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.
Some Velvet Morning
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna open up your gate
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she made it in
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers growing on the hill
Learn from us very much
Look at us but do not touch
Phaedra is my name
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
I'm gonna open up your gate
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she made it in
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers are the things we knew
Secrets are the things we grew
Learn from us very much
Look at us but do not touch
Phaedra is my name
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
Flowers growing on the hill
I'm gonna open up your gate
Dragonflies and daffodils
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
Learn from us very much
And how she gave me life
Look at us but do not touch
And how she made it in
The lyrics to Firewater's song Some Velvet Morning are intriguing and somewhat enigmatic. The song begins with "Some velvet morning when I'm straight, I'm gonna open up your gate", which could be interpreted as a reference to a drug-induced hallucination or an altered state of consciousness. The line also hints at the idea of a journey or a quest, perhaps to reach a higher ideal or to discover something new.
The next lines refer to Phaedra, a name that has several mythological and literary connotations. Phaedra was a Greek goddess associated with the moon, as well as the legendary queen of Athens who fell in love with her stepson. In literature, Phaedra has been portrayed as a tragic figure, tormented by irresistible passions and doomed to ruin. In the context of the song, Phaedra could represent a muse or a source of creative inspiration, a force that brings new life and vitality.
The rest of the lyrics paint a picture of a idyllic landscape filled with flowers, dragonflies, and daffodils. The lines "Learn from us very much, look at us but do not touch" suggest a desire to preserve and respect the natural world, and perhaps a warning against the dangers of overreaching or exploiting it. The repetition of Phaedra's name throughout the song adds to the sense of mystery and otherworldliness, hinting at a deeper meaning or hidden message.
Line by Line Meaning
Some velvet morning when I'm straight
When I am sober and clear-minded, I will reveal my intentions
I'm gonna open up your gate
I will gain access to your inner-world
And maybe tell you 'bout Phaedra
Perhaps I will share the tale of Phaedra
And how she gave me life
And how she profoundly transformed me
And how she made it in
And how she succeeded in her pursuits
Flowers growing on the hill
Nature is lush and thriving around us
Dragonflies and daffodils
Insects and plants decorate the environment
Learn from us very much
Observe and gain insight from our way of being
Look at us but do not touch
Observe from a distance without intervening
Phaedra is my name
I identify with the power and transcendence Phaedra represents
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andreea M.B.
Great cover! Probably the best version out there.
Joe Postove
Excellent. Pretty close to the top of the covers.
Lee Hazelwood will forever be the king.
Rob
So much better than other covers I’ve heard! Thx for raising the bar!
James Eppard
Love this cover of this song.
Daniel Tittyfish
i love the sound of that echoplex, always wanted one of those.......
B Hart
love this version! Hoping to cover soon :-)
Dillinger86
What a beautiful song
ian ethan vloke-wurth
Interesting version of this song
Dillinger86
@jazzadezz thank you, I was thinking this was older, I used to hear this song when I was like 6 years old my mom played in her record player.
Tamara Coburn
Oh, I think there is plenty of CREEPINESS here!!!