In the summer of 1991, the band officially changed its name to Poor Old Lu, which is taken out of the first book in C.S.Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. In spring of 1992 the group released their first full-length demo entitled Star-Studded Super Step. After Aaron & Jesse's father passed their demo to Randy Stonehill, the group was signed to Alarma Records in the summer of 1993.
Their first album released with Alarma Records was entitled Mindsize, a critically praised release from the foursome. The next summer the band regrouped to record their second album. Wanting to capture a more raw sound on the record, the group teamed up with engineer & producer John Goodmanson. Simply called Sin, the group released the album to high reviews and a growing fan base.
In the midst of their constant touring at this time, the group took about a month in the late spring of 1995 to record an elusive experimental EP entitled Straight Six. The EP saw new musical steps for the group as well as guest vocals from Jeremy Enigk and a cover of The Swoon's Speak Soft.
After an unsuccessful tour in the summer of 1995, the band's financial status forced the group to gain part-time or full-time jobs to help keep the group and their families afloat. With less time for shows and writing music, the group didn't start to seriously talk again of next album until the spring of 1996. Already the band had started tossing around the idea that this album might be their last album and shutting things down altogether. With a few songs in hand, the group entered the studio with Gene Eugene mixing and co-producing the album. Diverse as their previous albums, A Picture of the Eighth Wonder was released as the band began talking about their impending split. As a way for the band to reminisce once more over the years, in November of 1996 in front of packed house in Wallingford, WA the group played its farewell concert. Recorded and later released the next year, In Their Final Performance captures the memorable evening from a group who knew their time had finally come.
In the years following the disbanding, the group released a self-selected greatest hits disc entitled Chrono: 1993-1998, which featured a number of remixes of fan favorite songs. Five years after the group went their ways, these four high-school friends rejoined for a single album with Tooth & Nail Records. In 2001 the group released their last disc, The Waiting Room. Released to mixed reviews, the group did minimal tour support for the album.
Since Poor Old Lu almost all of the band members have gone on within some musical project in one way or another. In 1997 Nick Barber and Aaron Sprinkle formed the group Rose Blossom Punch with two other friends. Released through Sara Bellum Records, Ephemere was released to good reviews. Yet the group suffered through a number of label issues which not only delayed their next album, but eventually altogether shelved the album entirely. Offered eventually as limited-time download through MP3.COM, by the time the six-song EP entitled Sorry To Disappoint You was released the band had long been disbanded and Aaron Sprinkle had begun his solo career, releasing his debut solo disc Moontraveler. Aaron went on to release three more albums: The Kindest Days, Bareface, and a greatest hits disc Lackluster.
Both Aaron Sprinkle and Jesse Sprinkle released solo discs over the next few years, with Aaron also starting to produce records for Tooth & Nail Records.
In 2006 Nick Barber and Aaron Sprinkle once again rejoined, adding Erick Newbill and Joey Sanchez as the group Fair. The group released their debut album The Best Worst-Case Scenario to solid reviews. To all Poor Old Lu fans out there, the album gives hope that we'll be able to enjoy this favorite group in some form or fashion for the foreseeable future.
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Poor Old Lu Lyrics
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And when I wept I knew not what
Or when or why what for
Is this earth so great though it will not last
Through crashing walls what stands is
One good thing one way one chance
And glimmer shining up and through the floor
Just like He said it would before
And now my head is really spinning fast
I lived it all for me
And now it simply moved right past
Seeing, revealing
More is here today
Distance, no wisdom
I pushed true life away
"Wonderful" have I missed and I ignore
And "terrible" was my word
And was my life I became poor
Self was in my hands and then it passed
I'm left with picture perfect thought
Of what we think we have
Imagine when I found I'm no savior
Imagine when I knew and saw
And fell before the Lord
Myself none of any good my world crashed
I lived it all for me
And so it simply moved right past.
The song "More" by Poor Old Lu is a reflection of the singer's realization of his own self-absorption and ignorance towards the wonders and beauty of the world around him. The lyrics express a sense of regret and a desire for a deeper understanding of life. The singer is coming to terms with the fact that there is more to life than what he has been able to see and experience so far.
The line "oblivious to some things more in store" suggests that the singer is starting to recognize that there are opportunities and experiences beyond what he has known so far, but he has been too preoccupied with himself to notice them. The following lines express confusion and a sense of being lost, as the singer cannot understand why life feels empty and unsatisfying. The line "is this earth so great though it will not last" implies a sense of disillusionment with the temporality of life and the material world.
However, the chorus of the song offers a glimmer of hope. The singer acknowledges that there is more to life than what he has experienced, and that there is a chance to find something worthwhile. The line "seeing, revealing, more is here today" suggests that the singer is starting to see the world in a new light and is being opened up to new experiences.
The second verse further explores the concept of the self-absorption and ignorance that the singer is grappling with. The line "self was in my hands and then it passed" implies that the singer once had control over his life and his own sense of self, but now feels like he has lost that control. The idea of the self as something that can be held in one's hands is a metaphor for the sense of control and ownership that we often have over our own lives.
Overall, "More" is a song about self-discovery and coming to terms with the fact that there is more to life than what we know and experience. It is a reflection on the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and the importance of being open to new experiences and perspectives.
Line by Line Meaning
Oblivious to some things more in store
Unaware of the greater things that are yet to come.
And when I wept I knew not what
When I cried, I did not understand why.
Or when or why what for
I did not know the reason behind my tears.
Is this earth so great though it will not last
Although this world is temporary, is it really that valuable?
Through crashing walls what stands is
Amid chaos and destruction, the only thing that remains is...
One good thing one way one chance
...one valuable opportunity to do something good.
And glimmer shining up and through the floor
There is a faint light shining through the darkness.
Will run and hide and fade
But it will disappear quickly.
Just like He said it would before
This was predicted a long time ago.
And now my head is really spinning fast
I am overwhelmed and confused.
I lived it all for me
I only cared about myself.
And now it simply moved right past
And now that time is gone.
Seeing, revealing
Discovering, uncovering.
More is here today
Something greater is available in the present moment.
Distance, no wisdom
Being far away does not necessarily mean being wise.
I pushed true life away
I rejected genuine, meaningful experiences in favor of self-indulgence.
Wonderful have I missed and I ignore
I have overlooked the good and positive things in life.
And terrible was my word
I used negative language to describe my experiences.
And was my life I became poor
My negative outlook made me feel impoverished.
Self was in my hands and then it passed
I was in control of my own life, but that control slipped away.
I'm left with picture perfect thought
All I have left are idealized memories.
Of what we think we have
Of what we believed was valuable.
Imagine when I found I'm no savior
It was a shock when I realized I could not save myself or anyone else.
Imagine when I knew and saw
It was an awakening when I finally understood.
And fell before the Lord
I humbled myself before a higher power.
Myself none of any good my world crashed
When I recognized my own limitations, my world fell apart.
I lived it all for me
Once again, I only cared about myself.
And so it simply moved right past
And once again, time passed me by.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CINDY MORGAN, CINDY LAVONNE MORGAN, DAN MUCKALA, DANIEL JOHN MUCKALA, JODY MCBRAYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind