Von Sneidern played in a local band called the U-Turns in the early 1980s before relocating to San Francisco in 1985. In the Bay Area he played with several locally based power-pop bands, including the Lost Patrol and The Sneetches (the latter as bassist), before joining Flying Color as guitarist in 1987. After Flying Color broke up in 1990, Von Sneidern hit the road with former Beat leader Paul Collins and lived for a short time in New York before returning to San Francisco to pursue a solo career.
Von Sneidern issued his self-produced debut album, Sight & Sound, on the Heyday label in 1993. In addition to winning rave reviews from power-pop fans, it also featured a guest appearance from John Wesley Harding, with whom Von Sneidern would collaborate frequently in the years to come. The follow-up, Big White Lies, appeared in 1994, and as word of Von Sneidern's music spread in the pop underground, he picked up more production work in addition to his own recordings, and opened his own Bay Area recording studio.
When Von Sneidern released his third album, Go!, in 1996, he was on the local indie label Mod Lang; that label also released the follow-up, 1998's Wood + Wire. For his next project, Von Sneidern formed a soul/R&B-influenced outfit called the Sportsmen, which also featured pianist Khoi-San, guitarist Dave "Shaggy" Gleason, bassist Teenage Rob and drummer Derek Ritchie. Their debut album, Spirited, was released by the Japanese Lazy Cat label in 1999. Von Sneidern subsequently formed his own label, which allowed him to release several idiosyncratic projects in 2000. First among these was London Payne (subtitled Searching the Muse: Memoirs Across America), which set poetry by John R. Dykes to music; it was followed by 2-cute 2-be 4-gotten, a similar exercise that drew from poetry written by teenage girls. Finally, there was an additional live album spanning 1998-2000, Live Start Lifting
Why Go Alone?
Chris von Sneidern Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm out of time, the tune will never be
I'm striking out a path that has no start or end
Just commentary from my friends,
you'll be fine in good time, they're so kind
What I want, what I will never be
The greatest gift,
to love and be loved in return
Don't take for granted when you learn
the words I mined from inside stuck in time
Where I go, I go alone
So easy to leave the lesson you don't want
to learn I go, I go alone
A simple solution when you have no place to turn
Let's get serious, something I've always heard
When I'm hearing this broken into words--
--The easy day... was saying yes and going through and finding other ways to you, 'cause from the heart to me was the hardest part
Why go, why go alone It's easy to flee into myself and always win
Why go, why go alone So simple to see right through the trap while walking in
Selfish boy with my new velvet toy
Softer than a smile
Naturally, if she's in love with me
I'd leave her in a while
Goodbye love, hello reality
Hereinabove, I'm below ability
I'm casting off and floating slowly on the wave
and humbly thankful one forgave
If you drift away I'll have to say
Don't go, don't go alone So easy to see a lonely life when no one cares
Don't go, don't go alone A simple belief that we should live our lives in pairs
The song "Why Go Alone?" by Chris von Sneidern explores the themes of self-doubt, insecurity, and the fear of being alone. The opening lines, "Hello mind, something is wrong with me // I'm out of time, the tune will never be," suggests a sense of confusion and anxiety about one's creative output. The following lines, "I'm striking out a path that has no start or end // Just commentary from my friends, you'll be fine in good time, they're so kind," illustrate the struggle of trying to pursue something meaningful without a clear direction and the frustration of receiving unhelpful advice.
The chorus of the song, "Where I go, I go alone // So easy to leave the lesson you don't want to learn // I go, I go alone // A simple solution when you have no place to turn," conveys the idea that despite the difficulty of being alone and facing challenges alone, it can also be a necessary and empowering act of self-reliance - better than staying in a situation that is holding you back.
The second half of the song introduces the idea of being in love and how it complicates one's sense of self. Lines such as "Selfish boy with my new velvet toy // Softer than a smile // Naturally, if she's in love with me // I'd leave her in a while" capture the fear that one's own inadequacies will drive someone away. However, the final lines of the song, "Don't go, don't go alone // So easy to see a lonely life when no one cares // Don't go, don't go alone // A simple belief that we should live our lives in pairs" emphasize the importance of having companionship and a support system in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello mind, something is wrong with me
I am experiencing a mental disturbance.
I'm out of time, the tune will never be
I missed my chance to do what I wanted.
I'm striking out a path that has no start or end
I am forging ahead in an aimless direction.
Just commentary from my friends, you'll be fine in good time, they're so kind
People are offering me platitudes and empty encouragements.
What I want, what I will never be
My aspirations are unattainable.
What I've got, what I could never see
I failed to appreciate the blessings I already had.
The greatest gift, to love and be loved in return
Mutual affection is the most valuable thing in life.
Don't take for granted when you learn the words I mined from inside stuck in time
Be grateful for the wisdom you gain through experience.
Where I go, I go alone
I am a solitary figure in my journey through life.
So easy to leave the lesson you don't want to learn I go, I go alone
It is tempting to ignore unpleasant truths and isolate oneself.
A simple solution when you have no place to turn
Going solo is often the easiest option when feeling lost or adrift.
Let's get serious, something I've always heard When I'm hearing this broken into words
I am paying attention and taking things more seriously now.
--The easy day... was saying yes and going through and finding other ways to you, 'cause from the heart to me was the hardest part
It was hard for me to express my true feelings to you.
Why go, why go alone It's easy to flee into myself and always win
It's tempting to prioritize my own comfort and retreat into myself.
So simple to see right through the trap while walking in
I recognize the danger of this course of action.
Selfish boy with my new velvet toy
I am indulging in a selfish pursuit.
Softer than a smile Naturally, if she's in love with me I'd leave her in a while
Even if I care about someone, I may abandon them for my own interests.
Goodbye love, hello reality Hereinabove, I'm below ability
I must face the consequences of my choices and limitations.
I'm casting off and floating slowly on the wave and humbly thankful one forgave If you drift away I'll have to say
I am accepting the effects of circumstances and grateful for forgiveness.
Don't go, don't go alone So easy to see a lonely life when no one cares
Being alone can feel unbearable when no one pays attention to you.
A simple belief that we should live our lives in pairs
I believe it is important to have meaningful relationships with others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Chris von Sneidern
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind