Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided By Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi, a style of indie-rock characterized by low-fidelity recording techniques, often on four-track machines. The band's early output, such as Weed Forestin (1990) and III (1992), was typical of this style, and wavered between Barlow's wry, introspective folk and Gaffney's psychedelic noise-rock experiments.
Following 1993's Bubble and Scrape, Gaffney left the band. His replacement, Bob Fay, appeared on the band's most acclaimed and consistent effort, 1994's Bakesale, which saw the emergence of the songwriting talents of multi-instrumentalist Jason Loewenstein, and the follow-up Harmacy in 1996.
Fay left the band before the sessions for The Sebadoh (1999), to be replaced by Russ Pollard. Following the tour to promote this album (2000), the band went on hiatus, with Barlow concentrating on his other project, the Folk Implosion, and Loewenstein working on material for his debut solo album At Sixes and Sevens, released in 2002. The two reunited to play concerts in late 2003 and the spring of 2004.
In 2006, III was reissued with a bonus disc and expanded liner notes. In 2007, the band (reunited with Eric Gaffney) was touring.
In 2013, Defend Yourself was released followed by Act Surprised in 2019.
Discography:
* The Freed Man (1989)
* Weed Forestin' (1990)
* The Freed Weed (1990)
* III (1992)
* Rocking The Forest (1992)
* Sebadoh vs. Helmet (1990)
* Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock (1992)
* Bubble and Scrape (1993)
* 4 Song CD (1994)
* Bakesale (1994)
* Harmacy (1996)
* The Sebadoh (1999)
* Defend Yourself (2013)
* Act Surprised (2019)
Design
Sebadoh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to lay it on the line.
Though I'm still uptight,
it kind of feels right.
Much to young to die.
Not to proud to cry.
Sometimes we fight,
all through the night.
has lost its fight.
Don't want to wine,
but I don't like your design.
Terrible line,
other girls on my mind.
Know what to do,
so please don't cry
Kiss away the help,
before we say goodbye.
The song "Design" by Sebadoh is a laid-back, introspective tune that touches on themes of existentialism, emotional instability, and the intricacies of human relationships. The lyrics, "Now's the time, to lay it on the line. Though I'm still uptight, it kind of feels right," seem to suggest that the singer has been holding back their feelings or thoughts, possibly out of fear or uncertainty, but with the realization that life is short and uncertain, they feel compelled to be honest and transparent.
The line, "Much too young to die. Not too proud to cry," implies a sense of urgency to live life fully and to express oneself authentically, even if it means being vulnerable or emotional. The references to fighting and a deteriorating sex life suggest that the singer is in a tumultuous relationship and is struggling to stay emotionally connected. However, they also seem to acknowledge their own role in the problems with the line, "Don't want to wine, but I don't like your design."
The song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note with the lines, "Know what to do, so please don't cry. Kiss away the help before we say goodbye." It's uncertain whether the singer is suggesting they know how to fix their relationship or if they are resigned to ending things, but either way, there is a sense of bittersweet resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
Now's the time,
The present moment is the opportune time to address the issue.
to lay it on the line.
To be honest and straightforward about the problem at hand.
Though I'm still uptight,
Despite feeling anxious about the situation,
it kind of feels right.
Addressing the issue feels like the appropriate course of action.
Much too young to die.
We still have much life ahead of us and should not let our relationship problems consume us.
Not too proud to cry.
It's okay to show vulnerability and express one's emotions, including crying.
Sometimes we fight,
Arguments and conflicts are inevitable in any relationship.
all through the night.
Sometimes the arguments last well into the night.
You know our sex
Both partners are aware that their sexual relationship
has lost its fight.
Has lost its passion and spark.
Don't want to wine,
I don't want to complain or be unreasonable,
but I don't like your design.
But I don't believe our relationship is working out as it stands.
Terrible line,
It's an unpleasant situation and conversation to have.
other girls on my mind.
I'm having thoughts of being with other women.
Know what to do,
I am aware of what needs to be done to address the problem.
so please don't cry
I hope my partner won't be upset when I tell them what needs to be done.
Kiss away the help,
I hope that by physically showing affection, we can help each other overcome the issues in our relationship.
before we say goodbye.
I hope we can fix our problems before ending our relationship for good.
Contributed by Bella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DugKeith
on Smoke a Bowl
Love this. The man.