The band formed iteratively around Sweeney between '92-'94. They released Gone Glimmering in '95 followed by Ride The Fader in '96, both on Matador.
Sweeney, a longtime friend of Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, has also played in Corgan's side-project, Zwan, and more recently in a duo with Will Oldham on their Superwolf album.
Pitchfork recently reviewed the new Chavez compilation which also contains some nice observations about their sound and its context.
After a lengthy hiatus between 1999 and 2006 they have recently begun playing extensively around the New York area.
New Room
Chavez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lead you to your home
May I not look on you
Take you for my own
Fair light fell upon you
All our (?) cannot have
First light in a new room
Doesn't feel right right
Doesn't feel new
Feels just like today
And on that day
What can I go by?
When I can't take
To make this go back
I waited so long to see it go bad
The lyrics of “New Room” by Chavez suggest feelings of uncertainty and regret about a relationship that has gone wrong. The opening lines express a desire for the person to be guided home by light, but also a sense of resignation that they cannot be together. The use of the phrase “May I not look on you” suggests that the singer may still have feelings for the person, but is trying to move on.
Throughout the chorus, the singer reflects on a new beginning, but also acknowledges the difficulty of letting go of the past. The line “First light in a new room” may represent a metaphor for starting fresh, but the following line suggests hesitation and hesitation, with the singer unsure if the new situation really feels new, or just the same as before. The uncertainty is pervasive throughout the lyrics, with repeated mentions of “what can I go by?” and the final line expressing disappointment that the relationship has not worked out as hoped.
Overall, the lyrics of “New Room” by Chavez capture the complexity of emotional relationships and the difficulty of accepting change. The song may resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of a failed relationship, but also the desire to move on and start again.
Line by Line Meaning
May light fall upon you
May good things come your way
Lead you to your home
Guide you to where you truly belong
May I not look on you
May I not covet or desire what is not mine
Take you for my own
Claim possession or control over you
Fair light fell upon you
Good fortune smiled upon you
All our (?) cannot have
Not everything we desire is attainable
First light in a new room
Starting fresh in a new place
If the first site that I went to
If my first attempt fails
Doesn't feel right right
Doesn't feel like the right fit
Doesn't feel new
Doesn't feel like a fresh start
Feels just like today
Feels like nothing has changed
And on that day
When that happens
What can I go by?
What can I base my decisions on?
When I can't take
When I can't tolerate
To make this go back
To undo what has been done
I waited so long to see it go bad
I anticipated the failure and downfall
Contributed by Ruby N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.