The band received some mainstream exposure when The Breeders covered their song "Drivin' On 9" on their album Last Splash, and The Presidents of the United States of America covered the eponymous track, "More Bad Times." Ed's Redeeming Qualities also contributed several songs to the soundtrack for the movie Ed's Next Move, a film in which they briefly appeared. Their songs were often funny and strange story-songs or character sketches. Some highlights include Perrotta's "Lawyers and Truckers" and "Lawn Dart," and Dom Leone's "Spoken Word." Though the band has officially broken up, some members of the group still occasionally get together for reunion concerts every few years or so.
After the band's breakup, Carrie Bradley went on to form the band 100 Watt Smile, which released two albums in the late 1990s. Dani Leone went on to form the band Sister Exister, which released its first CD in 2008. Dani Leone also went on to write the "Cheap Eats" column for the San Francisco Bay Guardian under the nom de guerre "L.E. Leone." Jonah Winter and Neno Perrotta went on to writing careers.
The Letter
Ed's Redeeming Qualities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't have to read it
I know what's inside it
It's all good news
You're laughing, you're singing
The mailman keeps bringing
More letters and tables than I can use
The kitchen, our daughter
The time when I caught her
Eating leaves and water
Under the sink
A carrot, my kettle
Some matches, some metal
Your letters, they settle inside of me
Maybe I'll save the stamps and make some tea
The lyrics to Ed's Redeeming Qualities' song 'The Letter' are quite poetic and open to interpretation, but at the surface level, it seems that the singer has received a letter from their loved one, which they can deduce to be filled with positive news without even reading it. This sense of familiarity and connection between the two is reinforced by the mentions of their shared life - the table, the kitchen, their daughter. The singer seems to cherish every small moment with their loved one, from catching their daughter eating leaves and water, to the letters settling inside of them. The song ends on a playful note as the singer contemplates saving the stamps from the letters to make tea.
However, the song's deeper meaning may be about love and companionship, and how even mundane moments between two people can be treasured and meaningful. The mention of the mailman bringing more letters and tables than the singer can use can be interpreted as the overwhelming amount of love and positive emotion shared between the couple.
The song is a beautiful reflection on the simple yet profound moments shared between two people, and how love can bring joy to even the smallest details of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Your letter, the table
I see the letter you left on the table for me
I don't have to read it
I already know what it says before even opening it
I know what's inside it
The letter contains good news that I'm aware of
It's all good news
The letter has a positive message that brightens up my day
You're laughing, you're singing
I can hear the happiness in your voice
The mailman keeps bringing
The mailman delivers numerous letters to me regularly
More letters and tables than I can use
I receive too many letters and there is no need for so many tables
And he keeps telling me there's postage due
The mailman continuously reminds me to pay the postage fees
The kitchen, our daughter
I remember the time spent with our daughter in the kitchen
The time when I caught her
I recall the moment when I saw her doing something mischievous
Eating leaves and water
She was being creative and eating unconventional things
Under the sink
I found her in a surprising and unusual location
A carrot, my kettle
I remember certain objects that hold meaning
Some matches, some metal
Other objects that are memorable and significant to me
Your letters, they settle inside of me
Your letters have an emotional impact on me and leave a lasting impression
Maybe I'll save the stamps and make some tea
I might not throw away the stamps on the letters and instead use them to make tea
Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.