The quartet recorded two albums together: Let's Cut the Crap & Hook Up Later On Tonight, released on Black Dog Records in 1998, and Kids in Philly, released on Steve Earle's now-defunct E-Squared Records in 2000. Both critically acclaimed CD's were recorded and produced by the band and recording engineer Paul Smith above an auto repair garage in south Philadelphia.
Metz and Vance left the band in 2000, and were replaced by Mick Bader on drums and Joe Hooven on bass. Augmented by Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner on lap steel, this version of the group toured extensively to support Kids in Philly. Marah performed the song, "Point Breeze" from Kids in Philly on The Late Show with Conan O'Brien in 2000. Bader and Hooven left Marah in 2001 and were replaced by Jon Kois (drums) and Jamie Mahon (bass) of Philadelphia psychedelic rock band The Three For Tens.
The Bielankos, with Kois and Mahon, left for Wales in late 2001 to record their third CD, Float Away with the Friday Night Gods with former Oasis producer Owen Morris. It was released on Artemis Records in 2002.
In 2003, Marah returned to the auto garage and recorded their fourth record, 20,000 Streets Under the Sky. The CD was released on Yep Rock records in 2004. The band toured this album with John Wurster (of Indie Rock-stalwarts Superchunk) on drums, Mike Brenner on lap steel, and Kirk Henderson on bass and keyboards.
In 2005, the band entered The Magic Shop recording studio in New York City to record their fifth album with the help of Henderson and two new members, Adam Garbinski and Dave Peterson. The result, If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry (IYDLYC), was hailed by critics as a return to form for the band.
The release of IYDLYC was complemented by the recording and release of a Christmas album, A Christmas Kind of Town, on October 18, 2005. The band, solidified as a three-guitar quintet, embarked on a year-long tour of the US and Europe to support the two albums. Highlights of the tour included Serge Bielanko's intense renditions of "Dishwasher's Dream" off of IYDLYC, as well as occasional performances of "Reservation Girl," an original song that has never been officially released by the band.
Dave Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, and Adam Garbinski at ACL 2006.The band played at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 16, 2006, which was highlighted by a rousing introduction by St. Louis scenester/character Beatle Bob and a cover of The Who's "Baba O'Riley." Marah later played the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 15th, 2006, featuring a spirited performance from the band with Dave and Serge Bielanko jumping over the crowd barriers into the audience. The audio of this performance was released on iTunes on November 7th, 2006.
On September 21, 2006, the band's website announced the release of a live DVD of the IYDLYC tour, entitled Sooner or Later in Spain. The DVD, which was originally recorded and released as a fan bootleg, was released on November 17th, 2006.
Marah, with Christine Smith now a full time member, entered Nashville's 16 Ton Recording Studios in August 2006 to record songs for a new record. In April 2007, the group recorded and mixed additional songs at Brooklyn, New York's Excello Recording. In June, Marah announced that the new record, Angels of Destruction, would be released on January 8, 2008 and previewed the album at a concert/listening party in Philadelphia on September 8th, 2007. Angels of Destruction was preceded by a 6-song 10" EP entitled Can't Take It With You which was released in October 2007. A Christmas EP called Counting the Days was released in November 2007.
The new album was released in early January 2008 to widespread acclaim. Almost immediately afterwards, however, plans for an extensive US tour were cancelled following the departure of Garbinski, Peterson, and Henderson. A statement from Dave Bielenko stated that the current line-up could not agree on tour plans, and that to acquiesce to rhythm section would have represented a "musical regression." Bassist Johnny Pisano and drummer Joe Gorelick were hired as replacements, and in late February the band embarked on a European tour to promote the album.
In August 2008, Dave Bielanko, Smith and Pisano started recording new material at 16 Ton Studios in Nashville. Bielanko has stated his intentions of recording "a lilting beautiful folky record of acoustic guitars, tack pianos, and the stand-up bass".
City Of Dreams
Marah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More wicked than it seems
You lead me down the alley
Where no one can hear my screams
You ride on the bus
Bumping into us
You're reaching in our pockets
City of dreams
You don't know what it means
To only dream about it
I know
Tonight I'm on the street with no money in my coat
And I'm blamin' everybody for this ticket I got wrote
And I'll walk along the end
‘Till I wander home again
Out beneath the rumble
I go stumblin' down the Northside wind
City of dreams
You don't know what it means
To only dream about it
I know
The lyrics to Marah's "City of Dreams" offer a bleak portrait of an urban landscape that is more dangerous, oppressive, and corrupt than it appears on the surface. The title of the song is ironic, as the city is depicted as a nightmare rather than an aspirational destination. The song paints a vivid picture of a city that preys on its vulnerable inhabitants, represented by the singer who is robbed and left in despair.
The statement "More wicked than it seems" conveys a sense of disillusionment with the façade of the city of dreams. The imagery of the alley where the singer's screams cannot be heard emphasizes the isolation and vulnerability of those who fall prey to the city's darkness. The bus ride is a metaphor for the city's exploitation of its people, represented by the seemingly innocent passengers who are unaware of the singer's suffering. The line "bleeding in our cuts" suggest that the city does not only take the singer's possessions but inflicts physical harm as well.
In the second verse, the singer finds himself homeless and disillusioned, blaming others for their contribution to his predicament, and wandering the dangerous streets. The lyrics suggest that the singer does not have the privilege of pursuing the city's dreams, but is rather trapped in its dark reality.
Overall, the song offers a scathing critique of the American Dream, exposing the harsh reality of the cities that embody it. It is a call to recognize the struggles of those who are left behind by the era of neoliberalism and to strive for a more just society.
Line by Line Meaning
City of dreams
Referring to a city that promises a better life, but the reality is far worse.
More wicked than it seems
The city is not as glamorous as it appears to be and has dark, hidden aspects.
You lead me down the alley
The city has led the singer to a bad, isolated place where they are unable to call for help.
Where no one can hear my screams
There is no support or help for the artist, and they are forced to suffer alone.
You ride on the bus
Referring to those who are taking advantage of the artist, who is vulnerable due to their lack of financial stability.
Bumping into us
These people are not only taking advantage of the singer but also physically harming them.
You're reaching in our pockets
The singer is being robbed and exploited by those who have more financial power.
And you're bleeding in our cuts
The artist is not only being harmed but is also suffering from the negative effects of exploitation.
You don't know what it means
People who have not experienced poverty and hardship cannot fully understand how difficult it is to survive in such a situation.
To only dream about it
The hope for a better life is a mere dream and may never become a reality for many people.
Tonight I'm on the street with no money in my coat
The singer is currently homeless and destitute.
And I'm blamin' everybody for this ticket I got wrote
The artist is frustrated and angry about the consequences of their financial difficulties which isolate them further.
And I'll walk along the end
The singer does not have a clear path ahead and is simply wandering aimlessly.
‘Till I wander home again
The singer is longing for their home, but the reality is that they can't physically return home.
Out beneath the rumble
The city is noisy and chaotic, and the singer is forced to endure the unpleasant circumstances.
I go stumblin' down the Northside wind
The artist is struggling to survive and make it through each day despite the adverse and challenging circumstances.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.