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)
My Aquarium
Drop Nineteens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here i sway on my swing
Make my life a simple thing
I guess the space dust helps
If you know what i mean
Water scape religion can change a frown
Into a happy thing
When you start
And at the end
You can't do it again
And when i heard where you've been
Maybe it was scary to know that
You killed the only prophet that was left
And maybe i was soaking wet
Without nothing, love
But we've had just about enough
Yes we've had more than enough
When you start
I think it's better the second time around
And at the end
You can't do it again
When you start
I think it's better the second time around
And at the end
You can't do it again
And at the end
I sway on my swing
And at the end
Make my life a simple thing
And at the end
Everyone welcomes the space age nothing
At the end
At the end
At the end, at the end
At the end
At the end, at the end
At the end
At the end, at the end, at the end
The lyrics to Drop Nineteens' song "My Aquarium" convey a sense of detachment from reality and a desire for simplicity. The opening lines of "One, two, three" set a whimsical and almost childlike tone. The singer then describes swaying on their swing and finding joy in the small things in life. They mention "space dust" as possibly contributing to their contentment, which could refer to drugs or a general sense of wonder about the universe.
The singer then seems to suggest that finding solace in nature (represented by "water scape religion") can turn a bad mood into a good one. However, they also acknowledge the transience of happiness and the inability to recreate it perfectly. The lines "when you start/I think it's better the second time around/and at the end/you can't do it again" suggest a bittersweet nostalgia for past joy and a resigned acceptance that it cannot be relived.
The final lines of the song refer to the "space age nothing" that everyone welcomes at the end, which could represent death, evolution, or some other change that will ultimately render our current concerns insignificant. The overall effect of the lyrics is dreamy and philosophical, encouraging listeners to find meaning in small moments of beauty and accept the fleeting nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
One. two. three.
The beginning of a routine or countdown before something starts.
Here i sway on my swing
The singer is relaxing or taking a break from the stresses of life.
Make my life a simple thing
The singer desires a simpler life without complications.
I guess the space dust helps
The singer may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol to feel at ease.
If you know what i mean
The singer assumes the listener understands the reference to space dust.
Water scape religion can change a frown
The calming effects of water can change a negative mood.
Into a happy thing
The calming effects of water can improve one's mood.
When you start
The beginning of a process or action.
I think it's better the second time around
The singer has learned from previous experiences and believes that doing something a second time will be more successful.
And at the end
The conclusion of something.
You can't do it again
Once something has ended, it cannot be repeated.
And when i heard where you've been
The singer has learned about the listener's past experiences or travels.
Maybe it was scary to know that
The singer may have been frightened by the listener's past experiences.
You killed the only prophet that was left
The listener may have made a mistake or caused harm in their past that affected others.
And maybe i was soaking wet
The singer may have been emotionally affected by the listener's past experiences or actions.
Without nothing, love
The singer may have felt a lack of emotional connection or support from the listener.
But we've had just about enough
The singer has reached a breaking point or limit with the current situation or relationship.
Yes we've had more than enough
The singer has reached a point where they can no longer tolerate the situation or relationship.
Everyone welcomes the space age nothing
The future or unknown is uncertain and often met with open arms.
At the end, at the end
Reinforcing the idea of a conclusion or finality.
At the end, at the end
Reinforcing the idea of a conclusion or finality.
At the end, at the end, at the end
Emphasizing the idea of a finality or closure.
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Eraziels
Always thought it was strange this ended up on an EP and not on Delaware instead of the acoustic version
@creeper1003
Nah fr
@Mattbassist_
If you listen to the album as an album (meaning from start to finish) it kinda makes sense. The album has all these big, noisey songs and My Aquarium is just this quiet acoustic piece which breaks up the noise.
@user-annnnn1990
The guitar riffs remain me of the 90’s vibes. God damn I miss the decade.
@leejones4497
One of my all-time favourite songs. I keep coming back to it, loved it since it came out.
@creekandseminole
Wow, I've never seen this video by them before. Awesome. I wish there was footage of them playing Lollapalooza. That's almost as rare as footage of Verve playing Lolla back in the day when they were promoting their first album.
@cutups
Been digging in the bins of 90s indie rock and shoegaze and this one really caught me
@katherine5951
This band is amazing
@jamesfoong
I never knew these guys before and have only just discovered them whilst shoegazing through youtube videos but i love it!
@clydebroflovsky7905
i discovered them through the adventures of pete and pete, but im glad i looked into them i really like them