After Tod left his previous group, Cop Shoot Cop, he quickly regrouped and formed Firewater to explore the styles of music Cop Shoot Cop had only hinted at, including klezmer, cabaret, ska, jazz, and gypsy forms. More than one source described the original Firewater lineup as an "indie rock supergroup", based on members such as Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard, Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing, Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, and Hahn Rowe. This original lineup proved unable to tour, and Tod recruited new musicians for the band's first tour. While the lineup has changed over the years, with many different musicians appearing on different albums and tours, Tod remains the singer, songwriter, and bassist of Firewater.
Firewater has released six albums, and has seen some success, especially in Europe and on United States college radio stations.
Their previous album, Songs We Should Have Written, is a collection of cover songs. It includes songs written by Robyn Hitchcock, The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black" reinterpreted as a crawlingly slow raga which "shove(s) a few downers down the song's throat to counter the original version's adrenaline-fueled fire" ), and a "dark and sweet" take of Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On", described as "10 times more ominous and 20 times more pleasurable" than the original. The album also includes a modern rendition of the Johnny Cash anthem "Folsom Prison Blues".
Their latest album, The Golden Hour, has been recorded with various local musicians and friends when Tod A went on sabbatical and travelled through Thailand, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey and Israel. The record was released May 6 in 2008. The band is currently (October, 2008) touring in support of the album.
7th Avenue Static
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the light of a cold television
And I remember the boss in his uniform
As he marched from the field of vision
Well he didn't come home and it was just us alone
The brat and the widowed civilian
Then one April night after Ma took her life
And I took what the dumpsters were giving
And I did my best to survive
'Cause I figured that life's for the living
While you're alive
While you're alive
Bring out the gin and the small violins
I'm a raging success as a failure
And it's colder than hell in this cardboard hotel
Which I share with a chronic embezzler
So I beat my retreat down collister street
To one of my holy places
And they tangled my wings with wire and string
But I'm spinning in a whirlpool of faces
And I'll take what the dumpsters are giving
And I'll do my best to survive
'Cause I still think that life's for the living
Yes I still think that life's for the living
And I'll take what the dumpsters are giving
And I'll pray every night to St. Giles
But I still think that life's for the living
At least for a while
At least for a while
The lyrics to Firewater's song "7th Avenue Static" speak to the struggles of living on the fringes of society, dealing with poverty, addiction and the loss of loved ones. The song begins with the reference to Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, comparing it to the struggles of the singer who was born and raised in a difficult environment. The cold television light refers to the lack of warmth and comfort in his early life, while the boss in uniform reminds us of the harsh realities that the working class face.
After the loss of his mother, the singer falls into a life of desperation, surviving on what he can find in the dumpsters. The line "I'm a raging success as a failure" implies that the singer has come to terms with his life and is finding small moments of success despite his circumstances. The phrase "colder than hell in this cardboard hotel" paints a picture of the stark conditions the singer is living in, which he shares with a fellow criminal.
The singer seeks solace in his "holy places", but is ultimately still trapped in a life of desperation. He continues to "take what the dumpsters are giving" and prays to St. Giles for guidance. The repetition of the line "I still think that life's for the living" emphasizes the resilience and determination of the singer, as he continues to believe in the value of life despite his struggles.
Overall, the lyrics speak to the human ability to survive and persevere in the face of adversity. They also make a commentary on the struggles of those living in poverty and the need for empathy and understanding towards those facing such challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Wear the crown made of thorns on the day I was born
From the day I was born, my life has been full of suffering and pain, like wearing a crown made of thorns.
By the light of a cold television
I grew up in front of a television, feeling alone and distanced.
And I remember the boss in his uniform
I remember my dad leaving for work every day, wearing his uniform and being strict.
As he marched from the field of vision
As he walked away, he faded from my view and my life.
Well he didn't come home and it was just us alone
My dad never came back home, and it was just me and my mom left.
The brat and the widowed civilian
We were struggling alone, me being a brat and my mom a widow.
Then one April night after Ma took her life
One April night, my mom couldn't handle it anymore and took her own life.
I fell down the street to oblivion
After my mom died, I fell down into despair, feeling lost and hopeless.
And I took what the dumpsters were giving
I started living off what I found in dumpsters, trying to make ends meet.
And I did my best to survive
I did whatever I could to survive in a harsh world without any support.
'Cause I figured that life's for the living
I thought that if I am still alive, then I should embrace life and do what I can with it.
While you're alive
As long as you're breathing, you still have a chance to make something of yourself.
Bring out the gin and the small violins
My life was full of failures and disappointments, but let's forget about that and get drunk.
I'm a raging success as a failure
I've come to terms with the fact that I may never succeed at anything, but at least I'm succeeding at failing.
And it's colder than hell in this cardboard hotel
I'm living in a cheap, rundown hotel room that's cold and miserable.
Which I share with a chronic embezzler
To make things worse, I have to share this terrible place with a person who steals money.
So I beat my retreat down collister street
I retreat to a familiar place when things get tough.
To one of my holy places
This place is meaningful to me and helps me find comfort.
And they tangled my wings with wire and string
But even in this place, I feel trapped and unable to find my way out.
But I'm spinning in a whirlpool of faces
I'm surrounded by people, but still feel completely alone.
And I'll pray every night to St. Giles
I turn to my faith and pray for guidance and help.
But I still think that life's for the living
Despite everything, I still believe that life is worth living and there is a purpose.
At least for a while
For now, I'll keep going and see where life takes me, one day at a time.
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH
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