In 1996, after attending the Evergreen State College for two years, Wozniak moved east to New York, where Marcy Playground began to coalesce around the songs that would become the self-titled album. Bassist Dylan Keefe and drummer Dan Rieser filled out the band's sound, and complemented Wozniak's songwriting. The self-titled album was released in 1997, and Marcy Playground emerged into the mainstream with the success of the single "Sex and Candy." Marcy Playground is quiet and minimalist in tone. Wozniak's songs run in many different styles: some are modern folk music; many have undertones reminiscent of children's songs; the blurred sound of psychedelia makes appearances; and then there are the songs with a clear rock sound. The only band member who contributed to all of the album was Wozniak himself; several others filled in for Rieser and Keefe on some of the songs, notably Jared Kotler (bass and drums).
Marcy Playground's next outing was 1999's Shapeshifter, not as much of a success commercially as the self-titled album.
A minor controversy came to light when Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers revealed on Marcy Playground's website forum that the cover art for Shapeshifter had originally been conceptualized and commissioned by Leary for his band's aborted After the Astronaut album. He admitted to being a fan of Marcy Playground, but accused the band of an apparent lack of imagination and originality. Leary's outrage was eased once he learned that Capitol Records, former home of the Butthole Surfers and then-current home of Marcy Playground, had pitched the artwork to Wozniak as original work from their own art department and that Marcy Playground had no knowledge of the work's origins. Upon learning the truth, Wozniak proclaimed that he was "honored" to have an album cover designed by Paul Leary. There were apparently no bad feelings between the bands once the controversy had been cleared up.
After Shapeshifter, drummer Dan Rieser left the band to pursue other interests. The position was eventually filled on his recommendation by Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera, a friend whose previous band Lincoln had opened for Marcy Playground.
After a considerable hiatus and at least one failed attempt to record a follow-up to Shapeshifter, Marcy Playground's third album, MP3, was finally released in 2004 with even less commercial success than the two preceding albums.
Marcy Playground did little if any touring in support of MP3. Despite releasing many singles, the band never matched the success of their single "Sex and Candy".
As of July 12'th 2008, John Wozniak posted a blog on MySpace stating his unreleased solo effort is now officially going to be a Marcy Playground record and is going to be released within the next few months along with a separate "Rarities and B-Sides" album. They are still performing live although to their many fans dismay, venues are sporadic. Meanwhile, Keefe has held the job of WNYC radio program On the Media's technical director, a position he left in December 2007.
Comin' Up from Behind
Marcy Playground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a'rollin faster than a white wall
She's got an avalanche packed into a snowball
She's a losin' all the links
She's like a stonewall
She's loaded up
She's the underdog
At the high horse
While'a sippin' on her tricks
In a pitfall
Makin' eyes at the girls like bullfrogs
I'm telling you sir
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
Yeah She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
You'd like her hanging
Like a sneaker on a live wire dangling
While your Wall Street pockets are jangling
With the hollow jackpot of your rich kid games
It's a long shot
She's got a troop and a tongue for a slingshot
But she's takin' steady aim
At the big shots
It's hard to miss the rolling-polies
On the blacktop
You better watch your turf
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
Yeah
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
You had her hanging
Like a sneaker on a live wire dangling
While your golden-lined pockets were jangling
With the hollow jackpot of your wretched games
She caught your sick lie
It's creepin' in the shadow of your white smile
Lurking underneath the cover of your bedroom eyes
Well you're greasin' up the lance for your small-fry
You wanna talk it up do you?
Well you're floatin like a royal balloon, oh
Your ego's swollen to the size of the moon well
I think you found somebody to cut you down to size
Well well
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(behind)
The lyrics of "Comin' Up from Behind" by Marcy Playground are about an underdog character who is rising up against someone who has been suppressing her. The singer paints a picture of the singer, saying she's an "eight ball," rolling faster than a white wall, with an avalanche packed into a snowball. He goes on to describe how she is like a stonewall, loaded up, and losing all the links. The singer is compared to a bullfrog, as she takes a mighty swipe at the high horse while sipping on her tricks in a pitfall.
