Lorre and guitarist Jet [aka Geoff Siegel] formed the band in New Jersey in the mid 1980s. [The original guitarist who moved to L.A. with Inger was Bobby Belltower.] The band moved to Los Angeles to pursue their musical careers, and after two members returned to New Jersey, Lorre and Jet recruited guitarist Sam Merrick, drummer Alex Kirst and bass player Cliff D [aka Cliff Jones]. The band became known for its wild live shows around Los Angeles, with Lorre once performing oral sex on her boyfriend live on stage.
The band was hoping to sign with an alternative label such as Alternative Tentacles, but their reputation led to interest from the major labels. However, the band's wild behavior led to some companies losing interest. The band was recording a demo for A&M Records when the slick rockstar Bono of U2 walked by as one of the band members was mooning another. Bono called Herb Alpert, which resulted in the session being cancelled.[1]
The Nymphs eventually signed with Geffen Records in 1989, with the label offering an advance of $900,000. The band wanted to record immediately, but faced continuous delays from Geffen. The longest delay was caused when the producer of their album was taken from the project to work on the Guns N' Roses albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.
The delay in recording the album led to rising tension within the band. The band worked on building its name by supporting rising bands such as Soul Asylum and Soundgarden. However, Tom Zutaut, their A&R man, told them not to play live, resulting in a drunken Lorre urinating over his desk as an expression of her anger. The incident attracted widespread attention in the music press, with Rolling Stone magazine quipping: "Talk about being pissed at your record label".[2] Courtney Love of Hole used a recording which Lorre had left on her answering machine for the track "Sassy", which appeared on the Hole album Pretty on the Inside.
The Nymphs made a brief cameo in the 1990 film Bad Influence, performing "The Highway".[1]
The Nymphs eventually released their self-titled album in 1991, but it failed to chart. They were on tour with Peter Murphy when Lorre's ex-fiance Chris Schlosshardt (bassist with the Sea Hags) died of a heroin overdose in February 1991. Shortly afterwards, Lorre suffered a nervous breakdown. The band broke up in 1992, and Lorre returned to New Jersey, destitute and addicted to heroin. An EP called The Practical Guide to Astral Projection, consisting of rarities and outtakes, was released in 1992, but it failed to chart. The Nymphs song "Revolt" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1992 horror film Pet Sematary II.
Inger Lorre eventually resurfaced with the phenomenally artistic 1999 solo album Transcendental Medication.
There is a new version of The Nymphs playing shows in California apparently, but it is almost impossible to find information. Lorre's website is no longer active and no link is given on her MySpace page.
The River
Nymphs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay your pain in the river
A trip to heaven is a heart beat away
All my pain in the river
So you say, that you're all alone
Only the river knows
State my claim to the river
The Sunday sun is shining halos on thee
All mistakes in the river
So you say, that you're all alone
Only the river knows
Majestic waters, wash it away
Lay my pain in the river
A trip to heaven is a heartbeat away
All mistakes in the river
So you say, that you're all alone
Only the river knows
The nymphs' song "The River" is a lyrical masterpiece that speaks to both physical and emotional cleansing. The song's opening lines, "Majestic waters, wash it away/Lay your pain in the river" invite the listener to imagine a river as a purifying force capable of washing away all of their pain and troubles. The symbolism of the river as a place of healing and transformation is further emphasized with the line, "A trip to heaven is a heartbeat away/All my pain in the river," which suggests that one's suffering can be relieved and replaced with a sense of peace and transcendence.
As the song progresses, we learn that the river is also a witness to our deepest fears and emotions. "Only the river knows" is a recurring refrain; it underscores the idea that the river is a trusted confidant, a kind of sacred space where we can lay our burdens down and be seen for who we truly are. The singer recalls being "baptized" in the river and "stating a claim" to it, suggesting a deep, almost spiritual connection to the water. By the end of the song, the refrain has shifted from "Lay your pain in the river" to "Lay my pain in the river," suggesting that the singer has found solace and transformation through the river's power.
Line by Line Meaning
Majestic waters, wash it away
The grand and powerful river is able to cleanse and purify any pain or negativity in life
Lay your pain in the river
Let go of all your anguish and suffering by surrendering it to the river
A trip to heaven is a heart beat away
Death is always looming and makes us realize that we should cherish every moment we have in this life
All my pain in the river
I release all the hurt and discomfort I have ever experienced to the river
So you say, that you're all alone
You feel as if nobody really understands or cares for you
Only the river knows
The river has witnessed all of your struggles and emotions
And beautiful waters, I was baptized by thee
The serene and exquisite river had a profound impact on me and helped me find spiritual clarity
State my claim to the river
I declare my connection and reverence to the river
The Sunday sun is shining halos on thee
The sunlight creates an enchanting and divine aura around the river
All mistakes in the river
I acknowledge and embrace all of the errors and missteps I have made in my life by depositing them into the river
Lay my pain in the river
I surrender all my suffering and discomfort to the river to alleviate my burdens
All mistakes in the river
I renounce all past mistakes and transgressions by casting them away into the river
So you say, that you're all alone
You repeat your feelings of isolation and loneliness
Only the river knows
The river is the sole witness to your deepest emotions and secrets
Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.