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.
Tropical Depression
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was doing double nickels on the dime
Dreaming of a tropical and lazy clime
But I couldn't let go
I came, I saw, I tried
In the capital of greed and empty pride
You know I kept my nature locked so far inside
The doctor said I had tropical depression
And the pressure's dropping now
But you know tropical depression
Never brings me down
I really couldn't take the cold, the grey
The slow execution of the days
That dragged along with every tick of the clock
That watched me die to put a check in the box
It seemed that I was always cold and low on cash
I had to make a bold decision fast
The moment I had stolen it had passed
Many moons ago
They diagnosed me with tropical depression
All the palm trees waving round
But you know tropical depression
Well it never brings me down
Storm waters washing all my worries out the door
The wind always knows which way to blow...
Maybe you're dreaming of the sun, the sand, the sin
And the see your wrinkled skin from high above
As you're descending from the black and angry cloud
Into a different day
HST says the race goes not to the swift nor the battle to the strong
But only to those who can fake their way along
And see the time to get out of the way
Well now you know I got tropical depression
As the waves begin to pound
When you got tropical depression
Well you're nowhere to be found
I got tropical depression
As the rain runs down my back
They say it's looking like tropical depression
And I'm never going back
The song "Tropical Depression" by Firewater speaks to the idea of being stuck in a life that does not fulfill one's dreams and desires, and the struggles that come with trying to break free from that life. The singer's admission of their tropical depression refers to the longing for a different kind of life, one with sun, sand, and warmth, and the frustration and depression that come from feeling trapped in a cold, grey reality. The contrast between the original image of "doing double nickels on the dime" and the slow execution of their days speaks to the feeling of being suffocated by a mundane existence.
Through the song, Firewater's lead singer hints at the difficulties of trying to break free from this monotonous existence. On one hand, they feel compelled to keep their nature locked away, in order to fit in and keep moving forward with their daily routine. On the other hand, letting go of this restrictive mindset is essential to moving past the depression and into a life that allows for more opportunities and experiences. The waves and rain are symbolic of the change that must happen, even though it may be overwhelming at times.
In summary, "Tropical Depression" speaks to the struggle of breaking free from a rigid and unfulfilling life, and the emotional toll it takes to make that shift. However, there is a sense of hope, as the singer acknowledges the power of the ocean and the freedom that comes with being in touch with nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
At a point in the past
I was doing double nickels on the dime
I was driving at 55mph and thinking deeply
Dreaming of a tropical and lazy clime
Wishing for a warm and relaxing environment
But I couldn't let go
Unable to release the dream
I came, I saw, I tried
I attempted to experience it
In the capital of greed and empty pride
In a place known for selfishness and arrogance
You know I kept my nature locked so far inside
I concealed my true self
'Til I had to let go
Until I had to expose myself
The doctor said I had tropical depression
A medical professional diagnosed me with depression related to wanting a tropical environment
And the pressure's dropping now
My mood is decreasing
But you know tropical depression
But the depression related to longing for a tropical environment
Never brings me down
Is not causing me to feel worse
I really couldn't take the cold, the grey
I disliked the low temperature and dull colors
The slow execution of the days
The monotonous pace of time
That dragged along with every tick of the clock
That moved slowly with each second
That watched me die to put a check in the box
That led me to feel as if I was only working towards fulfilling obligations
It seemed that I was always cold and low on cash
I consistently felt the temperature was too low and was always struggling with financial resources
I had to make a bold decision fast
I quickly decided to make a daring move
The moment I had stolen it had passed
The opportunity I took advantage of was already gone
Many moons ago
A long time in the past
They diagnosed me with tropical depression
Professionals determined my condition was depression related to longing for a tropical environment
All the palm trees waving round
The sight of palm trees moving in the wind
But you know tropical depression
But the depression related to longing for a tropical environment
Well it never brings me down
Is not causing me to feel worse
Storm waters washing all my worries out the door
Rain helping me to release my worries
The wind always knows which way to blow...
The wind often brings positive change
Maybe you're dreaming of the sun, the sand, the sin
Perhaps you dream of warm weather, sandy beaches, and hedonism
And the see your wrinkled skin from high above
And realizing how aged you look from a vantage point
As you're descending from the black and angry cloud
As you leave a metaphorical dark and negative situation
Into a different day
Into a new, better period of time
HST says the race goes not to the swift nor the battle to the strong
Hunter S. Thompson said that success is not always achieved by those who are the fastest or the most powerful
But only to those who can fake their way along
Those who can convincingly pretend to belong can also succeed
And see the time to get out of the way
Knowing when to avoid problems is valuable
Well now you know I got tropical depression
I have depression related to longing for a tropical environment
As the waves begin to pound
As the tide becomes aggressive
When you got tropical depression
When experiencing depression related to longing for a tropical environment
Well you're nowhere to be found
The person with it is absent
I got tropical depression
I have depression related to longing for a tropical environment
As the rain runs down my back
As the rain flows down my body
They say it's looking like tropical depression
Others think I have depression related to longing for a tropical environment
And I'm never going back
And I will not return to it
Contributed by Anthony P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.