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.
Top Pocket Man
Chavez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could you be top pocket man?
Now for how long,
Could you keep the glass shield tight around you?
Try and fill your lungs with the shards you walk through
I won, I won
Wash out your lungs
Right all your wrongs
I won, I won
Tickets back to where you came from
I won
All the tears you tried to keep
Now for how long,
Could you kill to fall asleep
Now for how long,
Can you...
?
With the first clue
Went with the next cue
Always finding
Now for how long?
The song Top Pocket Man by Chavez is a complex contemplation on the idea of success and its fleeting nature. The opening lyrics "Now for how long, could you be top pocket man?" immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. The "top pocket man" refers to someone who has achieved a high level of success and is now living their best life. However, the question "Now for how long?" suggests that this success may not last forever.
The following line "Now for how long, could you keep the glass shield tight around you?" furthers this theme of fragility in success. The metaphor of a "glass shield" implies that success can be fragile and easily shattered. The singer is questioning how long they can maintain their successful façade before it crumbles.
The chorus "I won, I won, wash out your lungs, light up your gongs, right all your wrongs" seems to suggest that the singer has indeed achieved success and is now living their best life. But the repetition of "I won, I won" calls into question the sincerity of this achievement. The lines "wash out your lungs, light up your gongs, right all your wrongs" seem to suggest that the singer is trying to cleanse themselves of their past mistakes and live a more fulfilling life.
The verses that follow continue the contemplation of success with lines such as "All the tears you tried to keep, now for how long could you kill to fall asleep." These lines suggest that success may come with its own set of problems, and even the most successful people may struggle with inner turmoil. Overall, Top Pocket Man is a thought-provoking examination of success and what it truly means to be fulfilled in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now for how long,
How much longer can you keep this up?
Could you be top pocket man?
Can you stay in a position of power?
Could you keep the glass shield tight around you?
Can you maintain your facade of invincibility?
Try and fill your lungs with the shards you walk through
Face the difficulties and pain of your actions.
I won, I won
I succeeded, I achieved my goals.
Wash out your lungs
Cleanse yourself of guilt and regret.
Light up your gongs
Celebrate your victory, make some noise.
Right all your wrongs
Make amends for your mistakes.
Tickets back to where you came from
Return to your roots, your true self.
All the tears you tried to keep
Your attempts to hide your emotions.
Could you kill to fall asleep
Are you willing to do anything to ease your conscience?
Can you...
What else can you do to redeem yourself?
With the first clue
With the first hint of wrongdoing or guilt.
Went with the next cue
Continued down the path of misdeeds or deceit.
Always finding
Always discovering new ways to justify your actions.
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.