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.
Slow
Poor Old Lu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This song is very much written with 'emotions' in mind - literally. Some lines refer to colors. Some lines refer to common feelings that we have. Other lines note environmental shifts - weather and such. I'm not sure if this song is really clever or just very silly. No matter, because the chorus holds the song together nicely: things get crazy, Lord, so please slow us down. That's still true.
Green I've seen
As jealous as anything
Weep to sleep over you
I feel - and I kill
the sea in me
Toss me up, around indeed
I will - be still
it's all chasing, racing
Often crazy
Does it show?
But I've been praying lately
And Christ will slow me, free
I know
red I'm dead
"grief has got me" so I've said
clear to hear
However gone I could be near
I will - be filled
it's all chasing, racing
Often crazy
Does it show?
(grab me, that I might be awake)
But I've been praying lately
And Christ will slow me, free
I know
(slow me, as I am running way to fast)
the wind in sin
On my hands instead again
instill - Your will
it's all chasing, racing
Often crazy
Does it show?
(grab me, that I might be awake)
But I've been praying lately
And Christ will slow me, free
I know
(slow me, as I am running way to fast)
The lyrics of "Slow" by Poor Old Lu are quite cryptic and might require multiple listens to fully understand its meaning. The song is often regarded as a 'filler' track on the album "Sin", which might partly explain why it is not very talked about. However, looking beyond its apparent simplicity, the song is full of emotion and can be interpreted as a prayer to Christ to help slow the singer's life down amidst the chaos and distractions of everyday living experiences.
The opening lines use colors to represent jealousy ("green") and sadness ("blue") that can consume us at times. The lyrics then shift to the sea, representing the singer's uncontrollable life being tossed around by uncertain circumstances. The chorus follows, and it encapsulates the central theme: a plea to Christ to slow the singer down and free him from chaotic living. The following verses use the colors red and clear to depict death and hope. The singer acknowledges that life can sometimes feel like a chase, where we are always running tirelessly, but we need to slow down and let Christ help us through it.
The song's lyrical structure is clever, employing various metaphors to depict a chaotic life that needs slowing down. It is a beautiful reminder of how we can get lost in life's busyness, but with Christ's help, we can slow down and see what truly matters. The slow, dreamy music presented complements the lyrics’ mood, making the song highly emotional and specific to the overall theme of the album.
Line by Line Meaning
Green I've seen
As jealous as anything
I have experienced jealousy as intense as the color green
blue it's true
Weep to sleep over you
It's true that I cry myself to sleep over you, represented by the color blue
I feel - and I kill
the sea in me
Toss me up, around indeed
I will - be still
I am overwhelmed with emotions that feel like a tumultuous sea, and I am trying to find stillness amongst it all
it's all chasing, racing
Often crazy
Does it show?
But I've been praying lately
And Christ will slow me, free
I know
Life can be hectic and chaotic, and I wonder if others can see my struggle. I have been praying for help, and I believe that Christ will slow me down and set me free
red I'm dead
"grief has got me" so I've said
I am filled with grief, as represented by the color red, and it's consuming me
clear to hear
However gone I could be near
It may seem like I am far away and absent, but I am still reachable and present
I will - be filled
I will try to fill myself with positivity and goodness despite the struggles I am facing
the wind in sin
On my hands instead again
instill - Your will
I have made mistakes and been led astray, but I am trying to be guided by God's will
slow me, as I am running way to fast(grab me, that I might be awake)
The chorus repeats that I feel like I am running through life too quickly and I need God to grab me and slow me down before I lose sight of what really matters
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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