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.
Corvette
Golden Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't it blow your mind like the first time?
Circle the voices in a crowded room
Plays in my head so out of time
Kill me with kindness never enough I find
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind for the third time?
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
Envision a future still in back and white
Colors of youth run into gold
Blue is for sorrow, red is for sadder light
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind again?
Don't it blow your mind for the third time?
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
There's a part of you here, part of you everywhere
Looking around all that I see
Buildings and cars, modern technology
Don't it blow your mind?
Don't it blow your mind again?
Don't it blow your mind for the third time?
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
The dream is never over
The song "Corvette" by Golden Smog is a contemplative reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the excitement and loss of youth. The opening lines "Don't it blow your mind? Don't it blow your mind like the first time?" suggest a sense of awe and wonder, perhaps at the passage of time, or at the memories and experiences that shape our lives.
The following lines "Circle the voices in a crowded room, Plays in my head so out of time, Kill me with kindness never enough I find" seem to describe the disorientation of being in a crowded space, and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the cacophony of voices that surrounds us.
Throughout the song, the lyrics explore different facets of human experience, from the pain of loss and regret ("Blue is for sorrow, red is for sadder light"), to the wonder of modern technology ("Buildings and cars, modern technology"). Ultimately, the repeated refrain "The dream is never over" suggests that there is always more to be experienced in life, and that the future is always full of possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't it blow your mind?
Doesn't it amaze you? Doesn't it inspire you?
Don't it blow your mind like the first time?
Do you remember how amazing it was the first time?
Circle the voices in a crowded room
The noise in my head is overwhelming
Plays in my head so out of time
The noise in my head is overwhelming and discordant
Kill me with kindness never enough I find
Even though people are kind to me, it's never enough to quiet the noise in my head
The dream is never over
There's always hope for something better
Envision a future still in back and white
The future looks bleak and depressing
Colors of youth run into gold
The memories of my youth are fading, but I cling to them as they turn into something more precious
Blue is for sorrow, red is for sadder light
My memories are tinged with sadness and regret
There's a part of you here, part of you everywhere
Memories of you are all around me
Looking around all that I see
Everywhere I look, I see reminders of what we used to have
Buildings and cars, modern technology
The world has moved on, but I'm still stuck in the past
The dream is never over
No matter how hard life gets, I still have hope for something better
The dream is never over
I refuse to let go of hope, no matter what happens
The dream is never over
As long as I keep dreaming, I know I'll find a way to get through this
The dream is never over
There's always hope for a better future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DAVID MURPHY, GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, KRAIG JARRET JOHNSON, MARC R. PERLMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind