Grandaddy are an American indie pop band formed in Modesto, California in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Grandaddy are an American indie pop band formed in Modesto, California in 1992 by singer/guitarist/keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch; although a noisy, lo-fi approach characterized early recordings like 1994's Complex Party Come Along Theories, with the 1995 additions of guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden the group's sound expanded exponentially over the course of subsequent efforts including the unreleased Don't Sock the Tryer and the 1996 EP A Pretty Mess by This One Band. Originally issued on indie label Will Records, 1997's acclaimed full-length Under the Western Freeway proved Grandaddy's creative breakthrough, and the following year the album was reissued on major-label V2, with "Summer Here Kids" earning Single of the Week honors in the pages of the NME. The Broken Down Comforter Collection, a compilation of singles tracks, preceded the 1999 Signal to Snow Ratio EP, which heralded a movement toward the vintage electronic textures further in evidence on 2000's superb The Sophtware Slump. In 2002, the group released another odds-n-sods collection, Concrete Dunes, which paved the way for a busy 2003: that spring, Grandaddy released the Floating Debris EP and their fourth full-length, Sumday, and spent the rest of the year touring, making appearances at festivals such as Glastonbury. In 2005, they resurfaced with the Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla EP and a full-length album (Just Like the Fambly Cat) followed in 2006. It was to be their last, though Jason Lytle continues to tour, playing Grandaddy songs as well as his own solo works.

Additional Info:

Under the name Arm of Roger, Grandaddy recorded a joke album entitled The Ham and its Lily in 2002.

A.M. 180, which was released as a single, is featured prominently in the British film 28 Days Later.

On the 27th January 2006, Jason Lytle confirmed that the band would split following the release of their final album, Just Like The Fambly Cat.

Jason Lytle has since toured the US as a solo artist, playing Grandaddy songs from the last album and others. He is said to plan a solo career of new material.

On March 2, 2012, Grandaddy announced their reunion with news of a headline slot at the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, England on 2 September. Further dates are expected.

Wretched Songs
Grandaddy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My heart it sits inside me
It don't know we said good bye
You see it's having trouble feeling good
The way it did, the way it should

I know it knows that something's wrong
It hears me play these awful songs
It's having trouble feeling good

The way it did, the way it should

My heart it sits inside me
It don't realizes we said goodbye
It's having trouble feeling good
The way it did the way it should

I know it knows that something's wrong
It hears me play these wretched songs

It's having trouble feeling good
The way it did, the way it should

Overall Meaning

In "Wretched Songs," Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle sings about how his heart is having trouble coping with a recent break-up. Despite knowing that he and his partner have parted ways, his heart "doesn't realize" it and is "having trouble feeling good." The lyrics are poignant and introspective, with Lytle acknowledging that he's been playing "awful" and "wretched" songs that reflect his sadness and confusion.

The repetition of the phrases "the way it did, the way it should" emphasizes the contrast between how Lytle's heart used to feel and how it feels now - out of sync with the reality of the situation. The song's title suggests that Lytle is aware of the quality of the music he's creating, but he's unable to stop himself from wallowing in his heartbreak.

Overall, "Wretched Songs" is a moving expression of grief and the difficulty of letting go. Lytle's lyrics and understated vocal delivery perfectly capture the raw emotions of a break-up.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart it sits inside me
The singer feels a sense of emotional heaviness within them, which they attribute to their heart.

It don't know we said good bye
The singer's heart is unable to fully process the fact that they have parted from someone.

You see it's having trouble feeling good
The singer's heart is struggling to find contentment and happiness.

The way it did, the way it should
The artist expects their heart to feel a certain way, but it is not meeting those expectations.

I know it knows that something's wrong
The artist is aware that their heart recognizes that something is amiss.

It hears me play these awful songs
The singer's heart is affected by the music they listen to and in this case, it responds to it in a negative way.

It's having trouble feeling good
The singer repeats the phrase to emphasize how their heart is constantly struggling to find happiness.

The way it did, the way it should
The artist still expects their heart to find joy and contentment, but it is struggling to do so.

My heart it sits inside me
The artist reiterates the earlier line to drive home the point that their heart is central to their emotional state.

It don't realizes we said goodbye
The artist's heart is unable to completely come to terms with the reality of the situation; there is still a sense of denial present.

It's having trouble feeling good
The singer once again emphasizes that their heart is in a constant state of unease.

The way it did the way it should
The artist's heart is failing to meet their expectations for how it should feel.

I know it knows that something's wrong
The singer remains aware of their heart's unease and recognizes the connection between their thoughts and their feelings.

It hears me play these wretched songs
The singer acknowledges how their music choices are further exacerbating the negative feelings in their heart.

It's having trouble feeling good
The singer repeatedly emphasizes their heart's lack of contentment and fulfillment.

The way it did, the way it should
The artist's heart is still struggling to meet their expectations for how it should feel.

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