Eugene Kelly formed The Vaselines in 1986 with Frances McKee and was a member until 1990 when the band split up. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was a fan of the band and two covers of songs by The Vaselines were included on their Incesticide album.
In 1990 Kelly formed another band called Captain America but was forced to change the name after an objection from the company Marvel Comics, the band then became known as Eugenius. He has had a number of collaborations with Evan Dando of The Lemonheads and in 2003 Eugene released a solo album, Man Alive.
In 2006, he toured with Isobel Campbell, replacing Mark Lanegan when performing songs from Ballad of the Broken Seas, and supporting Mogwai, as well, as in Madrid on October 1, 2006.
Dear John
Eugene Kelly Lyrics
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Wash all this poor shit away
Rock on with the power of the Ganges
Destroy a Starbucks today
When progress is brewing along with corporate coffee stewing
Then hang on to your hat
At the choice beyond the mat
We need someone to save us
Mother Nature help us now
Dear John some day there's going to come a river
Wash all this poor shit away
Rock on with the power of the Ganges
Destroy a Starbucks today
Philistines and caffeine freaks
Buy your fix on any street
So why do you make it mine
We shall invoke a mighty rage to wash away
This west end place
Now let the water rise
We need someone to save us
Mother Nature help us now
(chorus)
Undress yourself, immerse yourself
Come in yeah the water's fine
Undress yourself, immerse yourself
Come in yeah the water's fine
(chorus)
The song Dear John by Eugene Kelly is a protest song that targets the rampant commercialization and globalization that are destroying the environment and local businesses. The lyrics express a sentiment of frustration and desperation, as the singer imagines a future where a powerful river will come and wash away all the "poor shit" that is plaguing the society. He suggests that the Ganges, a river that holds spiritual significance in Hinduism, can provide the power necessary to destroy a Starbucks, a symbol of corporate greed and homogenization.
The lyrics also criticize the "progress" that is taking place at the cost of the environment and local culture. The singer laments how even the books that people read have become "franchise paperback" that are indistinguishable from each other, and how the choices available to them are limited to what is "beyond the mat." The song ends with a call for nature to save us from ourselves, and an invitation to immerse oneself in the water and participate in the cleansing that is to come.
In essence, Dear John is a song that speaks to the growing disillusionment many people feel about the state of the world, and their longing for a simpler, more authentic way of living. By invoking the power of nature and the metaphor of water, Kelly suggests that there is still hope for change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear John some day there's going to come a river
There will be a time when a strong force of nature will wash away our troubles
Wash all this poor shit away
It will cleanse and purify our souls
Rock on with the power of the Ganges
Continue to fight for what you believe in with the strength of a great river
Destroy a Starbucks today
Take action against corporate greed
When progress is brewing along with corporate coffee stewing
As society advances, so do corrupt practices
Then hang on to your hat
Prepare to face difficult challenges
Fiction swapped for franchise paperback for surprise
Society often chooses convenience over quality
At the choice beyond the mat
While options may seem limited, there are always alternatives
We need someone to save us
As individuals, we are not capable of overcoming all obstacles
Mother Nature help us now
We must rely on the earth to heal and restore balance
Philistines and caffeine freaks
Those who blindly follow societal norms
Buy your fix on any street
They will conform to societal pressures no matter the cost
So why do you make it mine
They should not force their choices onto others
We shall invoke a mighty rage to wash away
We must unleash our passions to enact positive change
This west end place
The corrupted society we live in
Now let the water rise
Allow the force of nature to take over
Undress yourself, immerse yourself, come in yeah the water's fine
Remove societal pressures and embrace the flow of nature
Contributed by Eliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.