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.
The Waiting Room
Poor Old Lu Lyrics
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I was staring at the floor
He was fixed in thought and wonder of what lied behind the door
There was a man with little movement
I knew I'd seen him here before
The people with the children were sick to death and would wait no more
It's been two thousand years or
Have I stopped breathing?
Have I stopped believing?
Believe me, I
He must've talked for forever
I think they finally turned away
And I was thinking to myself I should have plenty more to say
And some were getting very restless
Some were filling up the days
I was hoping that the girl with the curl would be safe
The world it can't be moving
It's been two thousand years or
Have I stopped breathing?
Have I stopped believing?
Believe me, I
Just want to have the patience of a saint who waits at the gate
Please don't be late
The floors are giving in
The walls are getting thin
The clock is moving slow
My breathing comes and goes
The room is getting small
The sin is growing tall
We wait for the day
We wait for the day
The world it can't be moving
It's been two thousand years or
Have I stopped breathing?
Have I stopped believing?
Believe me, I
Just want to have the patience of a saint who waits at the gate
Please don't be late
She was full of good intentions
I was full with all my greed
He was holding out his hands as if to give, as if to bleed
There was a man with little substance
I know I'd seen him here indeed
The people with the children spoke so soft to confess their need
And some are getting hopeless
Some are filling up the days
I am hoping on a promise, on a gift, and so I wait
The lyrics of Poor Old Lu's song "The Waiting Room" speaks about the waiting room of life that is filled with restless people who are waiting for something significant to happen. It highlights the different kinds of people who are present in this room; people who are sick, the restless, the hopeless, and the ones who are full of good intentions, greed, and little substance. The first verse speaks of the singer staring aimlessly at the floor while a lady stares at the ceiling. Meanwhile, another man is preoccupied with what lies behind the door.
The second verse of the song highlights how the people in the waiting room are losing their patience while they wait. The singer reflects on how time seems to be standing still despite the world supposedly turning for two thousand years. The song speaks of the desire to have the patience of a saint who can wait at the gate without being late. The bridge of the song talks about the small room that is becoming increasingly suffocating as everyone waits. Still, amidst all this, there is a glimmer of hope that is spoken of, which the singer is trusting in.
The song ends with a note of positivity, with the singer hoping on a promise, on a gift that they are certain will arrive. In conclusion, this song speaks of different people's struggles and experiences in life as they wait for something positive to happen. Despite the challenging nature of life, there is always hope to hold onto, trust in something good, and hold on until the waiting room ends.
Line by Line Meaning
She was staring at the ceiling
A girl was looking above, perhaps deep in thought or boredom
I was staring at the floor
The singer was also lost in thought and looking downwards
He was fixed in thought and wonder of what lied behind the door
Another person was pondering on what could be behind a door, deep in his own thoughts
There was a man with little movement
A man who appeared unresponsive and barely moved caught the artist's attention
I knew I'd seen him here before
The artist recognized the man, indicating that he's been in the same situation before
The people with the children were sick to death and would wait no more
Families with kids were growing impatient and tired of waiting
The world it can't be moving
It's been two thousand years or
Have I stopped breathing?
Have I stopped believing?
Believe me, I
The singer expresses his confusion and wonder about time and his own existence
He must've talked for forever
I think they finally turned away
And I was thinking to myself I should have plenty more to say
Someone talked for a long time but was ignored, while the artist felt like he had more to contribute
And some were getting very restless
Some were filling up the days
I was hoping that the girl with the curl would be safe
People were getting restless and finding ways to pass the time, while the artist worried about the girl's safety
Just want to have the patience of a saint who waits at the gate
Please don't be late
The artist wishes to have the patience of a saint while waiting for someone, hoping that person isn't late
The floors are giving in
The walls are getting thin
The clock is moving slow
My breathing comes and goes
The room is getting small
The sin is growing tall
We wait for the day
We wait for the day
The setting is deteriorating, and the anticipation and strain of waiting is growing, emphasizing the frustration and hopelessness the singer feels
She was full of good intentions
I was full with all my greed
He was holding out his hands as if to give, as if to bleed
The artist and other people in the room were each experiencing their own emotions and thoughts
There was a man with little substance
I know I'd seen him here indeed
The people with the children spoke so soft to confess their need
The singer observed certain individuals in the room and their behavior during the waiting time
And some are getting hopeless
Some are filling up the days
I am hoping on a promise, on a gift, and so I wait
People's moods are becoming more negative, while the singer holds on to hope while waiting for a promise or gift
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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