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)
Magnet's Coil
Sebadoh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm wound tighter than a magnet's coil
The longer I try to keep my mouth shut
The sooner little brain is gonna boil
And if you turn back just to fuck me up
I'll cut you loose and watch you fall
It feels good just to bitch about it
Scratch that itch until it bleeds
But I can't play the silent game
'cause when I talk the silence follows
You never say what's on your mind
If you laugh to see me so defensive
I'll know I've made another enemy
Nobody wants another mirror on their fears
I guess that's all you are to me
But I don't really wanna lose this
Does it all depend on me?
It's always personal between us
You won't say what's on your mind
What's on your mind
What's on your mind
The song "Magnet's Coil" by Sebadoh is a reflection on the challenges of communication in a relationship. The singer of the song is expressing their frustration with being unable to speak honestly and openly with the person they are addressing. The metaphor of a magnet's coil is used to describe the singer's internal tension, highlighting the difficulty they are experiencing in trying to keep their emotions in check. The longer they try to hold back what they are feeling, the more their inner turmoil intensifies.
The singer is torn between their desire to keep the other person in their life and their need to express themselves honestly. They don't want to lose the person they are talking to, but they also can't continue to hold back their true feelings. The repeated phrase "You won't say what's on your mind" reinforces the idea that the lack of communication is a two-way street, with both parties contributing to the problem.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of how difficult it can be to really communicate with someone we care about. It acknowledges the internal battles we all face when trying to express ourselves honestly while also trying to maintain our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I've gotta find a way to loosen up
I need to find a way to relax and let go of my anxiety
I'm wound tighter than a magnet's coil
I'm very tense and anxious, ready to snap at any moment
The longer I try to keep my mouth shut
The more I try to restrain myself and not speak up
The sooner little brain is gonna boil
The faster I will become overwhelmed and lose control
And if you turn back just to fuck me up
If you deliberately try to hurt me or cause me trouble
I'll cut you loose and watch you fall
I will sever ties with you and enjoy watching you fail
It feels good just to bitch about it
Venting my frustrations and anger is satisfying
Scratch that itch until it bleeds
I need to keep complaining until I feel better
But I don't really wanna lose you
I don't want to end our relationship despite my anger
But I can't play the silent game
I can't continue to avoid confrontation and stay quiet
'cause when I talk the silence follows
Whenever I speak up, you become quiet and unresponsive
You never say what's on your mind
You refuse to communicate your thoughts and feelings
If you laugh to see me so defensive
If you find it amusing when I become angry and defensive
I'll know I've made another enemy
I will see you as someone who likes to provoke and upset me
Nobody wants another mirror on their fears
People don't want others to remind them of their fears and insecurities
I guess that's all you are to me
You represent all the things that scare and upset me
But I don't really wanna lose this
Despite the challenges, I still value our relationship
Does it all depend on me?
Am I the only one who needs to make an effort to improve our relationship?
It's always personal between us
Our conflicts and issues are always rooted in personal feelings
You won't say what's on your mind
You continue to keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself
What's on your mind
What do you really think and feel? Please tell me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LOUIS KNOX BARLOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HeraldBoon
One of my favorite tunes from the 90s.
@Petrock508
Urgh <3
@anti-citixen-9852
Hey Stefan.