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.
Whitewash
Gin Blossoms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it's all right with you
Not a word of our weakness
So much as a clue
There's a place outside
I'm glad to play no part
The fairest arms can tally up the faintest stars
Wash away my weekend
C'mon sweet amnesia
You're needed here tonight
Take a seat in the shadows
Forget it as it goes
Dissipate in the morning air
All you know
If you find out
You'll find every lie you might
I was nowhere near last night
Whitewash everything in sight
These suspicions have been long drained dry
Our persistence holds them here
A maze of bars and rented rooms remain
Enough to make you almost look away
This night never happened
If it's all right with you
Another for the collection of things we didn't do
That private party is over
Thank God we get new starts
The fairest arms still tally up the faintest stars
When it comes down
In a clear and certain light
I was nowhere near last night
I was nowhere near last night
Whitewash everything in sight.
The lyrics of Gin Blossoms' song "Whitewash" convey a sense of regret and a desire for forgetfulness. The singer is asking his partner to keep their actions from the previous night a secret, to bury the truth and to wash away the events that transpired. The singer wants to escape from the consequences of his actions and the guilt he might feel by pretending that nothing ever happened. He describes the need for amnesia, so he can start anew and lose himself in the darkness, in the shadows where nothing can be seen. The reference to faintest stars highlights the smallness of our existence, reminding us that we are just mildly significant within the vastness of the universe. The singer describes his self-disgust and his fear of being exposed, wishing desperately for the chance of a fresh start, an opportunity to sweep everything under the rug.
The song highlights the idea of people's ability to deceive even themselves through denial, avoidance, and deceit. It tells the story of a man who is lost and disconnected from reality, who seeks refuge in forgetfulness. Perhaps the singer has been disappointed in love, is longing for something more significant, or feels guilty about behavior that he knows is wrong. The line "take a seat in the shadows, forget it as it goes" highlights the temporary escape from reality that the singer seeks; however, the subsequent lines keep us grounded with the realities of that night, which will forever affect the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
This night never happened
Let's pretend like this never occurred.
If it's all right with you
Are you okay with that?
Not a word of our weakness
We shouldn't speak of our vulnerabilities.
So much as a clue
We shouldn't give any indication.
There's a place outside
There's somewhere else to go.
I'm glad to play no part
I don't want to be involved.
The fairest arms can tally up the faintest stars
Even the simplest things are beautiful.
Wash away my weekend
Make me forget my troubles.
Shatter my sight
Make me blind to reality.
C'mon sweet amnesia
Help me forget.
You're needed here tonight
I need your assistance right now.
Take a seat in the shadows
Hide away from prying eyes.
Forget it as it goes
Let it fade away.
Dissipate in the morning air
Disappear without a trace.
All you know
Forget everything you're thinking.
If you find out
If you discover the truth.
You'll find every lie you might
Every deception will be exposed.
I was nowhere near last night
I wasn't even there.
Whitewash everything in sight
Cover up any evidence.
These suspicions have been long drained dry
These doubts have been exhausted.
Our persistence holds them here
Our continued effort keeps them alive.
A maze of bars and rented rooms remain
A complicated and confusing situation exists.
Enough to make you almost look away
Enough to make you want to ignore it.
That private party is over
That secret gathering is finished.
Thank God we get new starts
We can start over.
When it comes down
When the truth is revealed.
In a clear and certain light
With no doubt or ambiguity.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBIN WILSON, WILLIAM LEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Goulet
One of the more underrated Gin Blossoms tracks IMO. #IndieRaps
Brian Donofrio
Pop meets metal. Fun tune.
Sebas
Todavia sigo teniendo este CD ...de cuando salio a la venta..temazo y cortina de TN Tecno en su momento..
Priscila Roman
Quarantine 2020 has me here. This is one of my favorite songs. Awesome song!
Christopher McCurry
absolutely first class .... a rock song out of the top drawer.
Anabel B.
Que recuerdos de hace 12 años atrás cuando recién empezaba TN tecno y ponían este tema de cortina. Ni sabía el nombre me costó encontrarlo jjaja
Debbie O
A perfect song for the senate hearings today.
Finn Mac
Man...The best song
seloy2008
I can't stop headbangin'
J. Celeste Kee
This song low key hits