Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon … Read Full Bio ↴Heatmiser was an alternative rock band that originated in Portland, Oregon in 1992. Consisting of Elliott Smith (guitar and vocals), Neil Gust (guitar and vocals), Brandt Peterson (bass; later to be replaced by Sam Coomes, frontman of Quasi), and Tony Lash (drums), they were known for their well-crafted lyrics and songs featuring melancholic and cheery words and melodies. The pop-oriented songs of Elliott Smith were a contrast to the darker songs of Gust, while both Smith and Gust's songs touched on subjects such as anger, alienation, loneliness and despair.

The band broke up in the fall of 1996 after Smith's solo work began gaining popularity. Gust went on to play in the band No. 2. Coomes carried on as half of Quasi, as well as playing as a guest musician for Built to Spill and Sleater-Kinney. Lash currently keeps himself busy as a producer. He helped with the production of Death Cab for Cutie's first two studio albums (Something About Airplanes and We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes).

Stray
Heatmiser Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was a deep sleep
I woke up weak
And I felt like, like a stray
Now I believe we're on to nothing
I was shaken and angry and used to nothing
Coming to nothing, are you coming to stay
Or for a minute are you
Coming to take my place

So take this disgrace

Stray

It was a deep sleep
I woke up weak
With a question and your promise not to separate
And I would feel so empty
Space between me
That's what's with me
That's what's with me
Are you coming to stay
Or for a minute are you
Coming to take my play
When I wake up in the lone star state

Stray

Are you coming to stay
Or for a minute are you
Coming to take my place
When I wake up in the lone star state

Stray

Overall Meaning

The song "Stray" by Heatmiser appears to be about feeling lost and disconnected from someone else. The lyrics suggest that the singer has woken up from a deep sleep feeling weak and like a stray animal. They seem to be questioning whether another person is really committed to staying with them or if they're just around for a little while before moving on. The repeated question of whether they are coming to stay or just taking the singer's place suggests a fear of being abandoned or replaced.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of feeling empty and disconnected when there is space between oneself and the other person. The lone star state mentioned in the last verse could be a reference to Texas, which is sometimes called the Lone Star State. This could suggest that the singer feels particularly alone and disconnected from their partner when they wake up in a strange place.

Overall, the song seems to be about the fear of losing someone or being left behind, and the desire for a deeper connection with another person.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a deep sleep
I was sound asleep

I woke up weak
I woke up feeling unwell

And I felt like, like a stray
I felt lost and aimless

Now I believe we're on to nothing
I think we've reached a dead end

I was shaken and angry and used to nothing
I was upset and frustrated and accustomed to failure

Coming to nothing, are you coming to stay
Are you here to stay or are we doomed to fail?

Or for a minute are you Coming to take my place
Are you here to replace me or just temporarily fill my shoes?

So take this disgrace
You can have this humiliation

Are you coming to stay
Do you plan on staying?

Or for a minute are you Coming to take my place
Or are you just here to take over for a short time?