Signing to Caroline Records (home to The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole), but with their records released on Hut in the UK, Drop Nineteens immediately garnered college radio airplay in the US with their 1992 debut album, Delaware. Formed by Greg Ackell (vocals, guitar), Steve Zimmerman (bass), Chris Roof (drums), Motohiro Yasue (guitar), and Paula Kelley (vocals, guitar), the band made three music videos that were prominently played on MTV. They also topped the UK's Indie Album & Singles charts with early releases, toured on the success of their first album, headlined/co-headlined and opened tours in England, Europe, and North America, recorded BBC radio sessions for John Peel and Mark Goodier, and played summer music festivals like England's Reading Festival and North America's Lollapalooza.
Due to artistic differences, several member changes occurred between the first and second full length releases. Kelley, Roof, and Yasue went on to pursue other interests, and Megan Gilbert (vocals, guitar), Pete Koeplin (drums, now drummer for the band Kahoots) and Justin Crosby (guitar) were added to the lineup in 1993. Shortly thereafter, Drop Nineteens released their second full-length album, National Coma, but after a disappointing reaction to this record and various artistic differences the band broke up in 1995.
Beyond Drop Nineteens, Ackell and Koeplin recorded an album under the band name Fidel in the late nineties, which was never formally released. Kelley went on to lead Hot Rod, Boy Wonder, and is currently a solo artist with the Paula Kelley Orchestra. Rumors of a third Drop Nineteens album have circulated over the past decade, but no release date has ever been announced.
On January 18, 2022, Ackell posted to the band's Twitter, announcing that the original lineup of the band would be reuniting and that they were working on new material. Since then, a new album, "Hard Light," has been announced for 2023, as well as "1991," a re-mastering of early unreleased material.
Discography
Mayfield (1991, unreleased)
Delaware (1992, Plan 9/ Caroline/ Hut)
"Winona" single (1992, Caroline/ Hut/ Virgin)
Your Aquarium CD/10" EP (1992, Plan 9/ Caroline/ Hut)
National Coma (1993, Caroline/ Hut/ Virgin)
Limp 7"/ 12" EP (1993, Hut/ Virgin)/(1994, Caroline)
Cuban
Drop Nineteens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I killed everything that stirs
Or purrs
Somebody down south
In the water
I lost my nerve
I hear down the south the one is combined
The water and the bride
So i′m going to a store
I'm going to buy a few things
But will they feed you enough?
I'm fine on a plane if they kick all the sluts off
There′s a boat for you
A vacation is something you take with you
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Papa ass kissers on the freeway beast
Suck my virgin tambourine and pineapple piece
Did you build the wall? like it′s some big thing
A flying climbs to lick the free(???)
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Load it in the breeze
These lyrics from Drop Nineteens's song "Cuban" offer a mix of abstract imagery and social commentary. The first verse expresses a sense of guilt or remorse for having killed something that stirs or purrs, metaphorically suggesting the destruction of innocence or vulnerability. The reference to somebody down south and the water signifies a distance from home, implying a feeling of disconnect or unease. The line "I hear down the south the one is combined" could be interpreted as a longing for unity or completion.
The following lines explore the theme of loneliness and the longing for connection. The singer reflects on being alone, even in a place where they were supposed to find companionship. The mention of going to a store and buying a few things brings up a sense of materialism and the question of whether material possessions can truly satisfy one's needs. The line about being fine on a plane if they kick all the sluts off suggests a desire for an exclusive and more meaningful experience.
The chorus introduces a new set of images, associating the Cuban breeze with a particular atmosphere or feeling. The line "Papa ass kissers on the freeway beast" might comment on sycophantic or subservient behavior, while the line "Suck my virgin tambourine and pineapple piece" juxtaposes innocence with sexual innuendo. The mention of building a wall could be a reference to political divisions or the desire for separation. Overall, the song seems to explore themes of isolation, longing for connection, and the search for something more fulfilling in life.
Line by Line Meaning
That urge
The strong desire
I killed everything that stirs
I have destroyed everything that moves
Or purrs
Or makes a soft, vibrating sound
Somebody down south
There is someone in the southern region
In the water
Submerged in the water
I lost my nerve
I've become scared or anxious
I hear down the south the one is combined
I've heard that in the southern area, unity is found
The water and the bride
The union of the water and the bride
We're just as alone as at home we'd be
We feel as isolated as we would be at home
So i'm going to a store
Therefore, I am going to a shop
I'm going to buy a few things
I plan to purchase some items
But will they feed you enough?
However, will these things satisfy you adequately?
I'm fine on a plane if they kick all the sluts off
I feel comfortable on an aircraft only if they remove all promiscuous individuals
There's a boat for you
There is a boat available for you
A vacation is something you take with you
A holiday is an experience you carry within yourself
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Load it gently into the wind, a breeze from Cuba
Papa ass kissers on the freeway beast
Father-like individuals who flatter on the fast-moving road
Suck my virgin tambourine and pineapple piece
Take pleasure in my untouched tambourine and piece of pineapple
Did you build the wall? like it's some big thing
Have you constructed the wall as if it were a significant matter?
A flying climbs to lick the free
A winged creature ascends to taste freedom
Load it in the breeze, a cuban breeze
Load it gently into the wind, a breeze from Cuba
Load it in the breeze
Place it softly in the wind
Writer(s): Greg Ackell, Justin Crosby, Megan Gilbert, Pete Koeplin, Steve Zimmerman
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.