Codeine released their first album Frigid Stars on the German label Glitterhouse in 1990. The album was released on Sub Pop the following year.
Their second release, the Barely Real EP was issued in 1992. Immerwahr rejected several of the songs after the recording session. Some of these songs were re-recorded for the final album. The song w. is a solo performance on piano by David Grubbs (of Bastro, Squirrel Bait and Gastr del Sol). A somewhat different full-band version of the song appears on Codeine's next album, but titled Wird.
Brokaw left the band after the release of Barely Real to play full-time with his other band Come. He was replaced by Douglas Scharin of the band Rex.
Codeine's next and final release was the full-length album The White Birch, released in 1994. David Grubbs also participated on the album. After this release the band broke up. Stephen Immerwahr has since then been playing with the band Raymond, while Douglas Scharin continued in June of 44 and later HiM.
The band reformed in May 2012 for a Mogwai-curated ATP I'll Be Your Mirror in London. They played their final reunion show in July 2012 in New York.
Wird
Codeine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I am tired and small
Under my skin
Sing lonely wires
Who built
Who built this machine?
This mechanism
I wanna walk
But I have to crawl
It's colder now
And I have lost my way
The lyrics of Codeine's song "Wird" explore themes of exhaustion and hopelessness. The opening lines express a sense of fatigue in the face of an overwhelming and dark path. The imagery of "lonely wires" under the skin suggests a feeling of being exposed and vulnerable to external forces. The second verse then shifts to an existential question about the origins of the world and the mechanisms of suffering. The repetition of "who built" underscores this feeling of searching for answers in a world that seems designed for pain.
The final verse returns to the personal experience, expressing a desire to move forward despite feeling stuck and lost. The contrast between the desire to walk and the need to crawl emphasizes the difficulty of making progress in the face of obstacles. The mention of the cold adds to the sense of isolation and hardship.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wird" offer a somber meditation on the challenges of navigating a difficult world.
Line by Line Meaning
The way is dark
The path in front of me is murky and unclear
And I am tired and small
I am exhausted and feel insignificant
Under my skin
Deep within me
Sing lonely wires
A feeling of sadness and isolation
Who built
Who created
Who built this machine?
What caused these circumstances in my life?
This mechanism
This process or system
This misery
This feeling of intense discomfort and unhappiness
I wanna walk
I desire to move forward
But I have to crawl
Progress is slow and difficult for me
It's colder now
The situation has become increasingly bleak
And I have lost my way
I am lost and uncertain about how to proceed
Contributed by Lucas S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@toddjeffreyherman
This is the most Slinty non-Slint song that exists, and I love it.
@Brokenhill42
Never thought of that.
@post1305
What about aerial M. That’s quite slinty. Probably because they are kind of slint, but not 100% slint. I dunno if that counts.
@Shovelglove545
What’s the matter river by Maximilian colby is pretty slinty
@toddjeffreyherman
@O1O1O1O1 somebody else recommended that band to me the other day. I will definitely check them out! Thanks.
@jimrader5299
like watching Rothko's paint dry
@v.watson4179
The way is dark
And I am tired and small
Under my skin
Sing lonely wires
Who built
Who built this machine?
This mechanism
This misery
I wanna walk
But I have to crawl
It's colder now
And I have lost my way