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.
Lost Love
Golden Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost love on the sea
If you can put it behind you
But it's still beyond me
'cause hearts break in the summer
And they meet me in the spring
Broken hearts all around me
Lost love on the highway
Lost love on the phone
Lost love with a suitcase
Heading back home
Where hearts break in the summer
When they meet in the spring
Mines still wrapped inside me
But I don't feel a thing
You're my lost love, I can't see
That you're coming back for me
You're the travel I can't find
And it's only a matter of time
Should've taken it all so hard
Should've taken it all so hard
My lost love ...
The lyrics to Golden Smog's song Lost Love speak to the universal experience of heartbreak and loss in relationships. The verses describe different settings where love was lost, such as in the desert, on the sea, on the highway, or on the phone. The imagery of the lost suitcase and the idea of heading back home suggest that one or both parties may have been traveling and the relationship suffered as a result. The chorus speaks to the seasonal nature of heartbreak, with hearts breaking in the summer and meeting again in the spring. However, the singer seems detached from the emotional turmoil around them, stating that broken hearts are all around but they don't feel a thing.
The line "you're my lost love, I can't see that you're coming back for me" suggests that the singer may still be holding onto hope for reconciliation, but feels unable to see it. The repeated phrase "should've taken it all so hard" emphasizes the regret and pain that comes with lost love, and hints at the idea that perhaps the singer did not fully confront or address their feelings during the relationship or breakup. Overall, the song's lyrics capture the bittersweet feeling of looking back on lost love and the lingering pain it can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost love in the desert
Refers to a past romantic relationship that ended badly and painfully
Lost love on the sea
Implies that the pain caused by the lost love was extensive and devastating
If you can put it behind you
Suggests that moving on from the lost love is possible for some people
But it's still beyond me
Admits that the singer is unable or unwilling to let go of the lost love
'cause hearts break in the summer
Explains that summer is a common time for heartache and heartbreak in romantic relationships
And they meet me in the spring
Implies that the singer is accustomed to experiencing the pain of lost love during the spring season
Broken hearts all around me
Indicates that the singer is surrounded by people who have also experienced heartbreak and lost love
But I don't feel a thing
Suggests that the artist has become numb to the pain of lost love, likely due to having experienced it so frequently
Lost love on the highway
Refers to the pain of lost love that is experienced while traveling or on the go
Lost love on the phone
Refers to the pain of lost love that is experienced during phone conversations or long-distance relationships
Lost love with a suitcase
Refers to the pain of lost love that is experienced while traveling or moving to a new location
Heading back home
Implies that the lost love has caused the artist to leave or move away from their home
Where hearts break in the summer
Repeating the earlier line to emphasize how common heartbreak is in the summertime
When they meet in the spring
Further emphasizes how frequently the singer has experienced heartbreak during the spring season
Mines still wrapped inside me
Suggests that the singer is still carrying the pain of lost love with them
But I don't feel a thing
Repeating an earlier line to emphasize the artist's emotional numbness
You're my lost love, I can't see
Acknowledges that the artist is still emotionally attached to someone they have lost
That you're coming back for me
Suggests that the singer is still holding onto hope that their lost love will return to them
You're the travel I can't find
Implies that the lost love is like a journey or an adventure that the singer is unable to retrace or recreate
And it's only a matter of time
Suggests that the artist believes that the lost love will eventually come back to them
Should've taken it all so hard
Reflects on the fact that the artist may not have fully processed or felt the emotions related to the lost love
Should've taken it all so hard
Repeating an earlier line to emphasize the artist's regret of not feeling the pain of lost love more strongly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JEFF TWEEDY, JEFFREY SCOTT TWEEDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind