With their debut, Yerself Is Steam, the band gained an underground following, particularly in the UK. 1993's Boces was critically acclaimed for its alternative sound, and the band's next album, See You on the Other Side, begins a shift away from the extremes of sonic experimentalism towards the elaborately-orchestrated classic rock blueprint of their later work.
With their early records, Mercury Rev offered experimental, psychedelic rock, which gradually shifted to a melodic, ornate sound. Mercury Rev is often compared to The Flaming Lips, and in fact share close ties: soon after the band's formation, Donahue also joined the Flaming Lips as second guitarist and appeared on two of their albums; and since the 1990 album In a Priest Driven Ambulance, Dave Fridmann has co-produced every Flaming Lips studio album to date except 1993's Transmissions from the Satellite Heart.
Despite considerable critical acclaim, their early releases never gave Mercury Rev more than cult popularity, though they appeared on the smaller second stage at some 1993 Lollapalooza stops. Baker left after their second record, Boces (1993), citing musical and personal disputes; he later recorded an album as Shady. With his departure, the darker, more experimental and less accessible features of their music began to disappear.
The band's first post-Baker album, See You on the Other Side (1995), found them in transition, and the 1998 release of the acclaimed Deserter's Songs (which featured appearances by Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band) made Mercury Rev unexpected pop stars. In the UK, NME Magazine made Deserter's Songs their Album of the Year. Donahue's earnest, high-pitched vocals and concentration on relatively concise, melodic songs gave the band's material an entirely new feel and much increased popularity (Deserter's Songs spawned three UK top 40 singles).
All Is Dream was issued in 2001. It managed a UK top 20 single, "The Dark is Rising," which reached #16 in the UK Top 40.
Mercury Rev's much-anticipated The Secret Migration was released on January 24, 2005. This was followed up in 2006 by a compilation album called The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006 and the film soundtrack album Hello Blackbird. More recently, the band released a pair of albums on September 29, 2008: Snowflake Midnight, and a free MP3 album of instrumentals, Strange Attractor.
In 2011 the band performed Deserter's Songs in it's complete form live at several festivals in the UK.
Coney Island Cyclone
Mercury Rev Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, wait, babe
Wait up now
Hey babe, wait up now
If we could find a space
Where we could both stretch out
Roll like Coney island cyclones
No, I won't chicken out
No doubt babe
No doubt now
No doubt babe
No doubt now
I spend all day
On your mom's couch
Spend all night
And I won't chicken out
No, I won't chicken out
Let's go out tonight
Find a sunny space
Picking up the skylab
Throw it back in space
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
The lyrics to Mercury Rev's "Coney Island Cyclone" suggest a desire for freedom and spontaneity, captured in the image of rolling like the famous amusement park ride. The repeated refrain of "No, I won't chicken out" serves as a rallying cry for the singer to take risks and seize opportunities. The verses touch on themes of restlessness and inertia, with the singer spending all day on a couch and looking for a way to break free from this stasis.
The lyrics also contain a sense of playfulness and adventurousness, with references to space travel and throwing the "skylab" back into space. The song seems to be urging the listener to embrace a spirit of rebellion and embrace the unexpected. The chorus of "No doubt babe, no doubt now" suggests a confidence in this approach, with the singer seemingly assured of their ability to navigate any challenges that come their way.
Overall, "Coney Island Cyclone" offers a message of liberation and individualism, urging listeners to shed their inhibitions and embrace the ride of life.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I won't chicken out
I won't back down from our plans or be scared to take risks.
Hey, wait, babe
Hold on a second, I have something to say to you.
Wait up now
Slow down, don't leave me behind.
Hey babe, wait up now
I want to keep up with you and not fall behind.
If we could find a space
If we could discover a location
Where we could both stretch out
Where we can both relax and have enough room to move around.
Roll like Coney island cyclones
Move and twist around like a roller coaster.
No doubt babe
I'm confident about our plans and what we will accomplish.
No doubt now
I have no worries or concerns about what we are doing.
I spend all day
My entire day is dedicated to
On your mom's couch
Relaxing or staying inside at your mom's house.
Spend all night
I'm staying up all night
And I won't chicken out
I'm committed to our plans and won't back out.
Let's go out tonight
We should leave the house and go somewhere tonight.
Find a sunny space
Look for an outdoor area with sunlight.
Picking up the skylab
Gathering up equipment for stargazing or space exploration.
Throw it back in space
Send the equipment we used back to space orbit.
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
I am serious and committed to our plans; I won't back down.
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
I am confident and determined to see our plans through to the end.
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
I am unwavering and resolute in my commitment to our mission.
No, I won't chicken out (I'm not messing with you)
I won't back out or be scared; I'm serious.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID FRIDMAN, JONATHAN DONAHUE, JOSEPH CHAMBERS, SUZANNE THORPE BRIAN BAKER, THOMAS SEAN MACKOWIAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind