Joyner and Widmer were formerly of the band The Eames Era, which took its name from the furniture designed by Charles and Ray Eames.
Subsequent albums are Alix (released September 16, 2014), Reader as Detective (released July 19, 2019)
Spinoza
Generationals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said in a whisper to myself
I tried to get your attention
You said it doesn't matter
I could not remember
I took a hammer to my health
I cursed the walls around me
My big tom and guitar
Remember all of those crowded bars
Driving on snowy mountain tops
Maybe skating or maybe stopped
Over time, you might look back
At what you might have said
Over time, you might look back
At what you might have said
Holding on to what you used to be
You got your name, your got your name
Caught your reflection in the stop window
Can't you see your world is crumbling in the melted snow
Holding on to no one
Holding on to nothing
Don't deny it happened
Don't deny me no
The song "Spinoza" by Generationals is about the struggle of holding onto the past and trying to cope with the present. The lyrics depict a sense of confusion and desperation as the singer attempts to remember something that has slipped away from their memory. The line "I tried to get your attention, you said it doesn't matter" suggests that the singer is seeking validation or affirmation from someone, but is left feeling dismissed and unheard. The repetition of "I could not remember" emphasizes the feeling of frustration and defeat that comes with the inability to recall.
The second verse of the song shifts to a more reflective tone as the singer reminisces about their past experiences playing music in crowded bars and exploring new places. The line "Maybe skating or maybe stopped" captures the sense of possibility and adventure that comes with being young and carefree. However, the chorus returns to the theme of holding onto the past and the consequences that come with it. The line "Can't you see your world is crumbling in the melted snow" suggests that the singer is aware of the negative impact that holding onto the past can have, yet they struggle to let go.
Overall, the song "Spinoza" reflects on the universal struggle of trying to reconcile the past with the present and the difficult process of moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
I could not remember
The singer is having trouble recalling something
I said in a whisper to myself
The singer is trying to jog their memory by muttering to themselves
I tried to get your attention
The singer attempted to draw someone else's focus onto the situation
You said it doesn't matter
The other person dismissed the artist's efforts as unimportant
I took a hammer to my health
The artist made a destructive decision that harmed their well-being
I cursed the walls around me
The singer was filled with frustration and lashed out at their environment
My big tom and guitar
The singer owns a drum and guitar, which may hold sentimental value
Remember all of those crowded bars
The artist recollects performing in busy venues
Driving on snowy mountain tops
The artist imagines cruising through winter landscapes
Maybe skating or maybe stopped
The artist envisions potential winter activities
Over time, you might look back
In the future, a person may regret something they said or did
At what you might have said
This introspection may specifically pertain to past statements
Holding on to what you used to be
The singer is clinging to an aspect of their past identity
You got your name, your got your name
The repetition of this line may suggest the obsession with one's reputation
Caught your reflection in the stop window
The singer or someone else caught a glimpse of themselves in a reflective surface
Can't you see your world is crumbling in the melted snow
The melting winter snow may be a metaphor for a life coming apart
Holding on to no one
The artist is also losing connections to others
Holding on to nothing
The singer feels like they have no anchor to hold them steady
Don't deny it happened
The singer urges someone not to pretend that something didn't occur
Don't deny me no
The artist doesn't want to be forgotten or rejected
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Edward Bartlett Joyner, Grant Evan Widmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlosmontufar1096
I could not remember
I said in a whisper to myself
I tried to get your attention
You said it doesn't matter
I could not remember
I took a hammer to my health
I cursed the walls around me
You said it doesn't matter
My big tom and guitar
Remember all of those crowded bars
Driving on snowy mountain tops
Maybe skating or maybe stopped
Over time, you might look back
At what you might have said
Over time, you might look back
At what you might have said
Holding on to what you used to be
You got your name, your got your name
Caught your reflection in the stop window
Can't you see your world is crumbling in the melted snow
Holding on to no one
Holding on to nothing
Don't deny it happened
Don't deny me no
@fikodu16
AAAH the music industry you'll never hear a song like this on MTV no fucking waaaaay
@i.p.knightly149
What a band, these guys write some of the absolute greatest songs that nobody's ever heard of, which is a pity.
@tyronejohnson9887
Big pity
@vnshngpnt
Yeah, thats a 2019 discovery for me :)
@alexhawks4993
I totally agree. I have all of their songs thumbed, yet no one I know knows them.
@izraelquintana9945
Almost 2021 here. Shout out from Silicon Valley!!!
@TheGogogadget123
I heard them at a buffet 😂
@tylershields7521
Saw these guys live at a little bar in Hamtramck, Michigan. There were maybe 20 people there so it was basically like a private show. Awesome experience!!!!
@WiloPolis03
This makes me so nostalgic for the indie rock and post punk revival my parents would listen to when I was little
@jordanmartel2937
Seriously one of the best songs I have ever heard. WOW. So much emotions.