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)
Perfect Way
Sebadoh Lyrics
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Love it or leave it, it's all the same
Find that perfect way to keep you happy
Change the past if you can find it
Get someone to help you out
Find that perfect way to keep you angry
The point that's pointed dull
The edge that doesn't cut anymore
But there's another right around the corner
Drive a wedge, put your weight behind it
Get someone to help you out
Find that perfect way to keep you busy
The point that's pointed dull
The edge that doesn't cut anymore
Halfway up that wall
But there's another right around the corner
You've got anger in your eyes, I don't buy it
And if you're holdin' I'll shake you down
Share that perfect way to keep me happy
Share that perfect way to keep me happy
The lyrics of Sebadoh's song "Perfect Way" delve into the search for happiness, anger, and dissatisfaction in one's personal concerns. In the opening line, "ankle-deep in your personal concerns," the singer emphasizes how personal issues can become all-consuming, leading to a feeling of being stuck. The following line, "Love it or leave it, it's all the same," suggests a sense of resignation, that whether you like your current situation or hate it, it ultimately leads to the same struggle.
The repeated phrase "Find that perfect way to keep you happy" throughout the song speaks to the human search for happiness and the never-ending quest to find fulfillment. The lyrics seem to suggest that we're always chasing this happy state, but it's often elusive and constantly changing. The line "change the past if you can find it" acknowledges the desire to go back in time and try to turn things around.
The chorus "The point that's pointed dull, the edge that doesn't cut anymore, halfway up that wall, but there's another right around the corner" suggests a feeling of being stuck in a difficult situation, but also the idea that there's always hope for things to improve. It also speaks to the idea of perseverance, that even when it feels like we're not making progress, the next opportunity to climb higher is likely to be coming soon.
Line by Line Meaning
Ankle-deep in your personal concerns
You're focused on your personal issues, but not fully committed or invested in them.
Love it or leave it, it's all the same
You have a choice to either love or leave your current situation, but the outcome will be the same.
Find that perfect way to keep you happy
You're searching for a perfect solution to keep yourself happy.
Change the past if you can find it
If you could, you would change the past to make your present situation better.
Get someone to help you out
You need assistance to achieve your goals.
Find that perfect way to keep you angry
You're purposely trying to find a way to stay angry about something instead of letting it go.
The point that's pointed dull
The sharpness or effectiveness of your point is currently diminished.
The edge that doesn't cut anymore
Your argument or position is no longer effective or convincing.
Halfway up that wall
You're only partially committed to something and haven't fully invested yourself yet.
But there's another right around the corner
There is another opportunity or solution just ahead that you haven't yet considered.
Drive a wedge, put your weight behind it
You're intentionally creating a division or problem and supporting it fully.
Share that perfect way to keep me happy
You're asking someone to share their perfect solution for happiness with you.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: LOUIS KNOX BARLOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DugKeith
on Smoke a Bowl
Love this. The man.