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.
Glitter Days
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your night is a prison full of ghosts
The things that will kill you are always the ones you love the most
My life is a toothache
My head is a suitcase full of dust
It's tough to trust anyone when there's no one you can trust
Temptation dangles like a noose of gold
Though all of the love we shared is like static on the radio
Rain's falling like teardrops
Can't you the feel the winter in your throat?
Cold cash in the freezer and a bottle in your coat
Look in the cracks in the mirror
Fractures are reflected in your face
Like lines on a roadmap to a cold and lonely place
But our glitter days are coming soon
Temptation dangles like a noose of gold
Though all of the love we shared is like static on the radio
Radio
Words empty as churches
Plans are broken bottles on the beach
The future we're looking for is still so far out of reach
Script lying unwritten
Ah, maybe we'll be forgiven in the end
Until then this mercy tender is all we've got to spend
But our glitter days are coming soon
Temptation dangles like a noose of gold
Though all of the love we shared is like static on the radio
Radio
Our glitter days are coming soon
Temptation dangles like a noose of gold
Though all of the love we shared is like static on the radio
Radio
The lyrics in this song paint a bleak picture of the struggles and pain of everyday life, but with a glimmer of hope for better days to come. The first verse describes the contrast between day and night and how both can be difficult to navigate. The line "The things that will kill you are always the ones you love the most" suggests that sometimes our greatest weaknesses come from the things we care about the most. The second verse speaks to the singer's own struggles, describing a life filled with pain and distrust.
However, the chorus brings a sense of optimism with the phrase "our glitter days are coming soon." It acknowledges the temptation and danger that exist, but still holds onto hope for a brighter future. The line "all of the love we shared is like static on the radio" suggests that even though love may have been present in the past, it now feels distant and hard to make out. The final verse acknowledges the broken plans and uncertain future, but hopes for eventual forgiveness and tender mercy to guide them through.
Overall, the song captures the struggles of everyday life while still holding onto hope for better days to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Your day is a train wreck
Your life is in shambles and you can't seem to catch a break.
Your night is a prison full of ghosts
When night falls, you're haunted by your past mistakes and regrets.
The things that will kill you are always the ones you love the most
It's often the things we love and are attached to that can lead to our downfall.
My life is a toothache
My life is a constant source of pain and discomfort.
My head is a suitcase full of dust
My mind is cluttered and full of useless thoughts and memories.
It's tough to trust anyone when there's no one you can trust
When you've been let down and betrayed so many times, it's hard to believe in anyone anymore.
But our glitter days are coming soon
Despite our struggles, there is still hope for better days ahead.
Temptation dangles like a noose of gold
The things that lure us into bad decisions often appear attractive and promising, but can ultimately lead to our downfall.
Though all of the love we shared is like static on the radio
Even though there was once love and connection between us, it now feels distant and hard to tune into.
Rain's falling like teardrops
The rain feels like a reflection of the sadness and despair within.
Can't you feel the winter in your throat?
The cold and harshness of the world feels suffocating and overwhelming.
Cold cash in the freezer and a bottle in your coat
Sometimes we turn to vices and material possessions to numb our pain and escape reality.
Look in the cracks in the mirror
When we examine ourselves closely, we see our flaws and imperfections.
Fractures are reflected in your face
The challenges and struggles we've faced are visible in the lines and marks on our face.
Like lines on a roadmap to a cold and lonely place
Our past experiences have led us down a path of isolation and emotional detachment.
Words empty as churches
Promises and assurances are often hollow and don't hold true.
Plans are broken bottles on the beach
Our plans and goals often end up shattered and scattered, like broken glass on the shoreline.
The future we're looking for is still so far out of reach
Even though we strive for a better future, it still feels distant and intangible.
Script lying unwritten
Our story and future is unwritten and uncertain.
Ah, maybe we'll be forgiven in the end
Perhaps despite our mistakes and shortcomings, we can still find redemption and forgiveness.
Until then this mercy tender is all we've got to spend
We can only hope for mercy and kindness in the present moment.
Radio
Repeated throughout the song, perhaps to emphasize the feeling of disconnection and static in our relationships and experiences.
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.