Mecca Normal is an influential two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Mecca Normal is an influential two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Formed by Jean Smith and David Lester in 1984, Mecca Normal is considered one of the archetypal, pioneering leaders of the riot grrrl movement. Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with feminist themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. Merging the personal with the political in their songs and art-related activism, they helped define the sound and spirit of the early diy / indie rock / riot grrrl movement alongside bands such as Beat Happening and Bikini Kill. Indeed, they are perhaps the only band to have full-length releases on three of the largest indie labels of the 90s: K Records, Kill Rock Stars and Matador Records. They also had a 7" single released by Sub Pop. In the 80s they formed their own record label, Smarten Up!, which later merged with Lester's small press publishing company Get To The Point to form Smarten Up! And Get To The Point. Both Smith and Lester have authored their own books. Smith also formed 2 Foot Flame with Peter Jefferies and Michael Morley (Dead C). The band released two LPs on Matador Records, 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's Ultra Drowning.

2010: Magnet Magazine online posts a new illustration by David Lester every Saturday with a free Mecca Normal mp3. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events in his band's 26 year history, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.

2010: Mecca Normal releases two new songs in the fall of 2010 on a K Records 7" -- available now as a K Singles Zip Pak with Special Apps: Malachi -- Inspired Agitators poster by David Lester -- suitable for printing -- video: Recording at Dub Narcotic Studio with Calvin Johnson, Intro to Malachi video.

Once
Mecca Normal Lyrics

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Once
There was the soft glow
Of a flare sent

Amber fragment
Knocking out the sky

Then there was

He darkness
After too much light

Arc fallen
Wading through the snow

Find the steel
Sunk below

Fire in a half plan
Shimmer up the cold

Overall Meaning

The opening line, "Once there was the soft glow of a flare sent," is a reference to a moment of hope or excitement, represented by a flare sent into the sky. However, the next line, "Amber fragment knocking out the sky," suggests that this moment has a destructive side to it, as the flare disrupts the natural balance of the sky. The subsequent lines, "Then there was the darkness after too much light," convey the aftermath of this moment, where the excitement has faded and there is an emptiness or darkness that remains.

The next lines, "Arc fallen wading through the snow, find the steel sunk below," seem to shift the focus from the flare to another image of destruction or decay - perhaps a fallen arc or a rusty piece of steel submerged in the snow. These lines may suggest a search for something lost or buried, but also highlight the impermanence of things that were once strong or powerful.

The final line, "Fire in a half plan shimmer up the cold," is somewhat enigmatic and open to interpretation. It could suggest either the potential for renewal or a fleeting spark of hope in the midst of a cold, barren landscape.

Overall, the song seems to explore the tension between moments of excitement or hope and their inevitable decline or destruction, as well as the search for meaning and renewal in the aftermath. The lyrics are poetic and atmospheric, allowing for various possible interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

Once
At one point in time

There was the soft glow
There existed a gentle radiance

Of a flare sent
Emanating from a signaling device

Amber fragment
A piece of luminous resin

Knocking out the sky
Disrupting the peaceful expanse above

Then there was
Subsequently

The darkness
Absence of light

After too much light
Following an overabundance of brightness

Arc fallen
A curved structure collapsed

Wading through the snow
Persevering through obstacles

Find the steel
Discovering the source of strength