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)

Shit Soup
Sebadoh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I like saying yes and watching you take
I don't need to sleep or eat
I smoke a thousand cigarettes
These days are so nurturing
When you're gone I'll eat and sleep away
My days again

Crazy people are right on, crazy people are right

Crazy people are right on
You're shit soup
And I'm in the reflection booth
Two glass eyes behind
Cheap sunglasses move
Stained-glass gazebo
I really don't know
Our futures are so separate
Bespectacled and desperate
It's not my job to undo
The dying prophecy of you
It's not my job to undo
I like saying yes and watching you take
I don't need to sleep or eat, I smoke a thousand cigarettes
These days are so nurturing
When you're gone I'll eat and sleep away
My days again

Crazy people are right on, crazy people are right
Crazy people are right on
They're so off they're on
They're so off they're on
They're so off they're on
They're so off they're on
They're so off they're on
They're so off they're on

They're so off they're on
They're so off

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sebadoh's song Shit Soup convey a sense of detachment and nihilism that is emblematic of the lo-fi, DIY ethos of the band. The singer likes saying "yes" and watching the other person take without needing to sleep or eat, and smokes a thousand cigarettes, which seemingly sustains him through these "nurturing" days. However, there is an undercurrent of cynicism and disaffection with the world around him, as he sees himself as a detached observer, watching the world from the "reflection booth" with "two glass eyes behind cheap sunglasses." He describes the other person as "shit soup," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the messy, unpredictable nature of human relationships. The singer seems to accept this state of affairs, though, as he asserts that "it's not my job to undo the dying prophecy of you." The repetition of the phrase "crazy people are right on" suggests a certain ironic distance from the things he observes in the world.

In many ways, these lyrics encapsulate the mood and mindset of the 90s indie scene that Sebadoh was so instrumental in defining. The lo-fi aesthetic, which often eschewed polished production values and embraced a DIY ethos, was a rejection of the slick, commercial sound of the mainstream. Similarly, the lyrics to "Shit Soup" reject the conventional narrative of love and relationships, instead embracing a more cynical worldview that is both detached and observant.

Line by Line Meaning

I like saying yes and watching you take
I enjoy agreeing with you and letting you take control.

I don't need to sleep or eat
I don't require much basic maintenance to function.

I smoke a thousand cigarettes
I have an unhealthy addiction to smoking.

These days are so nurturing
These times are comforting and supportive to me.

When you're gone I'll eat and sleep away
When you're not around, I'll indulge in food and rest.

My days again
I'll return to my usual routine.

Crazy people are right on, crazy people are right
Unconventional or eccentric people can have valid and insightful perspectives.

You're shit soup
You're a mess and have problems.

And I'm in the reflection booth
I'm taking a moment to contemplate my thoughts and feelings.

Two glass eyes behind
My eyes are like windows, reflecting my inner self.

Cheap sunglasses move
I try to hide my true emotions and intentions with a cheap facade.

Stained-glass gazebo
My mind is like a complex structure, with many intricate yet delicate parts.

I really don't know
I'm not entirely sure about something or I am being non-committal.

Our futures are so separate
Our paths are distinctly different, and we may not end up together.

Bespectacled and desperate
I wear glasses and am in dire need of something, possibly attention or validation.

It's not my job to undo
It's not my responsibility to fix someone else's problems or mistakes.

The dying prophecy of you
Your future or fate is bleak and uncertain.

They're so off they're on
Even though unconventional people may seem wrong or crazy to some, their ideas can be so radical that they become righteous and therefore, on point.