In February 2005, newspaper writer Tammy LaGorce described Moore as a "lo-fi legend" in the New York Times.
Moore, born in Nashville, Tennessee, made his commercial recording debut at age seven, singing a duet with Jim Reeves entitled "But You Love Me, Daddy" on the RCA Victor album Songs to Warm the Heart.
Moore was gifted with intuitive proficiency for guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, and songwriting. In 1966, he began pursuing what would become his lifelong passion, home recording, using a reel-to-reel tape deck set up in his basement. In 1967, he formed his first band, The Marlborough (a rock combo). He also began working for his father as a studio musician, and as an assistant at Mimosa Music, his father's music publishing company.
After dropping out of Vanderbilt University in 1971 to pursue a career as a professional artist, performer and entertainer Moore issued his home-recorded 1976 debut album Phonography on his uncle Harry "H.P." Palmer's HP Music label. The initial run was limited to 100 copies. Trouser Press gave the album rave reviews, calling it "an outrageous collection of musical brain spewage" and "a true slash of genius". Moore moved from Nashville to New Jersey shortly afterwards, his uncle releasing two further collections, The Stance EP, and Delicate Tension in 1978 (Moore's home tape releases continuing at the same time).
In 1996, in a gesture far overdue, "Phonography" was listed among "the fifty most significant indie records" in Rolling Stone's Alt-Rock-A-Rama.
1980 saw an important tape release, Clack!, this time recorded professionally. In 1981, Moore set up the RSM Cassette Club as an outlet for his home-recorded work, making available all tapes recorded by Moore stretching back to 1968, each listed with a 'listenability quotient' rating from 1 to 10.
The next LP release was 1984's What's The Point?!! and in the same year Paris' New Rose Records issued a double album compilation, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About R Stevie Moore But Were Afraid To Ask. The label described Moore as "one of the best songwriters of all time".Everything proved particularly popular in France, with a single "Chantilly Lace" from the album becoming a minor sleeper hit there, and prompting Moore to undertake a promotional visit to the country, where he was welcomed with not insignificant adulation and press-buzz. Further albums followed in the 80s, including Verve, Glad Music (this time recorded in a professional studio), (1952-19??), and Teenage Spectacular (described by Moore then as "the most enjoyable project of my career".)
During the 1980s Moore appeared sporadically on the Uncle Floyd TV show, a tongue-in-cheek, public-access style clown, puppet and variety show that broadcast out of New Jersey.
Moore was an early on-air personality at WFMU, an independent free-form radio station out of New Jersey.
Around 1988, Moore started working in home video, and he is now active on YouTube and MySpace.
The advent of CD-R as a medium for self-issued music brought Moore and his fans new enthusiasm for his home recording, and in 1999 the cassette club became the "R. Stevie Moore CDR Club" (CDRSMCLUB).
In 2002 Moore recorded an album with Half Japanese frontman Jad Fair, titled FairMoore, described as "a lovely, heartfelt effort that shows both in top form" by Dave Mandl, who stated that it "brings together two fiercely original figures in the American music underground", the album consisting of Fair reciting his poetry over Moore's instrumental backing.
Throughout the 2000s Moore, has continued to issue more official CD's released on various independent labels around the world. He also worked on several mail collaborations with Terry Burrows (aka Yukio Yung), Ariel Pink, Lane Steinberg and others.
Moore contributed a track to the 2007 Worried Noodles compilation on Tomlab, alongside David Byrne, Deerhoof and Liars, compiled by British artist David Shrigley. Shrigley also interviewed Moore for BOMB Magazine magazine that year.
I Wish I Could Sing
R. Stevie Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scan, That's crazy
Please don't go away
Cause baby I told you to stay
Wake up in the morning, same old circle again
Go to school, go to work
I wish my life could end
Bad thoughts in my head here we go again
I'm depressed and I'm tryna fight it
I'm fucked up and I'm tryna hide it
My heart is burning just like fire
Everytime I here your voice I get higher
And yeah I remember back in summer
We used to talk everyday now I'm a loner
I did everything for you but you left me one night
I would give you the world just to keep you by my side
And I'm the type of guy that hate the other side
R.I.P Juice Wrld, you know legends never die
You're love was like a gift
Can I get you back I wish
Treat you right, I know I missed
I know our fight isn't finished
Please don't go away
Cause baby I told you to stay
Wake up in the morning, same old circle again
Go to school, go to work
I wish my life could end
Bad thoughts in my head here we go again
I'm all alone inside, wish I had more friends
I'm depressed and I'm tryna fight it
I'm fucktop and I'm tryna hide it
My heart is burning just like fire
Everytime I here your voice I get higher
And yeah I remember back in summer
We used to talk everyday now I'm a loner
The lyrics to R. Stevie Moore's song "I Wish I Could Sing" express a profound sense of loneliness, depression, and longing for connection. The opening lines, "You did it Z.F.R, Scan, That's crazy, Please don't go away, Cause baby I told you to stay," could be interpreted as a plea to someone named Z.F.R to not leave. The singer feels desperate for this person's presence, as if they are a source of comfort or stability in an otherwise tumultuous life.
