The core of Geggy Tah comprises Greg Kurstin and Tommy Jordan. Each of them has a younger sister who was unable to pronounce her brother's name when very young; "Geggy" and "Tah" were the baby girls' mispronunciations of their brother's names.
Geggy Tah's first release, Grand Opening, appeared in 1994 on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label. For their 1996 release Sacred Cow, they added drummer Daren Hahn to the lineup. Also on Luaka Bop, the album spawned the hit single "Whoever You Are." The song appeared in a Mercedes commercial circa 2001.
In 1999, the band announced a new album entitled Music Inspired by The Fragrance, and released two songs ("Space Heater" and "Sweat") on the web in mp3 format. However (in part because of Luaka Bop's move from Warner Brothers to Virgin Records) the album went unreleased until 2001, by which point it had acquired a new title: Into The Oh.
Crack Of Dawn
Geggy Tah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
This is the age of
The age of illusion
The age of addiction
Addicted to you
Ma ma ma mama
I can't suck a cupped bra -
Ambles in my lips
Say nothing at all
Mmmmmmmmmmmama mia
I am addicted
To my mama's milk
And my mama is
Addicted to snow
I am addicted
To my mama's milk
And my mama is
Addicted to snow
It's kind of like
Mary had a little lamb
As white as snow
And anywhere Mary went
The little lamb was sure to go
It's kind of like the N.D.N.
Doesn't want you to know
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary never made love
But she made a baby
Smothered in white milk
Up into her nose
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little problem
I am addicted to the Crack of Dawn
I am addicted to the Crack of Dawn
I am addicted to the Crack of Dawn
I am addicted, addicted to you
The lyrics to Geggy Tah's song "Crack of Dawn" are a mixture of playful, nonsensical phrases and darker, more mysterious concepts. The repeated phrase "Mary had a little lamb" is a well-known nursery rhyme, but when paired with the subsequent line "Mary had a little problem," it takes on a new meaning. The repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that Mary's problem is ongoing and unresolved. The later line "Mary never made love, but she made a baby, smothered in white milk up into her nose" adds to the sense of unease surrounding Mary's situation.
The second half of the song introduces the concept of addiction, with the line "This is the age of addiction, addicted to you." The singer here seems to be addressing a person or perhaps a substance they are addicted to. The reference to mama's milk and snow as addictive substances further adds to the song's surreal, dreamlike quality.
The final repetition of "I am addicted to the Crack of Dawn" brings the song full circle, with the nursery rhyme-like quality of the opening lines returning. The phrase "Crack of Dawn" suggests a hopeful beginning or renewal after a long night, but the underlying theme of addiction and unresolved problems leaves the listener with a lingering sense of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary had a little lamb
Repetition of the first line to set the tone of the song.
Mary had a little problem
Acknowledgement of issues that people face in their everyday lives.
This is the age of
Introducing a theme around the current societal norms.
The age of illusion
People tend to believe what they see, irrespective of its veracity.
The age of addiction
We are addicted to multiple things, be it tangible or intangible.
Addicted to you
Being addicted to the thought of pleasing someone you love.
Ma ma ma mama
Making a reference to mothers.
I can't suck a cupped bra -
It's difficult to get milk out of a cupped bra.
Ambles in my lips
Milk that has trickled down the face.
Say nothing at all
No action of yours will be able to explain the relationship between you and your mother.
Mmmmmmmmmmmama mia
Expressing affection for mothers.
I am addicted
Reinforcing the theme of addiction.
To my mama's milk
Drawing an analogy of addiction to milk just like any other addiction.
And my mama is
Highlighting the idea that addiction might be transferred from one generation to another.
Addicted to snow
Addiction to snow is a metaphor to explain the predicament.
It's kind of like
Drawing a comparison between dependency and Mary's lamb.
As white as snow
Metaphor for purity and innocence.
And anywhere Mary went
The addiction follows everywhere.
The little lamb was sure to go
Willful ignorance towards the severity of the situation.
It's kind of like the N.D.N.
The N.D.N. is used as a metaphor for the society's outlook towards addiction.
Doesn't want you to know
People don't seem to care and would rather keep it under the wraps.
Mary never made love
Indicating towards a lack of intimacy, with emphasis on milk.
But she made a baby
Implies that a child was born without any physical intimacy.
Smothered in white milk
White symbolizes purity and virginity.
Up into her nose
Indicating towards oral feeding.
I am addicted to the Crack of Dawn
A metaphorical reference of the person's addiction to something pure and fresh.
I am addicted, addicted to you
The main protagonist's addiction to the one they love.
Contributed by Juliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joel Johnson
on Whoever You Are
This song is so catchy, so great in every way. This song can NEVER get old.