Froberg and Reis had originally played in Pitchfork, but despite musical similarities, there were some significant changes in the lineup of Drive Like Jehu. Froberg, no longer just a vocalist, picked up a guitar, while Kennedy and Trombino formed the rhythm section of the new band after having played together in Night Soil Man, a prog-influenced punk outfit.
The group released their self-titled debut album on Cargo in 1991. The following year, they released the double a-side single, Hand Over Fist/Bullet Train To Vegas on Merge Records, and released the original recorded version of Sinews on the Headstart to Purgatory compilation of San Diego bands.
Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From the Crypt (a garage-punk band fronted by Reis) were signed to Interscope Records as a pair, with the label releasing Drive Like Jehu's second album, Yank Crime, in 1994 after which the band embarked on tours of the United States and Europe.
Drive Like Jehu played their final shows in 1995 with little fanfare. While John Reis concentrated on Rocket From the Crypt full-time, Froberg and Trombino would both eventually leave San Diego. Froberg briefly played in Thingy with Rob Crow (of Pinback) before moving to New York City to work as an illustrator. Kennedy went back to school and became a chemist, while Trombino, who engineered most of the band's recordings, became a audio engineer and producer for the likes of Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World, among others.
Since the breakup, Reis continued to front Rocket From The Crypt until 2005, whilst working on other projects including Back Off Cupids, Sultans, and starting his own record label, Swami Records.
In 2000, Froberg and Reis reunited to form Hot Snakes, who released three full-lengths on Swami before retiring in the summer of 2005.
In 2007, Reis formed The Night Marchers with former Hot Snakes bandmates Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis, releasing their debut album, See You In Magic earlier this year.
Sinews
Drive Like Jehu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Find yourself a door
Ain't gonna fix your leaks for you
Ain't gonna watch the store no more
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
My share, my share, my share, my share
Trashman, trashman
Find yourself an asshole
Knew you could afford
Keep your hands out, cup cake
Find yourself the door
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
My share, my share, my share, my share
Trashman, trashman
My share, my share
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
My share, my share, my share, my share
Trashman, trashman
My share, my share
Trashman, trashman
My share, my share
My share, my share
At first glance, "Sinews" by Drive Like Jehu appears to be about distancing oneself from responsibility and handing it off to someone else, specifically someone who is not up to the task, hence the use of the word "asshole." The first verse suggests that the singer is fed up with dealing with someone else's problems and has decided to "find" them an under-qualified individual to fix their "leaks" and "watch the store." However, as we move through the song, it becomes clear that the singer is the one who has been ripped apart and divided up, represented by "every last string and gut," and his personal "share." He can no longer take on the burdens of others and is passing them off out of necessity.
The repeated lines of "My share, my share" illustrate that the singer is holding onto what little he has left, despite it being ripped apart and divided up. He is clinging onto his sense of self, his share of the life he has been dealt, and refuses to let go. The use of "Trashman" at the end of each verse adds a sense of internalization, as though the singer sees himself as the one responsible for picking up the pieces and disposing of them, revealing a sense of self-awareness and possible self-loathing for allowing himself to be torn apart.
Overall, "Sinews" is about the burden of responsibility and how we can become a "trashman" of our own lives, cleaning up the messes we create and the messes created by others. The singer has reached their limit and is handing off responsibility to someone else, but in doing so, they are also recognizing their own shattered state of being.
Line by Line Meaning
Find yourself an asshole
Go and find someone who is not likable and who is difficult to be around
Find yourself a door
Find an exit or a way out
Ain't gonna fix your leaks for you
I won't fix your problems for you
Ain't gonna watch the store no more
I won't keep an eye on things anymore
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
Everything has been completely destroyed and divided up among the participants
My share, my share, my share, my share
The singer is claiming their portion of the divided goods
Trashman, trashman
A person responsible for disposing of garbage or unwanted items
Find yourself an asshole
Go and find someone who is not likable and who is difficult to be around
Knew you could afford
The person being addressed had the means to find someone difficult to be around
Keep your hands out, cup cake
Don't touch anything, dear
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
Everything has been completely destroyed and divided up among the participants
My share, my share, my share, my share
The singer is claiming their portion of the divided goods
Trashman, trashman
A person responsible for disposing of garbage or unwanted items
Every last string and gut ripped apart and divvied up
Everything has been completely destroyed and divided up among the participants
My share, my share, my share, my share
The singer is claiming their portion of the divided goods
Trashman, trashman
A person responsible for disposing of garbage or unwanted items
My share, my share
The singer is claiming their portion of the divided goods
My share, my share
The singer is claiming their portion of the divided goods
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind