Dead Moon was a Portland, Oregon punk rock band. The band is fronted by sin… Read Full Bio ↴Dead Moon was a Portland, Oregon punk rock band. The band is fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Fred Cole; his wife Toody Cole plays bass, and Andrew Loomis plays drums. Formed in 1987, the band combined punk and country in their stripped-down sound.

Fred Cole has engineered most of the band's recordings and mastered them on a mono lathe that was used for The Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie."
Their early records, such as In the Graveyard, were released on the Tombstone Records label, named for the musical equipment store Fred and Toody operated at the time. Soon they caught the attention of the German label Music Maniac, and toured Europe successfully. Not until the mid-nineties did they tour the United States. Much of their following is in Europe.

A U.S. filmmaking team (Kate Fix and Jason Summers) produced a 2004 documentary, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, which played in independent theaters around the U.S., New Zealand, and Melbourne International Film Fest, and might be offered with the upcoming Dead Moon box set on Sub Pop Records. Dead Moon has recorded for labels such as Empty Records, but most releases are on Music Maniac abroad and Tombstone in the U.S. The Tombstone label has also provided cheap mastering and duplication for other bands, serving more as a cooperative than a promotional vehicle.

Fred and Toody are in their sixties. They currently own the Tombstone General Store in Clackamas, Oregon, and are building a shopping center nearby.

Pearl Jam often covers the song It's OK.

In December 2006 they retired:

2006-12-13 - AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DEAD MOON

After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning!
--Fred Cole
(from http://www.subpop.com)

2007-05-18 PIERCED ARROWS
For the first time in a long time, Fred and Toody Cole were nervous. Six months after the breakup of their legendary garage-rock outfit, Dead Moon, the Coles were about to debut a new group—something they haven’t had to do for 20 years. And their new trio, Pierced Arrows, had only six practices under its belt at showtime.
http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/23/pierced-arrows-at-ash-street-saloon-may-18-2007/

Where Did I Go Wrong
Dead Moon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My eyes on the fire
It's burning me down
I tried to walk away but
that's all over now

I promised you'd be
The better part of me
But when I cut the ties

I thought I'd be free

And when I tried to tell you
That I would soon be gone
So tell me babe
Where did I go wrong?

I followed that dream
The one fools only seek

I thought the world of you
But, I thought more of me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dead Moon's song "Where Did I Go Wrong" deal with the emotions of a man who is questioning his decisions and actions that led him to ruin his relationship. The opening lines, "My eyes on the fire, It's burning me down," can be interpreted as a metaphor for the passion and intensity of his commitment to the relationship that is consuming and destroying him. Despite his efforts to leave the relationship, he realizes that it's too late, and the damage has already been done.

He acknowledges his promise of making the other person the better part of him. However, he could not keep up with his promise, and he chose to cut ties, thinking it would set him free. He tried to break away, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he has made a terrible mistake. In the line, "And when I tried to tell you that I would soon be gone" reveals that the singer of the song has accepted that he has to leave, but he is consumed with guilt, and he's asking his partner, "Where did I go wrong?"

The lyrics of "Where Did I Go Wrong" are a poignant introspective reflection of a person acknowledging his mistakes and failures. The emotional intensity of the words and the rawness of the music are quickly identifiable with the human experience, making it a popular song that resonates with many people.

Line by Line Meaning

My eyes on the fire
I am fixated on a burning flame, possibly symbolizing the passion and intensity of my relationship.

It's burning me down
The intensity of this relationship is causing distress and difficulty in my life.

I tried to walk away but
I attempted to leave this relationship, but something prevented me from doing so.

that's all over now
Whatever was keeping me from leaving has passed, and I am ready to move on.

I promised you'd be
I made a commitment to you, pledging that you would receive the best parts of me.

The better part of me
I saw you as a source of positivity and improvement in my life.

But when I cut the ties
When I severed our connection, whether it be emotionally, physically, or otherwise,

I thought I'd be free
I assumed that removing myself from the relationship would result in greater freedom and happiness for myself.

And when I tried to tell you
In an attempt to communicate my feelings and intentions,

That I would soon be gone
I told you that I was planning on leaving soon.

So tell me babe
I am asking for your input and perspective on the situation.