The lyrics also describe the antagonist's character, a wealthy player who is playing small-fry games. The singer takes steady aim at the big shots and catches the sick lie that is creeping in the shadow of the antagonist's white smile while lurking underneath the cover of his bedroom eyes. The singer is determined to cut him down to size and make her way up from behind.
The title "Comin' Up from Behind" refers to the singer's approach of slowly and steadily making her way up from her underdog position to become an equal player, if not superior, to the antagonist. The song's guitar-driven, grunge-inspired sound enhances the song's mood, which is both rebellious and empowering.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah She's an eight ball
She's a force to be reckoned with
She's a'rollin faster than a white wall
She's moving quickly and without hesitation
She's got an avalanche packed into a snowball
She has immense power and potential in a small package
She's a losin' all the links
She's breaking free from societal constraints
She's like a stonewall
She's unstoppable and impenetrable
She's loaded up
She's armed and ready for a fight
She's the underdog
She's underestimated and overlooked
Gonna take a mighty swipe
She's going to make a bold move
At the high horse
At those who are arrogant and privileged
While'a sippin' on her tricks
Using her intelligence and cunning to gain an advantage
In a pitfall
In a difficult and challenging situation
Makin' eyes at the girls like bullfrogs
Asserting her confidence and sexuality
I'm telling you sir
I'm warning you, she's a force to be reckoned with
You'd like her hanging
You want to see her fail and suffer
Like a sneaker on a live wire dangling
In a dangerous and precarious situation
While your Wall Street pockets are jangling
While you enjoy the excess and wealth of the privileged
With the hollow jackpot of your rich kid games
With the meaningless and shallow victories of the privileged
It's a long shot
It's unlikely to succeed
She's got a troop and a tongue for a slingshot
She has a group of supporters and a powerful voice to fight back
But she's takin' steady aim
She's focused and determined to fight back
At the big shots
At those who are powerful and privileged
It's hard to miss the rolling-polies
It's difficult to avoid the obstacles and challenges in her path
On the blacktop
In the gritty and harsh reality of life
You better watch your turf
You should be wary of her and her supporters
She caught your sick lie
She exposed your deception and lies
It's creepin' in the shadow of your white smile
Your true nature and intentions are hidden behind a deceptive facade
Lurking underneath the cover of your bedroom eyes
Your true intentions and desires are hidden behind a seductive gaze
Well you're greasin' up the lance for your small-fry
You're preparing to fight against those who are weaker and less powerful than you
You wanna talk it up do you?
You want to boast and talk about your accomplishments
Well you're floatin like a royal balloon, oh
You're feeling confident and superior
Your ego's swollen to the size of the moon well
You're extremely arrogant and self-centered
I think you found somebody to cut you down to size
You're about to face a foe who will humble you
She's comin' up from
She's rising and gaining power
Comin' up from comin' up
Continuously gaining power and momentum
Comin' up from behind
Gaining power and rising up against those who have oppressed her
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHERRY FRASER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@u.denizkarahan8810
Oh, she's an eight ball
She's rolling faster than a whitewall
Got an avalanche packed in a snowball
She's losing all the leeches like a stonewall
She's loaded up
She's the underdog
Gonna take a mighty swipe at the high hog
While their slipping on her tricks in a thick fog
Making eyes at the girls like bullfrogs
I'm telling you, sir
She's coming up from, coming up from, coming up
Coming up from behind
Yeah
She's coming up from, coming up from, coming up
Coming up from behind
You like her hanging
Like a sneaker on a livewire dangling
While your wall street pockets are jangling
With hollow jack part of your rich kid games
It's a longshot
She's got the truth and her tongue for a slingshot
But she's taking steady aim at the big shot
It's hard to miss the rolling bullets on the blacktop
Better mark it, your turf