The following lines, "Wake up in the morning, same old circle again, Go to school, go to work, I wish my life could end, Bad thoughts in my head here we go again, I'm all alone inside, wish I had more friends," paint a picture of a monotonous and unfulfilling routine. The singer is trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of going through the motions, haunted by negative thoughts and a profound sense of isolation. They long for more meaningful connections and struggle with their mental health.
The song also touches upon a past relationship, reminiscing about a summer when the singer and someone else used to talk every day. However, now they feel like a loner, left behind by that person. They express regret for not treating them right and wish they could have them back. The mention of Juice Wrld's death and the line "R.I.P Juice Wrld, you know legends never die" reflects a sense of loss and admiration for the late artist, perhaps drawing a parallel between the singer's own struggles and the struggles of a talented musician.
Line by Line Meaning
You did it Z.F.R
I acknowledge your accomplishment, Z.F.R
Scan, That's crazy
Wow, that's unbelievable
Please don't go away
I beg you to stay with me
Cause baby I told you to stay
Because I explicitly instructed you to remain
Wake up in the morning, same old circle again
Every day starts with the monotonous routine
Go to school, go to work
Attend classes and engage in employment
I wish my life could end
I desire for my existence to cease
Bad thoughts in my head here we go again
Negative thoughts resurface once more
I'm all alone inside, wish I had more friends
I feel isolated internally and long for a larger social circle
I'm depressed and I'm tryna fight it
I am struggling to combat my depression
I'm fucked up and I'm tryna hide it
I am emotionally damaged and attempting to conceal it
My heart is burning just like fire
My heart is filled with intense and consuming pain
Everytime I hear your voice I get higher
Your voice has an intoxicating effect on me
And yeah I remember back in summer
I recall the memories from the previous summer
We used to talk everyday now I'm a loner
We used to have daily conversations, but now I am isolated
I did everything for you but you left me one night
I devoted myself entirely to you, yet you abandoned me suddenly
I would give you the world just to keep you by my side
I am willing to sacrifice everything to have you stay with me
And I'm the type of guy that hate the other side
I am someone who despises opposing viewpoints
R.I.P Juice Wrld, you know legends never die
Rest in peace, Juice Wrld, as you were an immortal talent
You're love was like a gift
Your love was akin to a precious present
Can I get you back I wish
I fervently desire to regain your affection
Treat you right, I know I missed
I acknowledge that I failed to treat you well
I know our fight isn't finished
I am aware that our conflict is not yet resolved
Please don't go away
I implore you not to leave
Cause baby I told you to stay
Because I explicitly instructed you to remain
Wake up in the morning, same old circle again
Every day starts with the monotonous routine
Go to school, go to work
Attend classes and engage in employment
I wish my life could end
I desire for my existence to cease
Bad thoughts in my head here we go again
Negative thoughts resurface once more
I'm all alone inside, wish I had more friends
I feel isolated internally and long for a larger social circle
I'm depressed and I'm tryna fight it
I am struggling to combat my depression
I'm fucktop and I'm tryna hide it
I am emotionally damaged and attempting to conceal it
My heart is burning just like fire
My heart is filled with intense and consuming pain
Everytime I hear your voice I get higher
Your voice has an intoxicating effect on me
And yeah I remember back in summer
I recall the memories from the previous summer
We used to talk everyday now I'm a loner
We used to have daily conversations, but now I am isolated
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Sean Celamy, Zachary Franc
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zack M
7 years before Guided by Voices, unreal. This guy is a pioneer.
The Headphone A-Hole
This guy was out in the 50's
DerekG
This has existed my whole life...and I'm just finding it now.
Bogey Music
Same here, 5 years later...
Torko
@Bogey Music same here, 5 years and 8 months later
dav cav
me today
Tavion
Seven years later too
Michael B
Yup
nymphocat
It will never cease to amuse me how oblivious people are of the weight of the title this man has in music history. "Father of Lo-fi DIY music". I mean, come on, this man, in theory, singlehandedly created the concept of modern music!
warship satin
why are you so smugly repeating something you only recently learned