After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Pocahontas
Everclear Lyrics
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The icy sky at night
Our paddles break the water
In a long and hurried flight
From the white man and the fields of green
And the homeland we've never seen
They killed us in our tepee
They might have left some babies
Cryin' on the ground
But the big guns and the wagon wheels come
Yes, and the night falls on the setting sun
They massacred the buffalo
Kitty corner from the bank
The taxis run across my feet
And my eyes have turned to blanks
In my little room at the top of the stairs
With an Indian rug and a pipe to share
I wish a was a trapper
I would give thousand pelts
To sleep with Pocahontas
And to find out how she felt
In the morning on the fields of green
In the homeland we've never seen
Yes and maybe Marlon Brando
Will be there by the fire
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood
And the good things there for hire
And the astro-dome and the first tepee
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
Pocahontas
Everclear's "Pocahontas" is a song about the mistreatment, genocide, and decimation of the indigenous people of America. The lyrics paint a picture of the Native American's struggle to survive, and the artist uses Pocahontas as a symbol of their perseverance through it all. The first verse mentions the Aurora Borealis and the icy sky at night, suggesting the setting to be somewhere north, perhaps Canada. The second line mentions paddles breaking water, suggesting a river or lake setting, and we are told that the native people are on the run from the white man and the fields of green. These fields of green may refer to the crops that the white people were planting, pushing the Native Americans out of their homeland.
The second verse speaks of the massacres and genocide that the indigenous people were subjected to. It points out that they were killed in their tepee, and their women were cut down. It also places emphasis on the killing of the buffalo, which was a major source of food for the Native Americans. The third verse is a longing for a simpler life, one of a trapper, and the desire to sleep with Pocahontas. The verse mentions the possibility of Marlon Brando being around the fire and the astro-dome, which could represent the stereotypical American dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Aurora borealis
The natural phenomenon of polar lights that appears in the sky at night
The icy sky at night
The cold and dark sky illuminated by the aurora borealis
Our paddles break the water
We are frantically rowing to escape from danger
In a long and hurried flight
We are fleeing quickly and without rest
From the white man and the fields of green
We are running away from the settlers and their cultivated lands
And the homeland we've never seen
We are being forced to leave our native land that we've never fully experienced
They killed us in our tepee
The settlers attacked us in our home
They cut our women down
The attackers were merciless, killing women and children as well
They might have left some babies
Some infants may have survived, but there is no hope for them
Cryin' on the ground
The babies are left helpless and alone, crying in the aftermath of the massacre
But the big guns and the wagon wheels come
The settlers came with superior weapons and transportation, overpowering us
Yes, and the night falls on the setting sun
After the massacre and our escape, the darkness of night envelops us as we continue to flee
They massacred the buffalo
The settlers also hunted and killed large numbers of buffalo, devastating our way of life
Kitty corner from the bank
The location of the buffalo massacre
The taxis run across my feet
The contrasting image of modern urban life intruding upon the dream
And my eyes have turned to blanks
The artist feels disillusioned and disconnected from reality
In my little room at the top of the stairs
The artist is isolated and alone in a small space
With an Indian rug and a pipe to share
The singer takes solace in a few traditional objects from their native culture
I wish a was a trapper
The singer longs for a simpler, more natural way of life
I would give thousand pelts
The artist would trade their current way of life for a survival-based existence
To sleep with Pocahontas
The artist desires to be intimate with someone who truly understands their culture and way of life
And to find out how she felt
The artist wants to know how Pocahontas truly feels about the recent events and the loss of their native way of life
In the morning on the fields of green
The singer imagines a peaceful paradise in which they can rest and enjoy the natural world
Yes and maybe Marlon Brando
The artist fantasizes about being joined by a Hollywood celebrity
Will be there by the fire
The singer imagines a cozy and intimate gathering around the fire
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood
The singer and Marlon Brando will share stories of their vastly different worlds
And the good things there for hire
The singer is envious of Hollywood's wealth and success
And the astro-dome and the first tepee
The artist envisions a strange mashup of modern and traditional dwellings and cultural experiences
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
The artist imagines an unlikely but exotic trio, coming together to share their unique experiences and find some common ground
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
The singer reiterates their surreal dream
Pocahontas
The titular character serves as a symbolic representation of the singer's desire for connection and understanding within their own culture
Lyrics © Silver Fiddle, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind