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.
When I'm Dead
Quasi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in the funeral home
How to best dispose of this dead body now?
Cremation, donation to medical experimentation
Or maybe you'd prefer simple burial
Then find some place to carve the headstone;
It don't matter what it says
As long as it don't have a Christian cross.
The opening lines of the Quasi song "When I'm Dead" explores the irony of the fact that the singer is already dead whereas the person listening to the song is still alive. The song’s mood is sombre, and it begins with the singer's view of the world from beyond the grave. In the song, the singer is addressing someone who would still be alive when they pass away. The lines "when I'm dead you'll be living, standing in the funeral home" seem to suggest that the singer is attempting to anticipate what their loved ones will do once they are no longer around, and provides them with a few ideas or suggestions as to how they would like their remains to be handled.
The following lines, "how to best dispose of this dead body now?" are a rather macabre but somewhat ironic question. It is as if the singer is acknowledging their inevitable death and is resigned to that fact, but is simultaneously trying to take control of the situation even though they will soon no longer have any control. The idea is that they want to help their loved ones out and make the funeral planning process as easy as possible. The lines "cremation, donation to medical experimentation, or maybe you’d prefer simple burial" suggests that the singer is attempting to anticipate what their loved ones would want in terms of the disposal of their body.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm dead, you'll be living,
Once I am no more, you will still be breathing and going about your life.
Standing in the funeral home
In the middle of the funeral parlor, surrounded by the trappings of death.
How to best dispose of this dead body now?
What is the most efficient and effective method for getting rid of this lifeless corpse?
Cremation, donation to medical experimentation
There are a handful of options for disposing of the cadaver, such as burning it to ashes or giving it up to science.
Or maybe you'd prefer simple burial
Perhaps burying the body in a straightforward manner would be preferable.
Then find some place to carve the headstone;
Locate a suitable spot to chisel out the grave marker.
It don't matter what it says
The words etched onto the stone don't hold any significance or weight.
As long as it don't have a Christian cross.
Just make sure that the religious symbol of Christianity does not appear on the tombstone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SAMUEL J. COOMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind