Founded as "The Hippyshakes" in the 1980s, the band became "Shake" and was characterised by a strawberry logo. In 1991, Jimi Shields joined the band and suggested a name change to "Rollerskate Skinny", chosen from a line in The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger:
"She's quite skinny, like me, but nice skinny, rollerskate skinny."
Rollerskate Skinny consisted of Ken Griffin, Ger Griffin (no relation), Jimi Shields and Steve Murray. Shields wrote material and played guitar & drums for much of the band's history but left due to constant media references to his brother which threatened to distract from the band itself.
After the release of "Shoulder Voices" in 1993, to much stateside critical acclaim, Rollerskate Skinny's four original members signed with the Sire imprint of Warner Bros. Records. Following Shields' departure The album Horsedrawn Wishes was recorded and subsequently released in February, 1996 to a great deal of praise, particularly in the Irish music press.
All of those involved with Rollerskate Skinny have gone on to other musical projects: Ken Griffin moved to New York City and formed the band Kid Silver, releasing the album Dead City Sunbeams in 1999. In 2004 Ken joined members of the former Philadelphia band, Aspera, to form his current band, Favourite Sons who are signed to Vice Records. Since Rollerskate Skinny, Ger and Steve worked on the project Walker. Stevie since started the band Empire, now known as The Radio.
One Thousand Couples
Rollerskate Skinny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
are aching for life quite apart from the flow
do you distance yourself from the courage of crowds to get through the day
so who am I
to be so sire that
we are the lost souls
we have been suffering
could you float a candle on the fallen tears
before welcoming the waves
down the corridors
could you see to it that the given up dreamers
are talked of well
so who am I to be so sure to
be so sure that we are the lost souls
we have been suffering
one thousand couples in a seizure of delight at the failing energy energy for like dreamers and losers never die loners and seekers never die
they just drag those bodies along to remind themselves they don't belong
Rollerskate Skinny's "One Thousand Couples" is a complex and introspective song that explores themes of alienation, identity, and the human condition. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of two contrasting images – the head of Gethsemane and the bathwater baby – which represent two distinct aspects of the self that are struggling to reconcile with one other. The Gethsemane head represents the intellectual, analytical, and contemplative side of the self, while the bathwater baby symbolizes the emotional, sensual, and spontaneous aspects of the self.
The song's narrator questions his own identity and the nature of human existence when he asks, "who am I / to be so sure that we are the lost souls / we have been suffering?" This line suggests a sense of uncertainty and doubt about his place in the world and his ability to understand the complexities of the human experience. He also reflects on the tendency of individuals to distance themselves from the "courage of crowds" in order to survive the day, hinting at the idea that there is a need for solitude and introspection in a world that is often overwhelming and chaotic.
The final stanza of the song brings together the various themes and images discussed throughout the lyrics. The image of "one thousand couples in a seizure of delight" represents the human desire for connection and intimacy, but there is a sense that these moments of joy and ecstasy are fleeting and transitory. The line "like dreamers and losers never die / loners and seekers never die" suggests that there are certain aspects of the self that endure beyond the physical realm, and that there is a kind of existential struggle that is inherent in the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
The Gethsemane head and the bathwater baby
Both the suffering and innocent people in the world are longing for a purpose.
are aching for life quite apart from the flow
They desire a meaningful existence beyond the mundane day-to-day.
do you distance yourself from the courage of crowds to get through the day
Do you rely on your own self-will and determination to push through life's difficulties?
so who am I
to be so sure that
we are the lost souls
we have been suffering
Who am I to claim that we are all wandering aimlessly, lost and in pain?
could you float a candle on the fallen tears
before welcoming the waves
Can you find hope in despair and overcome it?
down the corridors
could you see to it that the given up dreamers
are talked of well
Can you honor and remember those who once had aspirations and inspire them again?
so who am I to be so sure to
be so sure that we are the lost souls
we have been suffering
Who am I to confidently claim that we are all lost and suffering?
one thousand couples in a seizure of delight
at the failing energy energy for like dreamers and losers
never die
loners and seekers never die
they just drag those bodies along
to remind themselves they don't belong
There are countless pairs of people who find joy in accepting their limitations as outsiders, keeping their dreams alive as they carry on living among us.
Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.