Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986. By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records. After recording six albums and playing many major tours, they disbanded in 1998.
During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called flapping, Flapping.
Three years later, following the breakup of Toad, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound that Toad the Wet Sprocket was known for. This was followed up by a self-released live album and solo touring, along with a reunion tour with his former Toad bandmates
In 2004, Phillips, with Nickel Creek, released a long-awaited collaboration as Mutual Admiration Society. The self-titled album had been recorded in 2000 and featured songs written by both Phillips alone and as collaborative efforts, and was released on Sugar Hill Records.
In 2005, Phillips returned to a major label via Universal Records' Lost Highway imprint and released the critically acclaimed Winter Pays For Summer. The album included the radio single "Duck and Cover," but Phillips and the label would part ways due to some creative differences.
Phillips released his third proper solo album, Mr. Lemons in the spring of 2006. The music video for the album's first single, "Everything But You," made its debut as a Yahoo! Exclusive Premiere on May 11, 2006.
Fred Meyers
Glen Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come find me I'll be home
Just between the Costco
And the Barnes and Noble
Behind the mom and pop grocery
Shut down in the nineties
Like all the other locals
They smashed the dreams of the hopeful
So like I said right in there
There was a Frederick Meyers
Sold everything from fruit to tires
Check in with the doorman
And old biker named Slim
Say you're here to see me
Don't forget to tip him
One hand must wash the other
Each man must be a brother
Band up and take cover
We'll go dancing, set fires
Tag buildings, slash tires
Drive go-karts like shriners
Just hang out at Fred Meyers
Bring a lantern with you
It gets dark in places
Go up the escalator
To the section that was kidswear
I'm at the back wall left side
Under a sign that says Levi's
Top bunk second row
If I'm not in right then ask around somebody'll know
'Cause everybody knows me here
One hand must was the other
Each man must be a brother
Band up and take cover
We'll go dancing, set fires
Tag buildings, slash tires
Drive go-karts like shriners
Just hang out at Fred Meyers
We'll go out babe, skateboarding
Go looting, food hoarding
Do whatever you desire
Or we can just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers
One hand must wash the other
Each man must be a brother
Band up and take cover
We'll go dancing, set fires
Tag buildings, slash tires
Drive go-karts like shriners
Or we can just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers
We'll go out babe, drink moonshine
Tip rubble on the east side
Dig deep holes to China
Or we can just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers
Why don't we just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers?
The song "Fred Meyers" by Glen Phillips is a nostalgic and melancholic portrayal of a dilapidated strip mall called Fred Meyer. The singer invites his companion to join him in a night of adventure and mischief in the abandoned and forgotten space. The lyrics mention several specific locations, such as Costco, Barnes and Noble, and a mom-and-pop grocery store that was shut down in the nineties. The singer then directs his companion to enter the maze-like store to find him at the back wall, under a sign that says "Levi's", in the top bunk second row. The singer goes on to suggest various activities they can do together, such as skating, looting, food hoarding, digging deep holes to China or just staying in his bed at Fred Meyers.
The song's vivid imagery and the singer's playful and enticing tone create a romanticized atmosphere of rebellion and adventure. The lyrics seem to celebrate the resilience of people against the march of time and the harsh realities of life. Despite the mostly abandoned and forgotten mall, the location still holds a special place in the singer's heart, and he invites his companion to experience the mystique and wonder of the place.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to see you sometime
I would love to spend time with you
Come find me I'll be home
Please come over to my place
Just between the Costco
My house is located somewhere near Costco
And the Barnes and Noble
Also near Barnes and Noble
Behind the mom and pop grocery
If you see an old grocery store, my house is located behind it
Shut down in the nineties
The old grocery store was closed in the 90s
Like all the other locals
The town has shut down other local establishments as well
They smashed the dreams of the hopeful
The closure of local businesses robbed aspiring entrepreneurs of opportunities
I'm getting off track sorry
I got distracted, apologies
So like I said right in there
As I mentioned earlier
There was a Frederick Meyers
The name of a nearby store is Fred Meyers
Sold everything from fruit to tires
Fred Meyers stocks a wide range of items from fresh produce to automobile tires
Check in with the doorman
Talk to the bouncer/doorman before entering
And old biker named Slim
The doorman's name is Slim, he's an old biker
Say you're here to see me
Let the doorman know you're looking for me
Don't forget to tip him
Remember to give the doorman a tip
One hand must wash the other
We must help each other out
Each man must be a brother
We should treat each other like family
Band up and take cover
Stay close to each other and be careful
We'll go dancing, set fires
We can party and cause a little trouble
Tag buildings, slash tires
Spray paint buildings and slash tires
Drive go-karts like shriners
We can drive at high speeds like Shriners on their tiny cars
Just hang out at Fred Meyers
We can just chill inside the Fred Meyers store
Bring a lantern with you
Please carry a lantern since certain places are dark
It gets dark in places
There are dark areas inside the store
Go up the escalator
Take the escalator to the next floor
To the section that was kidswear
Make your way to the kidswear section
I'm at the back wall left side
I'm standing at the left side of the back wall
Under a sign that says Levi's
I'm standing under the sign that says Levi's
Top bunk second row
I'll be in the top bunk of the second row
If I'm not in right then ask around somebody'll know
If I'm not where I said I'd be, ask someone else as they might know my whereabouts
'Cause everybody knows me here
Everyone in the store knows who I am
We'll go out babe, skateboarding
We can go skateboarding outside
Go looting, food hoarding
We can loot and collect food
Do whatever you desire
You can do whatever you want
Or we can just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers
We can relax in my bed that's located in Fred Meyers
We'll go out babe, drink moonshine
We can drink moonshine outside
Tip rubble on the east side
We can move/shift the debris on the east side
Dig deep holes to China
We can dig a deep hole to China
Why don't we just stay in my bed at Fred Meyers?
Wouldn't it be better to just stay in my bed inside Fred Meyers?
Lyrics © COMPASS RECORDS GROUP INC
Written by: GLEN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind