Originally part of short-lived Chicago group I Rowboat, Johnson and two of his fellow Rowboat members, guitarist Dan Strack and drummer Brian Belval, created Fruit Bats as a side-project. When I Rowboat split up, Fruit Bats became Johnson's main focus. Spurred on by Califone/Perishable Records honchos Tim Rutili and Ben Massarella, the group recorded their first album, Echolocation, released in 2001.
After tours with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Modest Mouse and The Shins, Fruit Bats signed with Sub Pop in late summer 2002, recording their second album, 2003's Mouthfuls, which included new bandmate Gillian Lisee.
After relocating to Seattle, the group released their third album, Spelled in Bones, in 2005. Afterward, Eric D. Johnson played with The Shins and Vetiver. In 2008, the Fruit Bats began working together again, with revised membership of Johnson, Christopher Sherman, Ron Lewis, Graeme Gibson, and Sam Wagster. In 2009, they released The Ruminant Band and in 2011 came Tripper.
In November 2013, Eric D. Johnson announced he would be dissolving Fruit Bats. That month they played what was to be their farewell show at a sold out Aladdin Theatre in Portland, OR. The following year Johnson released an album under the name EDJ.
Reforming in 2015, Fruit Bats released their sixth official full-length LP, Absolute Loser, in 2016 via newly formed Los Angeles-based label Easy Sound.
Fruit Bats signed to North Carolina-based independent label Merge Records in 2018. Also in 2018, Johnson formed the folk group Bonny Light Horseman with Josh Kaufman and Anais Mitchell.
In 2019 Fruit Bats’ Merge debut "Gold Past Life" was released.
Fruit Bats’ 2020 album The Pet Parade was produced by Johnson's Bonny Light Horseman bandmate Josh Kaufman.
In 2021, Fruit Bats released a full-album cover of Smashing Pumpkins' 1993 record Siamese Dream.
The Fruit Bats’ double-disc, 20-year career retrospective "Sometimes A Cloud Is Just a Cloud: Slow Growers, Sleeper Hits and Lost Songs" was released in 2022.
Absolute Loser
Fruit Bats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling absolute heartache in the [?] way
So seasick and waiting for the storm to break
An absolute loser on the verge of something great
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
Your long distance drive are coming around the bend
Absolutely broken [?]
An absolute loser on the verge of something new
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to brew
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
In Fruit Bats’ song “Absolute Loser,” the lyrics describe someone who is in a state of despair and heartbreak, but on the brink of a breakthrough. The first verse describes a person who is driving a long distance in a van, feeling the weight of their heartache. They feel sick and are waiting for the storm to break, likely referring to the emotional turmoil they are experiencing. They are an “absolute loser,” but the song suggests that they may be on the verge of something great.
The second verse continues with this theme, describing the person as “absolutely broken” and struggling with conflicting emotions. They are at a crossroads, trying to determine which path to take. Again, they are an “absolute loser,” but the song hints that they may be about to embark on a new journey.
Overall, “Absolute Loser” is a song about the complexities of life and the struggles we all face. It suggests that even in our darkest moments, we may be on the verge of a breakthrough, and that waiting for the storm to pass can be the first step toward something new and better.
Line by Line Meaning
Your long distance van drive [?]
Your long distance drive are coming around the bend
Feeling absolute heartache in the [?] way
Absolutely broken-hearted in every possible way
So seasick and waiting for the storm to break
Feeling ill and waiting for the chaos to subside
An absolute loser on the verge of something great
A total failure on the brink of a major breakthrough
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
Simply waiting for the tumultuous period to come to an end
Your heart's sinking weighing the two sides of you
Feeling miserable as you consider the different sides of your personality
An absolute loser on the verge of something new
A complete failure about to embark on a fresh start
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to brew
Just hanging on as the uncertainty builds
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm
Just enduring the difficult circumstances in anticipation of improvement
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
Just holding out for the rough phase to come to a conclusion
Writer(s): Eric Johnson
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wanderboy561
Your long distance van driving in the waning day
Feeling absolute heartache in the purest way
So seasick and waiting for the storm to break
An absolute loser on the verge of something great
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
[Verse 2]
Your long distance drive are coming around the bend
Absolutely broken in almost every sense
Your heart's sinking weighing the two sides of you
An absolute loser on the verge of something new
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to brew
[Outro]
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm
Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the storm to break
@grogg4372
The Fruit Bats' songs are so honest and beautiful. I found them on some random playlist website many years ago and fell in love. Seriously underrated band.
@michaelleeper3649
I am listening to this and it very much describes my last 16 yrs. It makes me want to hop on 88 and head west to Idaho. Sometimes that storm never breaks and we run from the emptiness. Sometimes we know the storm will never break.
@drewbarton3364
Yeeeah 88 is in California. But yes please stay there and out of Idaho.
@CarlKrammity
I agree, waaayyy too many Californians in Idaho!
@drewbarton3364
Geez calm down, no need to play the dosabled veteran card. Google lied to me! Apparently there's multiple highway 88s in the country, haha.
@ArrowsUpEnt
Saw them in Massachusetts recently. One of the best shows of my life. Got to meet the band after too and they were all super friendly.
@plathrop7737
I saw them in Cambridge MA at T.T. The Bear's during their Ruminant Band tour. Such a great show!
@keitharenas6157
I love discovering little gems like this :)
@S60947
Relating to and resembling this song 🎵 on many levels
@Maestro4262
This song is amazing.