Rose Blossom Punch was started in 1995 as a side project by Aaron Sprinkle and Paul Mumaw. Aaron Sprinkle and Nick Barber (bass) had previously played together in Poor Old Lu. Once that group disbanded, Sprinkle and Mumaw decided to join forces with Terry Coggins and Barber and tackle Rose Blossom Punch full time. Their self-released independent recordings were regional hits and earned the band some national attention. Before Poor Old Lu disbanded though, they released two songs: “Sowing In the Sun” (1995) and “See It In Me” (1996) on Tooth & Nail Records's Art Core (volumes 1 & 2 respectively) compilation CDs. They then signed to Five Minute Walk/SaraBellum Records who put a demo of “Based On A True Story” on their Music For Meals: Take Time To Listen Vol. III sampler (1997). Surprisingly, this didn’t end up on Rose Blossom Punch’s subsequent full length - however it was rerecorded for Aaron Sprinkle’s The Kindest Days album with Paul Mumaw on drums. Their first full-length album, Ephemere, was released on July 10, 1997 on SaraBellum Records.
The next couple of years were spent touring and working out problems with record labels when they finally settled with Jackson Rubio, only to decide that they were going to head their separate ways. They recorded an EP called Sorry To Disappoint You which was supposed to be released on the new label in December 1999, but never was. It laid on the shelf for nearly a year until December 2000 rolled around, when they released it independently through mp3.com.
If I Were Dead
Rose Blossom Punch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
-fyodor dostoyevsky
so long
i guess it's so long
i can feel this now
my time
yes it's my time
oh well
you never could tell
'cause you don't know how
you saved me
then you dragged me
all the way to hell
all the times you said
you'd be better off if i were dead
you know you could have walked away
could have walked away
over
guess it's over
and now you're the one
who cares
'cause you're so scared
and you know i'm done
so long
guess it's so long
do you feel this now
all the times you said
you'd be better off if i were dead
you know you could have walked away
could have walked away
The lyrics to Rose Blossom Punch's "If I Were Dead" seem to be a reflection on a failed relationship. The opening quote from Fyodor Dostoyevsky sets the tone for the theme of the song, which is the paradoxical nature of humans who sometimes seem to be passionately in love with suffering. The singer seems to be addressing a former lover, saying "so long" and implying that they are done with the relationship. The line "you never could tell 'cause you don't know how" suggests that the former lover was not good at expressing their true feelings.
The singer then goes on to suggest that the former lover was the cause of their suffering, saying "you saved me, then you dragged me all the way to hell." The line "all the times you said you'd be better off if I were dead" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the former lover was so unhappy in the relationship that they wished the singer would die. Despite this, the singer suggests that the former lover could have walked away at any time.
The chorus repeats the phrase "so long" and implies that the singer is moving on from the relationship. The final line, "do you feel this now," suggests that the former lover may now be feeling the pain that the singer felt during the relationship.
Overall, "If I Were Dead" is a powerful reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the way that suffering can sometimes be intertwined with love.
Line by Line Meaning
so long
Farewell, goodbye and all the best to you
i guess it's so long
I suppose it's time for me to leave now
i can feel this now
I'm experiencing a deep emotion at this moment
my time
It's time for me to move on from this world
yes it's my time
I am certain that my time on this earth has come to an end
do you want me now
Do you value my existence now that I am gone?
oh well
Expression of resignation or acceptance of an unfortunate event
you never could tell
You never had the ability to predict or understand my true feelings
'cause you don't know how
Because you lacked the capability to fathom the depths of my emotions
you saved me
You once rescued me from harm
then you dragged me
But then you pulled me down into despair
all the way to hell
You brought me to a state of complete hopelessness and misery
all the times you said
On multiple occasions, you mentioned
you'd be better off if i were dead
You claimed that you would be better off without my presence in your life
you know you could have walked away
You were aware that you had the option to leave and move on
could have walked away
You could have made a choice to move on from this chapter
over
This has come to an end
guess it's over
I believe this chapter has finally reached its conclusion
and now you're the one
You are now the individual
who cares
Who is now concerned
'cause you're so scared
Because you are filled with fear and apprehension
and you know i'm done
And you are aware that I have reached the end of the road
do you feel this now
Are you experiencing this same feeling that I have?
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
riktic
I loved this album back in the day. Thanks for posting!
Savannah Dunn
Wow, this album brings back sooooo many memories for me. Thanks a TON for posting the songs off of this album! I saw Rose Blossom Punch twice in the 90's. Amazing times in my life!!!!!