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.
One More Suicide
Marcy Playground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Went out on a bridge
Down in Chehalis
And clutching his bible
And a letter from her
Fell into the river
Pity no one was there
No angels in the air
One more suicide
His mama stayed by
The river side
Down in Chehalis
And clutching her bible
And a letter from him
Fell into crying
Pity no one was there
No angels in the air
And the morning paper ran
One more suicide
Pity no one was there
No angels in the air
And the morning paper ran
One more suicide
One more suicide
One more suicide
In Marcy Playground's "One More Suicide," the lyrics tell a story about a young man named Christopher O'Malley who falls off a bridge in Chehalis while clutching a letter from a loved one and his Bible. His mother stays by the river crying while holding on to her own Bible and the letter he was carrying. The lyrics evoke a sense of tragedy and loneliness, as there was no one around to witness the young man's fall or to help him.
The song speaks to the harsh realities of suicide and how it can impact those around us. The line "pity no one was there, no angels in the air" speaks to the lack of support or intervention for those struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts. The repetition of "one more suicide" at the end emphasizes how common and devastating this issue can be, and how it can leave those left behind feeling helpless and heartbroken.
Overall, "One More Suicide" is a poignant reminder of the importance of reaching out to those around us who may be struggling with their mental health, and the need for awareness and resources to help prevent suicide.
Line by Line Meaning
Christopher O'Malley
Introducing the person who committed suicide
Went out on a bridge
He went to a bridge to commit suicide
Down in Chehalis
The location where he committed suicide
And clutching his bible
He held onto his bible before jumping
And a letter from her
He had a letter from someone (possibly a loved one)
Fell into the river
He jumped into the river
Pity no one was there
No one was present to stop him or save him
No angels in the air
A metaphor for no divine intervention
And the morning paper ran
The newspaper reported the tragic incident
One more suicide
Referring to the alarming frequency of suicides
His mama stayed by
The mother of the person who committed suicide
The river side
Where the river meets the land
And clutching her bible
She held onto her bible for comfort
And a letter from him
She had a letter from her deceased son
Fell into crying
She broke down in tears
One more suicide
Again referring to the increasing number of suicides
Pity no one was there
Reiterating the lack of intervention
No angels in the air
Once again, no divine intervention
And the morning paper ran
The newspaper reported on the tragic event again
One more suicide
The repetition emphasizes the tragedy and frequency of suicide
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN K. WOZNIAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind