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.
Without A Struggle
Golden Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a sea of indecision
Lost in fields of languish, Lord
As I am I cannot stand
I'm here to make a declaration
Won't fall without a struggle
And I accept your invitation
It's clear to me
That I must join the battle, here at hand
Fly to where the thunder plays
And lightning flashes bright
Had this revelation, Lord
You're still my [Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
I'm here to make this promise, dear
Won't fall without a struggle
And I accept your invitation
Follow when you call
I'm here to make this promise, dear
Won't fail without a struggle
And I accept your invitation
Follow when you call
It's clear to me
That I must join the battle, here at hand
Fly to where the cannons play
And lightnin' flashes bright
The opening lines of the song, "Travelin' with no anchor, Lord / In a sea of indecision," evoke a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty. The singer seems lost and unable to take a firm stand. They describe feeling trapped in "fields of languish," further underscoring this sense of being stuck, and unable to move forward. However, the chorus provides a message of hope and determination: "I'm here to make a declaration / Won't fall without a struggle / And I accept your invitation / Follow when you call." Here, we see the singer affirming their commitment to overcoming adversity and answering the call to action.
The second verse seems to indicate a stronger sense of purpose and clarity. The singer declares that they "must join the battle, here at hand / Fly to where the thunder plays / And lightning flashes bright." The final lines of the song are somewhat ambiguous, but seem to suggest a spiritual or emotional awakening, with the singer feeling a renewed sense of connection to a higher power: "Had this revelation, Lord / You're still my [Incomprehensible] / [Incomprehensible] / [Incomprehensible]."
Overall, "Without A Struggle" seems to be a song about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of having a sense of purpose. The verses depict the struggles and doubts that we all face at times, but the chorus provides a rallying cry to keep pushing forward and not give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Travelin' with no anchor, Lord
Feeling lost and without guidance
In a sea of indecision
Overwhelmed by choices and unsure which path to take
Lost in fields of languish, Lord
Feeling stuck in a situation that is unfulfilling or depressing
As I am I cannot stand
Feeling powerless or unable to make a change on one's own
I'm here to make a declaration
Making a statement of intent or purpose
Won't fall without a struggle
Determined to persevere even in difficult circumstances
And I accept your invitation
Ready to follow a higher calling or purpose
Follow when you call
Willing to be guided by a higher power or authority
It's clear to me
Having a moment of clarity or realization
That I must join the battle, here at hand
Recognizing a responsibility to take action in the present moment
Fly to where the thunder plays
Embracing the excitement and energy of a challenging situation
And lightning flashes bright
Embracing the power and intensity of a difficult situation
Had this revelation, Lord
Having a moment of inspiration or insight
You're still my [Incomprehensible]
Feeling a personal and spiritual connection to a higher power or deity
[Incomprehensible]
Lyrics not understandable to include in this rewording
[Incomprehensible]
Lyrics not understandable to include in this rewording
I'm here to make this promise, dear
Making a commitment or vow to oneself or others
Won't fail without a struggle
Intent on persevering in the face of adversity
And I accept your invitation
Embracing a sense of purpose or calling
Follow when you call
Ready to be guided by a higher power or authority
It's clear to me
Having a moment of clarity or realization
That I must join the battle, here at hand
Feeling a sense of responsibility to take action in the present moment
Fly to where the cannons play
Embracing the challenge of a difficult situation
And lightnin' flashes bright
Feeling energized and inspired to take action
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DAVID MURPHY, GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, MARC R. PERLMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind