Sebadoh is an indie-rock band originally formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massa… Read Full Bio ↴Sebadoh is an indie-rock band originally formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts, by Dinosaur Jr. bass player Lou Barlow and Eric Gaffney. The band began as a side project, but when Barlow was kicked out of Dinosaur Jr in 1989, Sebadoh became his full-time concern.

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)

Give Up
Sebadoh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Burn out, man
Typically bitter
Find me locked into the vicious cycle
Find me trapped and scared simple
Money, money, money
Money, more money
The helpless slob in his dead-end day job
Helpless slob in his dead-end day job

I'm reaching every goal
Maybe a girlfriend under control
An easy target and drag-down anchor
The co-dependent self-styled nightmare

And it's a shame 'cause I really don't care
I drop it off but I leave it hanging there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sebadoh's "Give Up" depict the singer's feelings of bitterness and entrapment within their own life. The line "Find me locked into the vicious cycle" portrays the singer as being stuck in a never-ending pattern of unfulfilling work and goals. The repeated reference to money highlights the pressure and importance placed on financial success and how it can contribute to feelings of suffocation and stagnation. The line "An easy target and drag-down anchor" suggests a sense of self-sabotage, where the singer's current state is a result of their own actions and choices.

The singer also refers to themselves as a "co-dependent self-styled nightmare," indicating a lack of control or agency over their own life. They may be experiencing feelings of hopelessness and resignation, as evidenced by the line "And it's a shame 'cause I really don't care." Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone who is struggling to find purpose and meaning in their life.

Line by Line Meaning

Burn out, man
I feel burnt out and tired

Typically bitter
I usually feel bitter about things

Find me locked into the vicious cycle
I feel stuck in a repetitive and unhealthy routine

Find me trapped and scared simple
I feel trapped and fearful of change

Money, money, money
I'm constantly preoccupied with money

Money, more money
I always want more money

The helpless slob in his dead-end day job
I feel trapped in a menial job with no prospects

Helpless slob in his dead-end day job
I have no power or control over my job

I'm reaching every goal
I'm achieving everything I set out to do

Maybe a girlfriend under control
I'm in a controlling relationship

An easy target and drag-down anchor
My partner is dragging me down and holding me back