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.
Frying Pan Eyes
Golden Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're down the [Incomprehensible]
Are you lying, frying pan eyes
You pawn my box at the Highland store
You're waitress night or two before
But you're trying, open your eyes
And you give this love
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Cause you're up or you're down
No in between
You told the saw that you're gonna stop
So he bent you up and you went too cop
Now you're flying, how am I done
You never really were my sinner
It's not like me to be mean
But I'm trying, frying pan eyes
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Cause you're up or you're down
No in between
Cause you're up or you're down
No in between
Soaked yourself in gasoline
And you're down the [Incomprehensible]
And you dying, frying pan eyes
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Don't look so sad
You know it ain't that bad
Don't look so sad
Don't look so sad
Don't look so sad
The lyrics of Golden Smog's song Fry Pan Eyes depict the struggles of substance abuse, addiction, and self-destructive behaviors. The opening lines of "Soaked yourself in gasoline, and you're down the [Incomprehensible], are you lying, frying pan eyes?" paint a picture of someone who is on a dangerous path, putting themselves at risk, and potentially deceiving those around them. The chorus of "Don't look so sad, you know it ain't that bad, cause you're up or you're down, no in between" captures the ups and downs of addiction, the moments of hope followed by devastating lows.
The second verse continues the narrative of someone who is struggling with addiction, describing how they pawned something off and worked as a waitress but are trying to open their eyes. The lyrics "You never really were my sinner, it's not like me to be mean, but I'm trying, frying pan eyes" showcase the songwriter's attempts to empathize with and understand the struggles of their loved one, despite the emotional toll it takes on them.
Overall, Fry Pan Eyes is a poignant and emotional exploration of addiction and the impact it can have on individuals and their relationships. The lyrics are raw, visceral, and convey the pain of both the person struggling with addiction and those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Soaked yourself in gasoline
You've immersed yourself in a dangerous and flammable liquid
And you're down the [Incomprehensible]
You've hit rock bottom and can't seem to find a way out
Are you lying, frying pan eyes
Your eyes are red and puffy, possibly from crying or substance abuse, and there's a sense of deceit within you
You pawn my box at the Highland store
You've sold my possessions at a pawn shop to make money
You're waitress night or two before
You worked as a server for a couple of nights to earn some cash
But you're trying, open your eyes
Despite your struggles, you're making an effort to stay awake and alert
But you live and you love
You still have feelings and emotions, despite any hardships you've faced
And you give this love
You're capable of giving love and affection to others
Don't look so sad
Try not to display too much sadness or despair
You know it ain't that bad
Your situation might not be great, but it's not the worst thing in the world
Cause you're up or you're down
Your mood or situation is either positive or negative, with no middle ground
No in between
There are no gray areas or neutrality in your emotional status
You told the saw that you're gonna stop
You promised to stop using drugs or engaging in harmful behaviors
So he bent you up and you went too cop
Someone convinced you to take drugs or you gave into temptation and were arrested
Now you're flying, how am I done
You're experiencing the euphoric effects of the drugs and it's unclear how things will turn out
You never really were my sinner
Although you may have made mistakes, you were never truly a bad person
It's not like me to be mean
I'm not typically a cruel or unkind person
But I'm trying, frying pan eyes
Despite my efforts to be understanding, your red, puffy eyes make it difficult to feel sympathetic toward you
And you dying, frying pan eyes
Your eyes are tired and worn out, and it seems like you're slowly giving up on life
Don't look so sad
Don't let your sadness overwhelm you
Don't look so sad
Try to stay positive and look for hope
Don't look so sad
Even when things are tough, keep your head up
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, KRAIG JARRET JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind