Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergro… Read Full Bio ↴Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergroup) comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star.

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.

Yesterday Cried
Golden Smog Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yesterday is just the day before today
Sat and watched it, watched it slide away
Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried
Looking at me through those tiny eyes
Why did you do it, why'd you have to lie
Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried

Chorus:

All you ever wanted, and all you'll ever need (*4)
Oh, yesterday cried

My main line's gone a different way
I woke up, and it was yesterday
Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried
Times been good, times they been bad
When I was with you, you know it made me sad
Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried

(Chorus)

Yesterday cried
By the shape of things I'm in

I'll just watch it slide away
Yesterday. Yesterday. Yesterday

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Golden Smog's song Yesterday Cried revolve around the theme of nostalgia and regret for the past. The singer reminisces about the good and bad times that he had with someone in the past, expressing his sadness for the lies and deceit that occurred, and the inevitable end of their relationship. The song title is an allusion to the personification of yesterday, suggesting that the memories of the past can cause heartbreak.

The repetition of the phrase "yesterday cried" throughout the song serves as a poignant reminder of the emotional pain experienced by the singer. He questions why the other person had to lie and deceive him, and expresses his heartbreak through the personification of yesterday. The lyrics "all you ever wanted, and all you'll ever need, oh, yesterday cried" further emphasize the idea of missed opportunities, highlighting the regret the singer feels about lost chances and wasted time.

The chorus is both melancholy and reflective, as the singer reflects on the missed opportunities of the past. The final verse signals acceptance, however, as the singer states that he will "just watch it slide away," acknowledging that he cannot change the past but can only learn from it.

Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday is just the day before today
The day before today is referred to as yesterday

Sat and watched it, watched it slide away
I idly witnessed the passing of yesterday

Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried
Yesterday exhibited a sense of sadness

Looking at me through those tiny eyes
Yesterday stared at me with its small eyes

Why did you do it, why'd you have to lie
I question why yesterday had to deceive me

Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried
Yesterday showcased a feeling of misery

All you ever wanted, and all you'll ever need (*4)
The chorus repeats the idea that what you wanted and needed has already passed

My main line's gone a different way
I am on a different path compared to my primary goal

I woke up, and it was yesterday
I woke up to find myself in the past, yesterday

Yesterday cried. Oh, yesterday cried
Yesterday expressed sorrow once again

Times been good, times they been bad
Both positive and negative circumstances have arisen