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)

Temptation Tide
Sebadoh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Close my eyes
Feel the fire
Overwhelming fear and desire
(so hard for you to stem the tide)
Wavering heart, the flames growing higher
(grab your bottle get your coat and hide)
Lose what I have
To test new water

My mind is awash 'round the thoughts of her
(so hard for you to fill my eyes)
So much at stake, can't stay awake
(temptation for me and for you)
Drifting off
(out with the tide)
Dreams come so easily
Filled with wasted fantasy
We're together until the tide
(so hard for you to stem the tide)
Time enough to quell the day
(test the water, there's the place, fill your heart)

Tide's going out, here I am to stay
(temptation tide)

Overall Meaning

The song Temptation Tide by Sebadoh is a melancholic, introspective ballad that explores the themes of desire, fear, and the consequences of giving in to temptation. The first verse sets the scene with the singer closing their eyes and feeling the overwhelming power of these conflicting emotions. The line "so hard for you to stem the tide" suggests that the temptation is too strong to resist, like a tide that cannot be turned back. The second verse is more explicit as the singer speaks about losing what they have to test new waters, referring to the risk they are taking by succumbing to temptation. The line "my mind is awash 'round the thoughts of her" highlights the narcissistic nature of this desire, while "so much at stake, can't stay awake" conveys the intensity of the emotions felt.

In the chorus, the singer describes how they are being carried away by the tide of temptation and how dreams and fantasies come easily when they are with the object of their desire. The line "we're together until the tide" refers to this intense connection, which is only possible because they are both caught up in the moment. The song ends with the singer accepting that they are here to stay and that they will face the consequences of their actions, even as the tide is going out.

Line by Line Meaning

Close my eyes
I am shutting my eyes

Feel the fire
I sense the passion

Overwhelming fear and desire
I am consumed with mixed emotions

(so hard for you to stem the tide)
(It is challenging to resist the temptation)

Wavering heart, the flames growing higher
My uncertainty and longing intensify

(grab your bottle get your coat and hide)
(Escape or indulge in alcohol to cope)

Lose what I have
Risk everything I possess

To test new water
To explore uncharted territories

My mind is awash 'round the thoughts of her
My head is flooded with thoughts of my crush

(so hard for you to fill my eyes)
(It's hard for someone else to gain my attention)

So much at stake, can't stay awake
There's a lot to lose, and I can't resist