Just about every rock & roller nowadays lists '70s rock as a major influenc… Read Full Bio ↴Just about every rock & roller nowadays lists '70s rock as a major influence, but few rockers are down with the misunderstood genius Prince. Unlike others, though, Satchel has no problem admitting their worship of the Purple One (vocalist Shawn Smith in particular, who explores his Prince fixation even more in his two-man side project Pigeonhed).
Satchel's roots lay in the band Brad, which was originally put together as a one-shot side project for Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard. It was essentially an excuse for a group of friends to unwind and make music for the sheer fun of it. After releasing the album Shame in 1992, Gossard returned to Pearl Jam, while drummer Regan Hagar and singer Smith decided to form a permanent band. After hooking up with guitarist John Hoag and bassist Cory Kane, the newly named Satchel (originally called Bliss) secured a record deal with Epic Records. Their debut, EDC, was released in 1994, and was an unfortunately overlooked masterpiece. The band toured relentlessly, and soon bassist Kane exited, with his replacement being Mike Berg. The album didn't sell in vast quantities as hoped, so the band regrouped and began writing their next one.
Stone Gossard was signed on to co-produce their next album, and the resulting The Family (released in 1996) was a surprisingly mellower affair than the debut. Satchel again embarked on a long tour, and again their album went unnoticed (even an opening slot on an Afghan Whigs tour didn't help). By tour's end, Gossard expressed interest in re-forming Brad with Smith and Hagar, and in contrast to Brad's debut, this time they would tour. The group accepted, and Hoag promptly quit Satchel. Brad's superb Interiors received glowing reviews upon its spring 1997 release. And although the album wasn't a smash, the group obtained a loyal fan base, who made the tour a sold-out success. Brad bassist Jeremy Toback was unable to tour (even though he played on the record), so Satchel bassist Berg stepped in for the duration. This left the future of Satchel up in the air, along with Hoag's exit and the fact that many fans felt Brad should become a permanent band, putting out albums and touring on a regular basis.
Biography by Greg Prato

O
Satchel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She wouldn't play with me
I didn't really ask
But she should have known
And you know she's right
She always seems to be
So I don't know
And even if I did
She'd be all the more amazing

And where would I be

I said “where would I be?”
O Jo I don't know

Overall Meaning

The song "O" by Satchel explores the complexity of unrequited love and the resulting confusion and self-doubt that can arise in its wake. The lyrics speak to a situation where the singer feels disconnected from the object of their affection, the implied "Jo." The singer is wondering if Jo is aware of their feelings, as they "wouldn't play" with them, yet doesn't want to risk rejection by directly asking. The lyrics suggest an ongoing internal struggle, with doubts about the singer's own worthiness to be loved championing the narrative. The line, "And even if I did / She'd be all the more amazing" illustrates the singer's awe of Jo, even as he/she feels unworthy of her attention. The song ends with a wistful line of lament, "O Jo, I don't know," signifying the singer's confusion and sorrow, a poignant and relatable portrayal of unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

She wouldn't play with me
I desired to indulge in activities with her, but she refused to do so.

I didn't really ask
I didn't specifically make a request to her to play with me.

But she should have known
She ought to have sensed my desire to engage with her.

And you know she's right
She possesses a strong sense of intuition and is usually correct.

She always seems to be
Her intuitive sense is present in her behavior on a consistent basis.

So I don't know
Despite her intuition, I am uncertain about the reasons behind her decision.

And even if I did
Even if I were aware of the reasons for her decision, it wouldn't change my admiration for her.

She'd be all the more amazing
In fact, knowing her reasons for not playing with me may actually enhance my appreciation for her.

And where would I be
If she had played with me, how would my life be different?

I said “where would I be?”
This is a rhetorical question that I am pondering aloud to myself.

O Jo I don't know
Overall, I am unsure of why she wouldn't play with me and how my life may have been different with her participation.