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.
Never Said
Poor Old Lu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we say the winter kills
but we don't know ourselves
well enough to know if this is true
ask a question here
and get an answer there
well it can take us years to
get to the One that sees us thru
you never said which things were real
i don't always know what's real to me
Someone right here said that He is gonna stay
you never said which things were real
i don't always know what's real to me
Someone right here said He's willing to explain
take a moment now to step out
think what everything is about
turn again to face the proud
they're saying now that they don't know
where to put our hands
who to tell us when and should we can
but we will lose our heads
from watching our confusion grow
does the headache know
do our faces show
that all we think we need
is just the things we want
sometimes i feel so gone
and my ways are often wrong
we've just got to realize
there's Someone more in this song
The lyrics of Poor Old Lu's song Never Said speaks of the confusion and uncertainty that people face in their lives. The first two lines, "in the summer's chill, we say the winter kills", suggest that people often make assumptions and form opinions without fully understanding the truth behind them. The next few lines convey the idea that getting to the truth or finding answers to our questions can be a long and difficult process. The lyrics then shift focus to the concept of reality and truth, with the line "you never said which things were real, I don't always know what's real to me". This highlights the idea that individuals may have differing views and perceptions of reality even if they are presented with the same information. The chorus of the song shifts back to the idea of someone being willing to explain things and guide individuals to the truth.
The next set of lyrics urge listeners to take a step back and think about the larger picture of life, and to turn away from those who are too proud to admit their own confusion. The line "but we will lose our heads from watching our confusion grow" speaks of the danger of constantly dwelling on confusion and uncertainty. The final few lines suggest that people often focus on their own wants and desires, without realizing that there is a greater force at play in their lives.
Overall, the lyrics of Never Said by Poor Old Lu convey the idea that people face confusion and uncertainty in their lives, but that there is a greater truth and force that can guide them to understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
in the summer's chill
Despite the warm weather, we still feel a sense of coldness.
we say the winter kills
We express fear that a harsh winter will harm us but may not realize that it's not the only thing we should be scared of.
but we don't know ourselves
We lack self-awareness.
well enough to know if this is true
Therefore, we are unable to determine if our fear of winter actually has any basis in reality.
ask a question here
When we have queries,
and get an answer there
We may receive answers from different sources.
well it can take us years to
However, it may require numerous years for us to
get to the One that sees us thru
Finally reach the person who possesses the necessary insights to aid us.
you never said which things were real
You failed to clarify which things are genuine and which ones aren't.
i don't always know what's real to me
I, myself, am uncertain of what to believe in.
Someone right here said that He is gonna stay
A person nearby claimed that an individual (possibly a deity) will remain with us.
you never said which things were real
Yet, you lacked the conviction to inform us about what to believe in.
i don't always know what's real to me
As a result, I'm perplexed about what to have faith in.
Someone right here said He's willing to explain
Fortunately, this person has offered to clarify certain aspects for us.
take a moment now to step out
Allocate some time to contemplate and venture outside of your immediate surroundings.
think what everything is about
Contemplate about the reason behind everything that exists.
turn again to face the proud
After reflecting, brace yourself to confront the egotistical people around you.
they're saying now that they don't know
Even they're admitting now that they're at a loss.
where to put our hands
They're unsure of what actions to take.
who to tell us when and should we can
Additionally, they're confused about who is authorized to instruct and what should be done.
but we will lose our heads
The chaos and uncertainty can drive us insane.
from watching our confusion grow
Watching our confusion expand and intensify can be debilitating.
does the headache know
It's rhetorical whether our frustration understands the situation.
do our faces show
Our facial expressions may indicate our level of realization.
that all we think we need
Similarly, all that we think we crave
is just the things we want
may simply be our desires and not our essentials.
sometimes i feel so gone
I often feel lost and disconnected.
and my ways are often wrong
Moreover, I am occasionally misguided.
we've just got to realize
Nevertheless, we must understand
there's Someone more in this song
that there is a higher power involved in this entire scenario.
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.