Nuclear Rabbit was started in 1989 by bassist Jean Baudin, who was influenced by a variety of music styles, including Fishbone and Bad Brains, and envisioned having a band not bound to any genre. He was soon joined by guitarist Pat Garner and drummer Steve "Stymie" Sigaty. Originally Baudin performed the vocals, but Greg Parrish was eventually asked to step in as vocalist. Nuclear Rabbit incorporates a variety of genres in their music, including metal, funk, ska, hardcore, punk, jazz, East Indian, and Egyptian. Baudin uses a variety of bass techniques, including tapping, slapping and popping. Their music is often characterized by sudden tempo changes and wacky musical stylings.
The band recorded several demos, some of which are included on the compilation Vicuna. After a quick switch of guitarists, Nuclear Rabbit recorded their first full-length album, Intestinal Fortitude, in 1998. Soon after, Greg left the band and was replaced by Jon Scullion, with whom they recorded their More Human EP.
In 2000, following More Human, Nuclear Rabbit went on hiatus. During this time Jean and Steve formed an alternative rock style group called Element of Surprise, often stylized as "E:OS." The band was formed as a supergroup of underground artists, eventually including vocalist Andy Slipka of Tribal Disco Noise and guitarist Raye Medeiros of Ten Man Killer. Medeiros left the band some time after, and Baudin asked Pat Garner to step in. They recorded two demos,"2:001" and U:pside Down, before the band called it quits in 2002.
Nuclear Rabbit reunited in 2002 with its original line-up and recorded their 2nd full length, Mutopia, the title being a portmanteau of the words mutation and utopia. The album was well received,[citation needed] but the band went through more line-up changes following the supporting tour. A few shows were played in the Northern California area in 2008 with new guitarist Macy Mullen, as well as new drummer Timothy Bailey, though the band is now currently on an unofficial hiatus, with a status of "Writing New Tunes!" on their official MySpace page for 3 years with no updates. In August, 2011, the band announced their first show in three years via JeanBaudin.com, and played an hour-long set on October 8th, 2011, at 924 Gilman in Berkeley, CA.
Shoes Don't Fit
Nuclear Rabbit Lyrics
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My legs are quakin'. I paid my dues. I wanna be changin'.
I wanna be different. I wanna be you. Sweet little pixie.
You're gonna fix me. My waitin' is through.
Sweet Jesus. Heavens to Betsy. What did you do?
Well, these shoes are crazy. They're makin' me lazy.
I'm naked and bruised. I'm beaten and battered. My spirits are shattered.
These shoes fit? THE SHOES DON'T FIT! (x4)
SHOES DON'T FIT - You can't wear them! (x4)
And then he walked away (x8)
The lyrics to Nuclear Rabbit's song "Shoes Don't Fit" talk about a person who is waiting for a "shoe fairy" or someone to come and help him with his shoe problems. The person's feet are aching and they want to change, but they are waiting for someone else to come and save them. The lyrics use imagery of being beaten and battered and feeling confused to convey the sense of desperation this person is experiencing.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Shoes don't fit" four times, emphasizing the frustration of not being able to find the right footwear. The repetition of the phrase also adds a catchy and memorable element to the song. The bridge of the song references Sweet Jesus and Heavens to Betsy, showing that the person is overwhelmed and almost helpless in their situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Shoes Don't Fit" convey a feeling of frustration and desperation, showing how even small things like poorly-fitting shoes can have a big impact on a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby. Shoe fairy baby. I'm waitin' for you. My feet are achin'.
The singer patiently awaits the shoe fairy, hoping to be relieved of his sore feet.
My legs are quakin'. I paid my dues. I wanna be changin'.
His legs hurt from standing too long and he's ready for a change. He has learned from his past and is now seeking an upgrade in shoes.
I wanna be different. I wanna be you. Sweet little pixie. You're gonna fix me. My waitin' is through.
He wants to be unique and believes that new shoes are going to change everything. He's confident in the shoe fairy's ability to help him.
Sweet Jesus. Heavens to Betsy. What did you do? Well, these shoes are crazy. They're makin' me lazy. I'm naked and bruised. I'm beaten and battered. My spirits are shattered. I'm fellin' confused.
The singer is in disbelief with the uncomfortable shoes he has acquired. The shoes are causing him to feel lazy, weak and confused, and have left him in pain and disarray.
Hey baby, my shoe fairy baby. Maybe some boots?
He politely requests if the shoe fairy has any boots, as the options so far have failed him.
These shoes fit? THE SHOES DON'T FIT! (x4)
The shoes the singer has been given are too uncomfortable and don't fit him properly. This line is repeated to drive home the severity of the situation.
SHOES DON'T FIT - You can't wear them! (x4)
The shoes are unwearable due to the immense pain they cause. This line is repeated to emphasize the impossibility of wearing them.
And then he walked away (x8)
The song ends with the singer left alone with his uncomfortable shoes, emphasizing the lack of a resolution to his problem.
Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.