You had her hanging
Like a sneaker on a livewire dangling
While your gold lined pockets were jangling
With hollow jack part of your wicked games
She caught you sick like
It was creeping in the shadow of your white smile
Looking underneath the cover of your bedroom eyes
Were you greasing up plans for your small fry
You want her talking up to you
Where you float like a royal balloon, oh
Your ego swollen to the size of the moon, well
I think you found somebody to cut you down to size
Well, well
@carlosquiroz74
Ah She's an eight ball
She's a'rollin faster than a white wall
She's got an avalanche packed into a snowball
She's a losin' all the links
She's like a stonewall
She's loaded up
She's the underdog
Gonna take a mighty swipe
At the high horse
While'a sippin' on her tricks
In a pitfall
Makin' eyes at the girls like bullfrogs
I'm telling you sir
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
Yeah She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
You'd like her hanging
Like a sneaker on a live wire dangling
While your Wall Street pockets are jangling
With the hollow jackpot of your rich kid games
It's a long shot
She's got a troop and a tongue for a slingshot
But she's takin' steady aim
At the big shots
It's hard to miss the rolling-polies
On the blacktop
You better watch your turf
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
Yeah
She's comin' up from
Comin' up from comin' up
Comin' up from behind
You had her hanging
Like a sneaker on a live wire dangling
While your golden-lined pockets were jangling
With the hollow jackpot of your wretched games
She caught your sick lie
It's creepin' in the shadow of your white smile
Lurking underneath the cover of your bedroom eyes
Well you're greasin' up the lance for your small-fry
You wanna talk it up do you?
Well you're floatin like a royal balloon, oh
Your ego's swollen to the size of the moon well
I think you found somebody to cut you down to size
Well well
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from behind(She's comin' up from behind)
Yeah
She's comin' up from(She's comin' up from behind)
Comin' up from comin' up(behind)
@wontletyoufly3520
this band is so underrated, their music is great.
@bearlythere2388
100%
@MayaState
This song doesn’t get old, or stale. It’s just amazing.
@veronicadimateo7390
I was obsessed with this song... Still come back to listen to it regularly; it never grows old. Thanks for uploading!
@Camronaldoz
Not just was for me, still am addicted to this song. It is an absolute snorter!
@treetrashish
marcy playground is one of the greatest underrated bands of our time
@u.denizkarahan8810
Oh, she's an eight ball
She's rolling faster than a whitewall
Got an avalanche packed in a snowball
She's losing all the leeches like a stonewall
She's loaded up
She's the underdog
Gonna take a mighty swipe at the high hog
While their slipping on her tricks in a thick fog
Making eyes at the girls like bullfrogs
I'm telling you, sir
She's coming up from, coming up from, coming up
Coming up from behind
Yeah
She's coming up from, coming up from, coming up
Coming up from behind
You like her hanging
Like a sneaker on a livewire dangling
While your wall street pockets are jangling
With hollow jack part of your rich kid games
It's a longshot
She's got the truth and her tongue for a slingshot
But she's taking steady aim at the big shot
It's hard to miss the rolling bullets on the blacktop
Better mark it, your turf
You had her hanging
Like a sneaker on a livewire dangling
While your gold lined pockets were jangling
With hollow jack part of your wicked games
She caught you sick like
It was creeping in the shadow of your white smile
Looking underneath the cover of your bedroom eyes
Were you greasing up plans for your small fry
You want her talking up to you
Where you float like a royal balloon, oh
Your ego swollen to the size of the moon, well
I think you found somebody to cut you down to size
Well, well
@LordBlazfemur
totally wrong, it's about bullfrogs. Anyone can see that. The lyrics are literally:
(Ending: 'coming up from behiiiiiind)
Ribbit ribbit grrrribbiiiittt
@iamsportsOriginal
I've seen MP 6 times live, hung out with the band most of the shows and still am in contact with jon woz
these guys are great
same with the Descendents
@TheLockdownKidNYC
This song exudes "cool." In the movie particular, it's the perfect song for Sebastian to be walking up to the house to.