In 1986 their name changed to Gigolo Aunts (after a Syd Barrett song) and the band re-located to Boston, Massachusetts.
After recording the singles "Bloom" and "Cope" with Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade the band signed to Fire Records in the U.K. and created the full-length album "Flippin' Out" with producers Mike Deneen and Adam Lasus. They were then signed to RCA records in the US. Their biggest commercial success was the single "Where I Find My Heaven", which featured in the soundtrack to the motion picture Dumb and Dumber and as the opening music to the British sitcom Game On. They Also had a song "Little Wild One" in the movie "That Thing You Do".
Although not officially broken up, the band has been inactive since their 2003 full-length Pacific Ocean Blues. Vocalist/guitarist Dave Gibbs has since joined another band, Low Stars
For A Moment
Gigolo Aunts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw her in my coffee cup today
Smiling in that photogenic way
For a moment
I thought I should hesitate, contemplate
For a moment
Thought I heard a voice above the fray
Down in Central Square as if to say
For a moment
Take the time to memorize the perfect size
For a moment
Then store it away, away, away, away...
'Cause I've been standing in these shoes awhile
And I've been growing really tired of
Minor chords with major themes
And staring at the ceiling beams
And cloying movies choke me up
And sentiment keeps spilling down the cup
Did I feel those curves upon my bed '
Reaching out found my guitar instead
For a moment
I thought to disintegrate would be my fate
For a moment
Then strummed it away, away...
The song "For a Moment" by Gigolo Aunts is about a man who catches a glimpse of a woman in his coffee cup and is taken aback by her beauty. However, he then hesitates, contemplating whether he should approach her or not. The lyrics "For a moment, I thought I should hesitate, contemplate" demonstrate his indecisiveness, as he quickly decides to "stir her away." Later, he hears a voice telling him to take the time to memorize the perfect size, which he stores away. The song then shifts to the man expressing his desire for something more meaningful in his life as he is tired of "minor chords with major themes" and "staring at the ceiling beams." The man ultimately decides to play his guitar instead of pursuing the woman, indicating that music is more fulfilling to him than fleeting romantic encounters.
The song employs vivid imagery and figurative language to convey the man's emotions. For instance, the woman's photogenic smile is likened to a moment captured in a photograph. The voice in Central Square is a metaphor for his subconscious, telling him to take in the moment and appreciate its beauty. In contrast, the cloying movies and sentiment spilling over his cup represent emotions that are almost too overwhelming and artificial.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw her in my coffee cup today
I saw her face reflecting in my coffee and it made me smile.
Smiling in that photogenic way
She had a beautiful, charming smile that was captivating to look at.
For a moment
This phrase is a repeated refrain that emphasizes the fleeting nature of these experiences.
I thought I should hesitate, contemplate
I paused briefly to consider the implications of seeing her in my coffee cup.
Then stir her away
I realized it was just a fleeting image and I needed to move on with my day.
Thought I heard a voice above the fray
I thought I heard a voice calling out to me amidst the chaos of Central Square.
Down in Central Square as if to say
The voice seemed to be urging me to pay attention and take note of something important.
Take the time to memorize the perfect size
The voice was telling me to remember the details of something, perhaps related to the person in my coffee cup.
Then store it away, away, away, away...
After I had taken note of this information, I should tuck it away for safekeeping.
'Cause I've been standing in these shoes awhile
The artist has been stuck in a rut and feels like they've been going through the motions for too long.
And I've been growing really tired of
They are feeling a sense of boredom and exhaustion with their current situation.
Minor chords with major themes
The music they have been playing lately lacks depth and complexity, despite having seemingly important messages
And staring at the ceiling beams
They feel trapped and stuck in their own head, with no direction or inspiration.
And cloying movies choke me up
They are sick of movies that try too hard to be sentimental and emotionally manipulative.
And sentiment keeps spilling down the cup
This same kind of sentimentality that they dislike keeps creeping into their own life.
Did I feel those curves upon my bed '
The artist is imaging the presence of a woman in their bedroom, perhaps represented by the image in their coffee cup.
Reaching out found my guitar instead
However, when they reach out to touch the woman (or the idea of her), they find only their guitar, a symbol of something more tangible and concrete.
I thought to disintegrate would be my fate
The fleeting nature of love and inspiration can make one feel like they're falling apart, but only for a moment.
Then strummed it away, away...
The singer chooses to focus on something with more substance and longevity- their music- and away from romantic illusions.
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.