Initially, Garbage was an informal jam session between the three producers held in Marker's basement. Steve Marker saw the music video of "Suffocate Me" by Angelfish on MTV, recorded it and showcased it to his band mates. They invited the Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson to join Garbage, she accepted, and soon Angelfish disbanded. According to Vig, Garbage was named before Manson joined the band, after the percussionist Pauli Ryan walked in while Vig was working on a remix for Nine Inch Nails and said it sounded like "garbage".
In August 1995, the group released their debut album Garbage, preceded by their first single "Vow" in March 1995. This album was an unexpected smash, selling over 5 million copies and reaching double platinum status in the UK (#6), USA (#20), Australia. Also it received great reviews from critics and featured on the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die." They released five singles from this album: "Vow", "Only Happy When It Rains", "Queer", "Stupid Girl", and "Milk". A non-album single entitled "Subhuman" was issued on 7 August 1995.
In 1996, the band released a short-form VHS and Video CD entitled "Garbage Video" (also known as "Home Video"), that included all of Garbage's promotional music videos filmed up until that point.
In 1997, Garbage were nominated at Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Stupid Girl", Best Rock Song for "Stupid Girl". In the same year, the remixed version of "#1 Crush" (original version released in 1996) was included on the multi-platinum movie soundtrack William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Also it was nominated for Best Song From a Movie at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards.
They spent over an year working on their follow-up album Version 2.0, which was released on May 1998 and hit #1 in the UK and #13 in the US. It was supported by six singles: "Push It", "I Think I'm Paranoid", "Special", "When I Grow Up", "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" and "You Look So Fine". The music video of "Push It" featured state of the art effects and it costs over $400,000 to make. Version 2.0 sold over 5 million copies, almost the same as their debut.
In 1999, they performed the theme song to the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. That year, they also contributed the song "When I Grow Up" to the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy. Version 2.0 was nominated at Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, and "Special" was nominated for Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Rock Song.
In October 2001, Garbage issued their third and most pop album beautifulgarbage, preceded by the single "Androgyny" in September 2001. All four singles released ("Androgyny", "Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)", "Breaking Up the Girl" and "Shut Your Mouth") were moderately successful. This album got 6th place at Rolling Stone's Top 10 Albums of The Year. The world tour from October 2001 to November 2002 was affected by Butch's health problems.
The band struggled to remain together and almost split in 2003, before returning with the fourth studio album Bleed Like Me in April 2005, peaking at a career-high #4 in USA. Four singles promoted the album: "Why Do You Love Me", "Sex Is Not the Enemy", "Bleed Like Me", and "Run Baby Run". Garbage cut short their 2005 world tour, and announced an indefinite hiatus, but emphasized it was not a break-up.
In July 2007 the group released a greatest hits album and a DVD entitled Absolute Garbage. The compilation featured a selection of their singles, a new single "Tell Me Where It Hurts" (#50 UK), and a remixed version of "It's All Over But the Crying" (the limited edition had also a remixes disc). The DVD included most of their music videos and a documentary related to the band.
In 2008 a new track called "Witness to Your Love" was issued on a charity compilation in the USA. Shirley Manson recorded a solo album but her label refused to release it considering it to be "too noir". In the same year she started to play a regular role on US TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
According to a post from Shirley's Facebook profile, the band returned back to studio in 2010. On 14 May 2012, Garbage released their fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People. The album was supported by the singles "Blood For Poppies", "Battle in Me", "Automatic Systematic Habit" and "Big Bright World".
On June 10th 2016, Garbage released their 6th album "Strange Little Birds".
Wicked Ways
Garbage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Acted like a lunatic for years
Lord knows I try to be good
I'd keep my promises if only I could
You count your blessings that I can't rely on you
[Chorus]
And I tried [Repeat: x4]
Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Pray to God for love and hope
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Bolt the door down, keep it shut
I've done things I never thought I'd do
Sure it helps to lose myself in you
A little time and I'll be all right
c'mon sugar let's go out tonight
Forgive your trespasses
And all that we've been through
[Chorus: x2]
Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Pray to God for love and hope
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Bolt the door down, keep it shut
That sinking feeling
When you are leaving
All I believed in
Walks out my door
I tried hard to mend my wicked ways
The damage's done, there's nothing left to save
[Chorus]
And I tried [Repeat: x3]
Clutch your pictures of the Pope
(just like I told you)
Pray to God for love and hope
(just like I warned you)
Bring the Virgin home for luck
(just like I told you)
Bolt the door down, keep it shut
(just like I warned you).
In Garbage's song "Wicked Ways," the singer begins by acknowledging their past shortcomings and their failed attempts at redemption. The opening lyrics reveal an individual who has struggled with "wicked ways," acting like a "lunatic" for years. Despite a sincere desire to be good and keep promises, the singer cannot rely on someone else's support. Through the repetition of the chorus, "and I tried," the singer expresses their determination to change and overcome their past wrongdoings.
The song delves into themes of forgiveness, hope, and luck through the mentions of clutching pictures of the Pope, praying to God, bringing the Virgin home, and bolting the door. These acts of faith serve as temporary fixes and ways for the singer to hold onto hope and luck in an uncertain world. The final verse brings a sense of finality to the song, as the singer concludes that the damage is done and that there is nothing left to save.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried hard to mend my wicked ways
I made a strong effort to reform my behavior and correct my mistakes
Acted like a lunatic for years
I behaved erratically and in a way that was harmful to myself and others for a long time
Lord knows I try to be good
I sincerely attempt to behave in a moral and appropriate manner
I'd keep my promises if only I could
I genuinely intend to fulfill my commitments, but sometimes I am unable to do so
You count your blessings that I can't rely on you
You are fortunate that I am not dependent on you, since I have made many mistakes and may not be trustworthy
Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Hold tightly onto symbols of religious faith, authority, and guidance
Pray to God for love and hope
Ask for divine guidance, protection, and emotional support
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Welcome a statue or image of the Virgin Mary as a source of good fortune or charm
Bolt the door down, keep it shut
Lock the door securely and don't let anyone in, possibly due to fear, suspicion, or a desire for privacy
I've done things I never thought I'd do
I have acted in ways that I did not anticipate, and that may have been unethical or harmful
Sure it helps to lose myself in you
I find relief or escape from my problems by focusing on someone or something else, including a romantic partner
A little time and I'll be all right
Given some space and time, I should be able to recover from my difficulties or distress
c'mon sugar let's go out tonight
Let's have some fun or distraction by going out and socializing, possibly as a way of avoiding personal issues or stress
Forgive your trespasses
Ask for forgiveness for your own wrongdoing or errors
And all that we've been through
Consider all the experiences, good and bad, that have shaped a relationship or situation
That sinking feeling
The sense of defeat, sadness, or dread that can occur in difficult or disappointing situations
When you are leaving
The emotions that arise when someone departs or ends a relationship
All I believed in
The ideas, values, or goals that someone had before experiencing disillusionment or disappointment
Walks out my door
Is lost or abandoned, causing pain or confusion
The damage's done, there's nothing left to save
The harm or negative consequences of actions are irreversible, and there is no possibility of salvaging the situation
And I tried
Despite challenges or setbacks, I made a sincere effort to improve or resolve problems
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOUGLAS ELWIN ERICKSON, SHIRLEY ANN MANSON, STEVE W. MARKER, BRYAN DAVID VIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind