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)

Thrive
Sebadoh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pick a habit you can trust
We all need the reassurance
Blanket stretched across the window
A friend to walk you through it all
That could change if I was angry
But after all, it turns me on
It made all my good decisions;
Even helped me write this song

Back when I was young and clever
Traced a pattern in the wood
I thought I'd get my shit together
Now I know I never could
Cause it's a pornographic sunrise
Static curtains that draw on our lives
But we still thrive, through every time
But we still cry, through every dive
But we still try
Too old to apologize [Repeat x2]
We're too old to apologize [Repeat x2]
So pick a habit I can touch

Be as happy as you should be
Could we talk, is it too late?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sebadoh's song "Thrive" are reflective and introspective, discussing the importance of finding a reliable habit and a supportive friend to guide you through life. The singer recognizes that his anger can change his perspective, but ultimately he is turned on by the habit he has found that helps him make good decisions and create music. However, despite his habitual routine and good intentions, he still struggles with sadness and regret. The pornographic sunrise and static curtains represent the mundane and monotonous nature of life, but the singer finds solace in the fact that he and others still thrive despite life's challenges.

The repeated line "too old to apologize" exemplifies the theme of accepting one's past mistakes and moving forward. The singer acknowledges that he thought he would get his "shit together" when he was younger, but now realizes that he never could. The song ends with a plea for connection and conversation, suggesting that it is never too late to reach out and try to achieve happiness.

Overall, the lyrics to "Thrive" by Sebadoh are a contemplative exploration of the complexities of life and the importance of finding comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

Pick a habit you can trust
Choose a reliable practice or routine

We all need the reassurance
Everybody craves comfort and security

Blanket stretched across the window
A covering to shield from outside disturbance

A friend to walk you through it all
Someone to support you in every situation

That could change if I was angry
My temperament can alter things

But after all, it turns me on
In the end, it excites me

It made all my good decisions;
It guided all my wise judgments

Even helped me write this song
Assisted me in creating this music piece

Back when I was young and clever
During my youthful and astute days

Traced a pattern in the wood
Followed a design on timber

I thought I'd get my shit together
I believed I'd have everything sorted out