck.
With every winter semester, but I'm never getting better
Despite starting fresh with each new school term, I seem to remain stagnant in my personal growth and development, never experiencing significant improvement.
Really it's a bummer, Waste my entire summer
Again, it's a shame that I couldn't make the most of the warmer months, letting opportunities slip by or failing to pursue goals that could have brought me fulfillment.
Trying to convince everyone I was ever getting better (Never getting better)
I tried to mask my lack of progress and improvement, but deep down I feel trapped in a cycle of stagnation that I fear I can't break free from.
Every single winter semester, I'm never getting better
This feeling of being stuck and unchanging seems to repeat itself every new academic term, as the pressures and demands of school only exacerbate my struggles.
Really it's a bummer that you had to move before the summer
The situation of my companion leaving before the break is especially disheartening and makes me feel lost and alone.
You really could have helped me get a whole lot better
I feel that the support and presence of this person would have made a significant difference in my ability to overcome my challenges and grow in a positive direction.
I'll remember to take my adderall before noon
Trying to be more responsible and productive, I plan to take my medication at a more appropriate time to avoid negative effects on my sleep and focus.
So I don't stay up all night waiting for a wake-up text from you
I recognize that this kind of behavior is not healthy and is an attempt to fill the void left by the absence of the person I care about. I want to change this and not rely on them to make me feel better.
Writer(s): David Daignault, Neal Berg, Nick Erickson
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.