Miniature Tigers' sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Brand’s lyrics – a mix of deeply personal insights and playful references to the disparate cultural artifacts that have informed his existence – and effortlessly constructed indie-pop arrangements have made fans in his native Phoenix and beyond. The fans stretch to Los Angeles, where Brand reconnected with drummer, collaborator and fellow charter member of the band Rick Schaier while living in Hollywood, and far beyond thanks to the Internet, which it seems people are into these days.
Miniature Tigers’ debut album "Tell it to the Volcano" runs the lyrical gamut, taking inspiration from and referencing TV’s Lost (which rates a Dharma Initiative sticker on Brand’s acoustic) as easily as it probes the joy and heartbreak of Charlie’s own life, while managing not to take itself too seriously. Brand wrote the album while on the lam – not from the law, but rather from a relationship he described as "brutal." He left Phoenix to clear his head, landing in Los Angeles and collaborating with his friend Rick to complete the long-gestating album. It was his catharsis – with cannibals and volcanoes stepping in for the real-world problems that had both beset and inspired him. In the end the album represents Charlie’s effort to codify, examine, and ultimately move past a 2-year stretch of his life.
Charlie and Rick are joined in their live incarnation by friends and collaborators Lou Kummerer on bass and Lawrence Hearn on lead guitar and keyboards, for performances that seem to give equal time to playing songs and intra-band joking. They aim for a controlled chaos aesthetic that eschews "auto-pilot" at all costs.
In an effort to further confound the expectations of those around the band, they chose to have their video directed by someone who had never helmed one before…or at least never an authorized music video. The band tapped "Yacht Rock" creator JD Ryznar to direct their video for Cannibal Queen in the hopes he would recreate the magic of his wildly popular Internet video series. Ryznar quickly assimilated the band’s aesthetic and turned in a video equal parts "Weird Science" and "Frankenstein," to the band’s delight.
Swimming Pool Blues
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now you're gone, and now you are gone, I feel your pain
Your eyes are brown like the earth beneath my feet
For when you cry, for when you cry, the swimming pool blues
Haven't been swimming on summer, ooh
Got the swimming pool blues
With one hand underwater
If we swim we can make it, ooh
I want to make it with you
'Cause there's no other way
No way
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah
When I first met you, we rushed into a bed
Oh when I left, oh when I left, you're still in my head
My eyes are green like the garden you water
Oh when you go, oh when you go, the swimming pool blues
The lyrics of Miniature Tigers's song Swimming Pool Blues tell a story of longing and heartbreak. The singer has been away for some time and upon returning, sees that the person they love has changed. The reference to the person's hair growing long indicates that time has passed, during which the singer has been away. The pain the singer feels upon realizing that the person they love is no longer around emphasizes the heartbreak they are facing.
The second part of the lyrics focuses on the swimming pool blues, a feeling of sadness and confusion. The singer talks about not being able to go swimming during the summer and feeling lost and confused. The act of swimming is used as a metaphor for trying to make things work with the person they love. The repeated line "If we swim we can make it" shows a desire to fix the situation and make the relationship work.
Overall, the lyrics of Swimming Pool Blues convey a sense of sadness and longing. The use of swimming is a clever metaphor for the desire to make things work with the person the singer loves. The lyrics capture the feeling of heartbreak that comes with a relationship that is not meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Your hair grew long in the time I was away
Noticing the changes in your appearance, I realize how much time has passed since I last saw you.
And now you're gone, and now you are gone, I feel your pain
Your absence has left a void in my life, making me feel the pain of losing you.
Your eyes are brown like the earth beneath my feet
Looking into your brown eyes is like gazing into the earth beneath my feet, comforting and grounding.
For when you cry, for when you cry, the swimming pool blues
I feel the weight of sadness in my chest when I see you cry, like the deep blue water of a swimming pool.
Haven't been swimming on summer, ooh
I haven't been swimming all summer, feeling stagnant and bored.
Got the swimming pool blues
Feeling restless and unhappy, the only way to describe my mood is through the metaphor of the ‘swimming pool blues’.
With one hand underwater
Putting my hand into the cool water, I feel a sense of relief and relaxation.
So lost and confused
Feeling uncertain and without direction, unable to find my way.
If we swim we can make it, ooh
If we work together to overcome our obstacles, we can make it through this difficult time.
I want to make it with you
I want to face the world side-by-side with you, believing that we can overcome anything together.
'Cause there's no other way
Believing that our love is the only path forward, without any other options.
No way
Absolutely no other way.
When I first met you, we rushed into a bed
We let our lustful desires overwhelm us, quickly falling into bed together.
Oh when I left, oh when I left, you're still in my head
Even after leaving, thoughts of you fill my head, unable to forget you.
My eyes are green like the garden you water
My green eyes remind you of the lush garden that you tend to, evoking a sense of growth and renewal.
Oh when you go, oh when you go, the swimming pool blues
Just the thought of you leaving again makes me feel the weight of sadness in my chest, like the deep blue water of a swimming pool.
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gardenns
There has never been a Miniature Tigers song that I haven't liked
A1ru
really I don't like we used to be the shit
Chris Tafoya Music
ditto
danivog
i agree with you 100%
blessedwithinternet
I tell people about this band like an evangelical christian tells people about God
lgikevin
HOLY SHIT. New favorite band. I can't believe I haven't heard you guys earlier. Caught your video at a Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi, MS and now Im hooked. Best of luck guys and hope to see you soon on tour! Definitely getting the new album!
Lex Chavez
Been here listening since "tell it to the volcano", first band i really feel like i've grown with, keep at'em guys!
Chelsea Howard
definitely going to be the anthem of the summer
(if summer ever happens, it's been winter for at least 6 years)
Vilavain
Everytime I listen to this song I keep thinking of the movie 'the way way back' this song is so perfect for it!
Melissa Laine Scotton
ADORE everything about this video!!! So perfect for your sound! Not gonna complain about the half naked bathing suit shots either! ;)