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)
Together or Alone
Sebadoh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To blindly feed the boy/girl game
I know romance isn't everything
But I'm obsessing just the same
Because today I don't feel worthy
You seem so beautiful and strong
These unsure hands could never soothe you
Too afraid of doing something wrong
Until I feel like a nervous stranger
And could I help you grow? I guess we'll never know
Set up for a let-down
These things happen all the time
And I'm not longing to explore it again
I'm too scared of what you'll find
And this confusion wears me down
But I'll smile when I'm with you
'cause there's so much we could do
Together or alone
I'm not afraid of being alone
In Sebadoh's song "Together or Alone," the lyrics express the singer's conflicted emotions about love and relationships. They begin by admitting that they did not intend to get caught up in the "boy/girl game" of romance, but despite their reservations, they find themselves obsessing over it anyway. However, the singer doesn't feel worthy of the object of their desire - who seems impossibly beautiful and strong - and they are afraid of making a mistake. This insecurity and confusion wear the singer down, making them feel like a "nervous stranger."
Despite all of this, the singer still enjoys spending time with their love interest, and they recognize the potential for a great connection between them. But they are also aware that relationships can be unpredictable and potentially disappointing. So, even though they are willing to explore the possibilities with this person, they are still afraid of being hurt. Ultimately, the singer concludes by stating that they are not afraid of being alone, suggesting that they will be content with or without a romantic partner.
This song is a poignant reflection on the complexities and contradictions of human relationships, especially the way that emotions can be difficult and confusing to navigate. The lyrics offer a raw and honest portrayal of the singer's fears, hopes, and insecurities, making it a relatable anthem for anyone who has struggled with matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
It was never my intention
I didn't plan to be in this situation
To blindly feed the boy/girl game
To play childish romantic games without thinking of the consequences
I know romance isn't everything
I understand that a relationship is more than just words and gestures of love
But I'm obsessing just the same
But I can't help thinking about it all the time
Because today I don't feel worthy
I don't feel like I'm good enough right now
You seem so beautiful and strong
You appear confident and admirable
These unsure hands could never soothe you
I'm not confident in my ability to comfort you
Too afraid of doing something wrong
I don't want to mess up and do something to hurt you
And this confusion wears me down
I feel drained and overwhelmed by all these emotions
Until I feel like a nervous stranger
Sometimes I feel like I don't even know myself anymore
And could I help you grow? I guess we'll never know
I wonder if I could have helped you grow as a person, but now that opportunity is gone
Set up for a let-down
Preparing myself for disappointment
These things happen all the time
It's not unusual for relationships to end
And I'm not longing to explore it again
I don't want to go through this again
I'm too scared of what you'll find
I'm afraid of being rejected or judged
But I'll smile when I'm with you
I'll try to hide my feelings and be happy around you
'cause there's so much we could do
There are endless possibilities for us if we stick together
Together or alone
Whether we're together or not, I'll be okay
I'm not afraid of being alone
I'm not afraid of being independent and on my own
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: LOUIS KNOX BARLOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DugKeith
on Smoke a Bowl
Love this. The man.