The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme's nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities' musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Jarret Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (the Jayhawks) were relative constants.
The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band's lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as 'The Take It To The Limit Band' played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name "Her Satanic Majesty's Paycheck."
Between these early covers shows, and Golden Smog's first album, it is unclear what happened. It's hard to claim that these early shows were by Golden Smog, but rather in hindsight they were played in the spirit of the early Golden Smog. In 1992, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman (bassist for The Jayhawks), Kraig Johnson, and Chris Mars (the Replacements) released Golden Smog's first CD, a covers EP entitled On Golden Smog. This was followed four years later in 1996 by their full-length debut, Down By The Old Mainstream, recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studio with a lineup that included Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, and Honeydogs drummer Noah Levy (all of whom recorded under pseudonyms as a result of contractual obligations). A few years later the band reformed with Jody Stephens (of Big Star) taking over for Noah on the drums (Jody had previously played with the band during a New Years Eve show in Chicago in 1996). This new incarnation of Golden Smog released Weird Tales in 1998.
In 2005 a new incarnation of the smog formed and recorded a new album in Spain. The new album is entitled Another Fine Day and was released on July, 18th 2006 on the Lost Highway Records. This album features both Jody Stephens and Linda Pitmon from Zuzu's Petals on drums. This album, like the previous couple is of a more coherent band, although Jeff Tweedy is only featured on a few songs. In the summer of 2006, the Smog played a couple of shows in Minneapolis and New York City. These shows were without Tweedy, as he had previously stated that he was too busy to tour with the band. A six-show mini-tour occured in September of 2006. In 2007 Golden Smog released an EP on Lost Highway called Blood On The Slacks.
Beautiful Mind
Golden Smog Lyrics
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Locked in silence and pops up your pretty head
They're sleeping now but dreams, except for lately
Some things are better left unsaid
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
I saw my picture in the paper, it read 'Guilty'
Eleven strong, consider him dead
The crime was mine and it was done unforgiven
You draw the line and I'll cross it where I stand
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
The clowns are withered, as the wind it was blowing
As you and I end somewhere down again
A sky channel, hollow hand sat there waiting
Some things are better left unsaid
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
The crime was mine and it was done unforgiven
You draw the line and I'll cross it where I stand
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
The lyrics of "Beautiful Mind" by Golden Smog paint a vivid picture of a troubled and complex individual who may have committed a crime. The opening lines set the tone for the song, emphasizing the sense of isolation and confusion that the singer feels as he reflects on his life. The references to the "story of a god" and the "calling" suggest a sense of grandeur and destiny that the singer and others may have once believed he possessed, but that now is mere fantasy.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "beautiful mind" as a kind of ironic counterpoint to the dark and troubled themes of the verses. The repetition of the phrase suggests the singer's obsession with his own thoughts and experiences, even as he struggles to make sense of them.
The second verse alludes to a crime that the singer may have committed, and the shame and guilt he feels as a result. The reference to his picture in the paper reading "guilty" adds a sense of public shame and humiliation to the mix. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of resignation and fatalism, as the singer acknowledges that some things are better left unsaid and accepts the consequences of his actions.
Overall, "Beautiful Mind" is a haunting and evocative song that captures the complexity and turmoil of the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not a story of a god around the calling
This is not a tale of a divine being answering a call.
Locked in silence and pops up your pretty head
You emerge out of silence and draw attention, despite being quiet.
They're sleeping now but dreams, except for lately
People are usually asleep at night, except for recent times where they have trouble sleeping and dreaming.
Some things are better left unsaid
Certain things should not be expressed verbally or communicated openly.
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Beautiful mind
Such a beautiful mind
Repeated chorus of admiration for the intricate thoughts of a person.
I saw my picture in the paper, it read 'Guilty'
The singer notices a picture of themselves in the news accompanied by the headline 'Guilty.'
Eleven strong, consider him dead
Eleven people were involved and they assume the person involved is dead.
The crime was mine and it was done unforgiven
The artist committed an unforgivable crime.
You draw the line and I'll cross it where I stand
If you set the boundaries, the artist will transgress them.
The clowns are withered, as the wind it was blowing
The clowns are deteriorating and getting old, as the wind blows by.
As you and I end somewhere down again
As we come to an end or conclusion, we feel low once more.
A sky channel, hollow hand sat there waiting
An empty television station and hand waiting to communicate with someone above.
Some things are better left unsaid
Certain things are best left unspoken.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, KRAIG JARRET JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind