In 1990, Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat. The band released two self-released cassettes and one 7" single before dissolving in 1993. Quasi started recording as a duo in 1993. They played with various additional musicians in early live appearances, but eventually settled on playing live as a duo as well. They self-recorded and self-released a cassette and a CD in 1993. They recorded R&B Transmogrification in the Portland band Pond's basement recording studio and released it on Up Records in 1997. They released two more albums with Up: Featuring "Birds" in 1998 and Field Studies in 1999; both albums were recorded at Jackpot Studios in Portland, Oregon.
In 1998 and 1999 they toured the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan opening for and serving as the backup band for Elliott Smith (who Coomes had played with in Heatmiser) as well as touring on their own in the U.S. and Europe. In 2001 They home-recorded The Sword of God and released it on Touch & Go. Quasi had been somewhat political since its inception, but their opposition to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq showed through in a straight-forward way with the release of Hot Shit! in 2003, particularly in the songs "White Devil's Dream" and "Master and Dog." When the Going Gets Dark followed in 2006, released on Touch & Go in the U.S. and Domino Records in Europe, as with Hot Shit!.
In Spring 2009, the band announced that they had signed to the Kill Rock Stars label, and were due to release their already recorded next album in the latter half of the year. That album, entitled American Gong, was released February 23, 2010 to generally favorable reviews. It was their first and only album to feature third member Joanna Bolme. Following a tour of Japan, Europe, and the United States in support of the full length, Bolme left the band. A duo again, Sam and Janet are recording material for a new album.
Hot Shit
Quasi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wild goose or Holy Grail
(Goodbye)
Red herring or the great white whale
(Goodbye)
Not many live to tell the tale
(Goodbye)
Little things that just don't matter
(Goodbye)
Still can get me as mad as a hatter
(Goodbye)
Hot shit on a silver platter
(Goodbye)
(Goodbye)
I let go and I float away
(Goodbye)
A million miles in a couple of days
(Goodbye)
I just came back here to say
Goodbye (Goodbye)
The song "Hot Shit" by Quasi is a reflective piece about saying goodbye, whether it’s to something small or significant. The first verse mentions the notion of either chasing after something "Wild goose or Holy Grail" or being sidetracked by something irrelevant "Red herring or the great white whale". The idea is that whatever the chase may be, it’s a risk that not everyone succeeds at, and not many come back to tell their side of the story. The repetition of "Goodbye" throughout the song further emphasises the theme of parting ways, whether it’s with the things that matter or not.
The chorus continues to embody the theme of letting go with the line "I let go and I float away", illustrating that the singer is ready to say goodbye after spending a long time trying to maintain a certain aspect of their life. The metaphorical use of the phrase "Hot shit on a silver platter" suggests that whatever the singer was trying to pursue, it was once offered to them on a plate, but now it’s become insignificant. The verse "Little things that just don't matter" highlights that even the small things that do not seem important can get the singer as mad as a hatter. It’s an acknowledgment that some things may seem trivial, but can still cause frustration and eventually become a reason for saying goodbye.
Overall, "Hot Shit" is a song about letting go, moving on and saying goodbye, whether it’s to something significant or minor. It emphasises that even when chasing a dream may result in failure, it's always better to confront the issue and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild goose or Holy Grail
Choices in life can sometimes equate to determining whether something is a wild goose chase or a pursuit of a valuable purpose
Red herring or the great white whale
It's often hard to distinguish between what is real and what is just a distraction
Not many live to tell the tale
Few individuals come out victorious after chasing their dreams, but the experience of chasing them is what makes life worth living
Little things that just don't matter
There may be small things that don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but they still hold weight in affecting one's mood and behavior
Still can get me as mad as a hatter
Despite their insignificance, trivial things can stir up strong emotions and make one feel insane
Hot shit on a silver platter
Receiving instant gratification can be satisfying but is ultimately shallow and short-lived
I let go and I float away
Sometimes the best thing to do is to let go and let life take its course
A million miles in a couple of days
Time can feel like it's moving fast when things are constant, and life can pull you in many directions
I just came back here to say
Even after moving on, one can return to where they started just to remind themselves of where they've been
Goodbye (Goodbye)
Sometimes the best thing to do is to say goodbye and move on to new things
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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