Released on August 4, 1992, 'New Miserable Experience' proved a sonic contrast to the grunge and aggressive hard rock inspired music in vogue at the time. It became a strong commercial success, reaching the #1 spot on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Aforementioned hits "Found Out About You" and "Hey Jealousy" were top 40 smashes on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, still getting consistent radio airplay as the years went on.
Though blessed with songwriting talent, Hopkins struggled both with addiction and with major depression. Sadly, Hopkins committed suicide in December of 1993. The band continued without him and achieved more major success, their power pop inspired, emotional lyrics becoming a precursor to later adult alternative groups of the late 90s and 00s. Still, they experienced more line-up changes, as Rhodes left the band shortly after their 2002 reunion (returning for a brief period in 2005). Currently the band does not have a permanent drummer.
They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms," referring to the actor's gin-ravaged nose. The band, who were musically weaned on rock artists such as The Byrds and Tom Petty, released three albums and had several hits in the mid-90s before breaking up in 1997. Five years later in 2002, the band reunited, released a DVD, resumed touring, and promised a fourth album.
Titled 'Major Lodge Victory', the Gin Blossoms' first album in ten years was released on August 8, 2006 on the Hybrid Recordings label. They have done much well-received touring since then. For example, the group joined Everclear, Sugar Ray, Lit and Marcy Playground on the 'Summerland Tour 2012', a 31-date nationwide tour that began on June 28, 2012, in Saratoga, California, and ended on August 11, 2012, in Laughlin, Nevada. The band later released 'No Chocolate Cake' on September 28, 2010; and 'Mixed Reality' on June 15, 2018.
Nothing At All
Gin Blossoms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems more than a week in my head's gone by
I often wander inside your head
But I wonder if it's worth the try
I believe in nothing at all and nothing is enough for me
'Cause from the silent grave of an empty heaven
I don't find it hard to believe
That the blue sky is falling down
The sky is open and I don't know why
But heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
I can't shake something that I've been told
Or maybe it was something I read
That I should believe in the ozone hole
And that Jesus and Elvis aren't dead
Now it seems to me a voodoo song
That'd piss the devil off right
Wave a chicken foot at one and now the ? is gone
For the first time in all of my life
The blue sky is falling down
On the heads of the people of this foolish town
On the tail of a comet maybe we could ride
I heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
I thought something beautiful before
Now it seems to me a lifetime ago or more
Now the biggest piece yet has fallen on my home
And the lights are falling down in my head
No matter how I pray to the Pope in Rome
My dead dog still stays dead
So now I believe in nothing at all
But drinking and fucking and sleep
'Cause when you rise and shine to the soulless desert
I don't find it hard to sleep
The blue sky is falling down
On the heads of the people in this foolish town
On the tail of a comet maybe we could ride
If heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
The blue sky is falling down
On the heads of the people in this foolish town
The sky is open and I don't know why
Heaven is falling from the blue blue sky.
In the Gin Blossoms' "Nothing At All," the lyrics captures the conundrum of a modern young person, unable to find meaning in the mundane urban life, and seeking meaning in pop culture and deep existential beliefs. The first verse shows a desire to cope with the emptiness inside by getting drunk, and the singer's trust in the passenger driving them. The lyrics further highlight how the singer does not find worth in much, as he believes in "nothing at all," and it's enough for him.
The second verse then critiques the culture and community of the people surrounding the singer. He suggests that they are foolish and unable to see the world's truth, as they are unaware of the "blue sky falling down" upon their heads. The singer describes their obliviousness towards the crumbling environmental, political, and social systems that rule their lives.
In the bridge, the singer shares his belief system based on pop culture mythology and similar uncertainties. The lyrics highlight how the singer can't shake off the idea that Jesus and Elvis are not dead, and that he should believe in the villainy of the Ozone Hole. The singer suggests that he's trying to make some sense of the world in a cultural and anecdotal way but hints that even he doesn't believe the tales completely.
Overall, the Gin Blossoms' "Nothing At All" offers a clear insight into the disillusionment and frustration of a protagonist with a nihilistic bent as he confronts the realities of life. The song clarifies that the only respite for him is in the simple pleasures of drinking, sleeping, and sex while contending with the incomprehensible struggles and irrational beliefs of society at large.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'll get drunk and you can drive
I want to drink and get drunk, so you can drive me around
It seems more than a week in my head's gone by
It feels like a long time has passed since I've had clear thoughts
I often wander inside your head
I often think about what's going on in your mind
But I wonder if it's worth the try
But I question if it's worth pursuing those thoughts
I believe in nothing at all and nothing is enough for me
I have lost faith in everything and nothing satisfies me
'Cause from the silent grave of an empty heaven I don't find it hard to believe
Because from the absence of a meaningful afterlife, it's easy for me to accept that there may be no higher purpose or meaning to life
That the blue sky is falling down
Things are falling apart and bad things are happening
On the heads of the people of this foolish town
On the people who are ignorant and foolish
The sky is open and I don't know why
The sky is open and there is no explanation for what's happening
But heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
But something bad is happening and it feels out of control
I can't shake something that I've been told
I can't forget something I heard
Or maybe it was something I read
Or maybe it was something I read somewhere
That I should believe in the ozone hole
That I should be concerned about the depletion of the ozone layer
And that Jesus and Elvis aren't dead
And that there are conspiracy theories saying Jesus and Elvis are still alive
Now it seems to me a voodoo song
Now it all seems like nonsense to me
That'd piss the devil off right
That would be offensive to a devil figure
Wave a chicken foot at one and now the ? is gone
If you perform certain rituals, you can influence supernatural outcomes
For the first time in all of my life
For the first time ever
The blue sky is falling down
Things are falling apart and bad things are happening
On the heads of the people of this foolish town
On the people who are ignorant and foolish
On the tail of a comet maybe we could ride
We could try to escape our problems by latching onto something temporary
I heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
If something bad is indeed happening
I thought something beautiful before
I once had a rosy outlook on life
Now it seems to me a lifetime ago or more
Now it feels like a very long time has passed since then
Now the biggest piece yet has fallen on my home
Now something really bad has happened to me personally
And the lights are falling down in my head
I am losing my mental clarity and peace
No matter how I pray to the Pope in Rome
No matter what I do to try to fix things
My dead dog still stays dead
My problems are still there and won't disappear
So now I believe in nothing at all
So now I have lost faith in everything
But drinking and fucking and sleep
But now I find solace in physical pleasures and rest
'Cause when you rise and shine to the soulless desert
Because when you wake up to an existence that feels devoid of meaning
I don't find it hard to sleep
I find it easy to tune out and find rest
The blue sky is falling down
Things are falling apart and bad things are happening
On the heads of the people in this foolish town
On the people who are ignorant and foolish
The sky is open and I don't know why
The sky is open and there is no explanation for what's happening
Heaven is falling from the blue blue sky
Something bad is happening and it feels out of control
Contributed by Taylor J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Styx_Shyte
One of the greatest songs. Not just theirs. Their early shit is some of the best music ever.
@discosuperflytnt
I completely agree!❤❤❤
@minion278
Wow.
@iowareddneck
I looked forever to find this one thanks