One night, armed with a borrowed 8-track and locked inside their warehouse with friend Cam Loeppky, they proceeded to record a demo tape of original songs. Their friends (Sinisa and Darcy) loved it, but no one else cared.
One fall night in 1995, they played a festival in Winnipeg. A certain Mr. Peter Jenner, the infamous manager of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, The Clash, and recently Billy Bragg, was in attendance. "These lads are pretty good," he was heard saying.
Then things started to happen. A local show with the wonderful Smugglers that summer eventually led to our joining the Mint Records family in March of 1996.
Their first album Smash the Ships and Raise the Beams (recorded by Darryl Neudorf in Vancouver) was released in September, 1996, and eventually climbed to #2 on the Canadian College charts. They toured Canada numerous times, and down through the States in early 1997. They even made it to Europe with Huevos Rancheros in early 1998.
A second album The Cons and the Pros (recorded by Brendann McGuire in Toronto) was released in May of 1998, and climbed to #1 on the Canadian College charts. That summer they toured Canada with The Weakerthans and Plumtree. Angus Kirkpatrick joined them on second bass for their next tour in the fall of 1998, during which they played with the Archers of Loaf in Toronto and Montreal. In the spring of 1999, they (including Angus) returned to Europe with The Hi-Fives for a fun-filled, six-week tour.
Choke Or Swallow
Duotang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause everything's gold
Not black or purple
I haven't seen anything like this
Since I was just sixteen
I decide that she's the one who blows my mind
She's the one who always blows my mind
'Cause everyone's gone, but you're still back on my side
I don't believe that things should be like this
'Cause I've never facing
I decide that she's the one who blows my mind
She's the one who always blows my mind
Choke or swallow
'Cause everyone drops the ball
Everyone drops the ball
It always seems so easy when I'm alone
When I'm alone
Shine like a star
'Cause everything's gold
Not black not purple
I haven't seen anything like this
Since I was just sixteen
I decide that she's the one who blows my mind
That she's the one who always blows my mind
Choke or swallow
It doesn't mean much at all
Doesn't mean much at all
But everything sounds brilliant when I'm alone
'Cause everyone drops the ball
Everyone drops the ball
It always seems so easy when I'm
When I'm alone
The lyrics of Duotang's song "Choke or Swallow" seem to describe the feelings of being lost and alone. The opening line "Shine like a star, 'cause everything's gold, not black or purple" suggests a feeling of being on top of the world, but the following lines "I haven't seen anything like this since I was just sixteen" and "Blind inside, 'cause everyone's gone" paint a picture of feeling lost and isolated. The repetition of the line "She's the one who always blows my mind" suggests that the singer may be seeking comfort in a specific person, possibly a lover or friend.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Choke or swallow, 'cause everyone drops the ball", which can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be a metaphor for taking risks or making decisions, with the singer acknowledging that everyone is bound to make mistakes. Alternatively, it could refer to feeling overwhelmed and choosing to either confront a difficult situation ("choke") or avoid it ("swallow"). The final lines "It always seems so easy when I'm alone" suggest that the singer may often feel more confident or in control when they are by themselves.
Overall, the lyrics of "Choke or Swallow" paint a picture of someone who is feeling lost and uncertain, but also seeking comfort and stability. The repetition of certain phrases hints at a cycle of feeling confident and then getting knocked down again, but the overall tone of the song is not overly pessimistic.
Line by Line Meaning
Shine like a star
I feel like I'm shining and everything is going well for me
'Cause everything's gold
Everything I'm experiencing feels really good and special
Not black or purple
Things aren't dark or confusing, they're clear and vibrant
I haven't seen anything like this
This experience is so unique and amazing that it's unlike anything I've ever seen before
Since I was just sixteen
It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of excitement
I decide that she's the one who blows my mind
I realize that this person is truly special and has a very strong effect on me
She's the one who always blows my mind
She consistently has a powerful and positive impact on my thoughts and emotions
Blind inside
I'm not seeing things objectively or fully understanding the situation
'Cause everyone's gone, but you're still back on my side
Everyone else has deserted me, but this person is still here to support me
I don't believe that things should be like this
I don't think this situation is fair or right
'Cause I've never facing
Because I've never been in this type of situation before
Choke or swallow
I have a choice to either let this experience overwhelm and hurt me or to handle it and move on
'Cause everyone drops the ball
People tend to make mistakes and let others down
It always seems so easy when I'm alone
It's easier to handle challenges when I'm not around other people
Choke or swallow
I have another opportunity to make a decision about how to handle this experience
It doesn't mean much at all
Neither choice has a significant impact on the outcome of the situation
But everything sounds brilliant when I'm alone
I tend to have a more optimistic view of things when I'm not with other people
'Cause everyone drops the ball
People always seem to disappoint or let me down
Everyone drops the ball
People are not perfect and make mistakes
It always seems so easy when I'm
It's easier to deal with things when I'm alone or have time to myself
Contributed by Nolan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.