While Pere Ubu have never been widely popular—usually categorized as "underground rock"—they have a devoted following, have been hugely influential on several generations of avant-garde musicians and are a critically acclaimed American musical group. To define their music, Pere Ubu coined the term Avant Garage to reflect interest in both avant-garde music (especially Musique concrète) and raw, direct garage rock.
When Cleveland-based band Rocket From The Tombs fragmented some members formed Dead Boys, while David Thomas and guitarist Peter Laughner joined with guitarist Tom Herman, bass guitarist Tim Wright, drummer Scott Krauss and synthesist Allen Ravenstine to form Pere Ubu in 1975. At the time the band formed, Herman, Krauss, and Ravenstine lived in a house owned by Ravenstine.
Pere Ubu's first single (their first five releases were singles on their own "Hearthan" label) was "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (inspired by the "Doolittle Raid" and named after a film depicting the raid), backed with "Heart of Darkness"; followed by "Final Solution" in 1976. One review noted that "30 Seconds..." "was clearly the work of a garage band, yet its arty dissonance and weird experimentalism were startlingly unique."
Of their second single, "Final Solution" (backed with "Cloud 149"), one reviewer wrote that Ubu's "call for a 'final solution' was the cry of teen angst run down in the decaying rust belt of America, and unlike the British punks who were looking around England the same year, seeing no future, and hating what they saw, Ubu reveled in it." They would rarely perform this song after some listeners misinterpreted it as being associated with the 'Nazi final solution'.
After "Street Waves", their third single, Pere Ubu signed to Blank Records, a short-lived imprint of Mercury Records.
Laughner left the group after their first two singles, and died soon afterward after a struggle with drug addiction. Tony Maimone signed on as bassist after Tim Wright left to join DNA.
In 1978 they released their debut album, The Modern Dance, which sold poorly but has proven influential. With the song "Sentimental Journey," the debut also introduced the practice of re-appropriating titles from well-known popular songs: Pere Ubu's "Sentimental Journey" has no obvious relation to the Doris Day hit song of the same name; "Drinking Wine Spodyody" has no apparent connection to the Sticks McGhee song (later revived by Jerry Lee Lewis). This practice has continued through 2006's Why I Hate Women, which has a song called "Blue Velvet" (again, no relation to the 1963 hit song by Bobby Vinton).
Special note should be made of Ravenstine's contributions to Pere Ubu. While most synthesizer players tended to play the instrument as they would a piano or organ, Ravenstine generally opted instead to make sounds that were reminiscent of spooky sound effects from 1950s science fiction films, or perhaps electronic music and musique concrète.
Dub Housing was released in 1978 and New Picnic Time in 1979. The group briefly disbanded in 1979, but reformed soon afterward with Tom Herman replaced by Mayo Thompson (of Red Krayola).
The Art of Walking was released in 1980, and by the release of Song of the Bailing Man in 1982, Krauss was replaced by Anton Fier. The group disbanded again soon afterwards; Krauss and Maimone formed Home and Garden, while Thomas worked on a solo career, notably with Richard Thompson and with members of Henry Cow.
By the late 1980s, one of Thomas' solo projects eventually featured much of Pere Ubu. The band was reformed again in 1987, with Jim Jones and Chris Cutler joining for the release of The Tenement Year in 1988, a far more pop-oriented album than ever before. The following year, the track "Waiting for Mary" (off the album 1989 Cloudland) appeared on MTV briefly. After the recording of Cloudland, Ravenstine left the group (although he made a guest appearance on Worlds in Collision in 1991) and later became an airline pilot. Eric Drew Feldman joined the band in time for the Cloudland tour and the recording of Worlds in Collision but left afterwards, joining Frank Black.
Story of My Life was released in 1993 on Imago Records; Maimone left (once again) to join They Might Be Giants, and Michele Temple and Garo Yellin joined the band for the Story of My Life tour and feature on Ubu's 1995 album, Ray Gun Suitcase. Robert Wheeler has played synthesizer and theremin with Pere Ubu since 1994. Krauss left the band during the Ray Gun Suitcase sessions. For the Ray Gun Suitcase tour, guitarist Jim Jones departed as a touring member (although he continued to contribute to recordings), founding guitarist Tom Herman replaced him for the tour.
Concurrent with the 1996 release of the Datapanik in Year Zero box set, Jim Jones retired due to health problems. Tom Herman returned to the band after a twenty year absence to tour with the band in 1995, and went on to record Pennsylvania in 1998 and St. Arkansas in 2002. Jim Jones contributed guitar tracks to each album as well, and guitarist Wayne Kramer of MC5 fame joined the band for their 1998 summer tour. Herman left again in 2005, being replaced by Keith Moliné, of David Thomas's "solo" group Two Pale Boys. The new lineup completed an album entitled Why I Hate Women, which was released on September 19th 2006.
On 18 February 2008, Jim Jones passed away at his Cleveland residence.
Laughing
Pere Ubu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
Far away the stars are coming all undone
My baby says
My baby says, But that's far away
And we're young
My baby says
My baby says
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
In the desert sands
Our hearts are brighter than the sun
My baby says
When the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby says
My baby says, And if he shows his face
We'll laugh
The lyrics of Pere Ubu's song Laughing convey a sense of hope and optimism that is juxtaposed against a backdrop of emptiness and uncertainty. The singer's baby tells him that they can find meaning and purpose in the empty spaces of life, and that even in the face of darkness (represented by the devil), they will prevail.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for this message of hope: "My baby says we can live in the empty spaces of this life." This suggests that there is potential for growth and fulfillment even in the most barren and desolate environments. The repetition of this line throughout the song emphasizes the importance of this message.
Later in the song, the baby mentions that the stars are "coming all undone," which can be interpreted in a number of ways. It could mean that everything is falling apart, or that there is a sense of chaos and instability in the universe. However, the fact that the baby remains optimistic in the face of this uncertainty is a testament to his/her resilience.
The baby's assertion that "our hearts are brighter than the sun" in the desert sands is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even in the most inhospitable environments, there is still the potential for love and warmth. And when the devil comes, rather than succumbing to fear, the baby and protagonist choose to face him head-on, armed with a gun and a sense of humor.
Overall, the lyrics of Laughing convey a sense of hope and resilience in the face of uncertainty and emptiness. The baby's repeated message that there is potential for growth and meaning in the empty spaces of life is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even in the bleakest of circumstances, we can still find purpose and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby says
The singer is recounting the words of their significant other, referred to as 'my baby.'
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby suggests that they can find fulfillment in the gaps and missing pieces of life.
Far away the stars are coming all undone
My baby envisions a distant future where even the cosmos is unraveling.
But that's far away
Although my baby sees this future, it's not something that is currently affecting them.
And we're young
My baby acknowledges their youth and ability to enjoy life in the present moment.
And if the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby has a fierce determination to fight against evil or negativity that may come their way.
In the desert sands
My baby now brings to mind a barren, harsh environment.
Our hearts are brighter than the sun
Despite the desolation of the desert, my baby finds hope and love within themselves.
And if he shows his face
Once again, my baby refers to the devil, suggesting they are ready and willing to face adversity.
We'll laugh
My baby expresses a sense of fearlessness or even amusement at the thought of facing challenges head on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Written by: ALLEN RAVENSTINE, DAVID THOMAS, SCOTT KRAUSS, TOM HERMAN, TONY MAIMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheKillingWomb
My baby says
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
Far away the stars are coming all undone
My baby says
My baby says, But that's far away
And we're young
My baby says
And if the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby says
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
In the desert sands
Our hearts are brighter than the sun
My baby says
When the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby says
My baby says, And if he shows his face
We'll laugh
Diane H
Early Ubu was the greatest band of all time.
theharakiriboy turned out
For sure!
Matteo Baldocchi
Early, late, after, then, between 100 years
Vidar Larsen
This band is together with The Only Ones, the most underrated band of all time I think. This song is really special. One of my all time favourites.
jim hanson
I think this is one of the greatest love songs of all time.
Steven Nicholas
My favourite song of all time.
TheKillingWomb
My baby says
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
Far away the stars are coming all undone
My baby says
My baby says, But that's far away
And we're young
My baby says
And if the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby says
We can live in the empty spaces of this life
My baby says
In the desert sands
Our hearts are brighter than the sun
My baby says
When the devil comes we'll shoot him with a gun
My baby says
My baby says, And if he shows his face
We'll laugh
Michał Pasternacki
This chorus is one of heaviest objects in universe.
Hayes
It is truly amazing how something this weird could have existed in the '70s. They were post punk before punk even coalesced. It is entirely too easy to be weird now and accepted for it; in the '70s, listening to this would have gotten your ass kicked on a daily basis.
Foxybingo111
Brian Whitehorn I guess people pining for the 70s to come back because of the music should take that into account