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)
spoiled
Sebadoh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Freedom is the lie we live
We will wait for tragedy
And scatter helpless to the fire
Sorry for ourselves
Sorry for the things we've seen
No one cries for help
Waiting for the fire
All these empty urges must be satisfied
Acted outside
Precious strength to turn the game to history
Giving up, I'm blown away
He said all I had to say
The final days have come and gone
Safe inside; there?s nothing wrong
Nothing in these words
Sorry force of habit
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Dumb & cruel
Cut before it's grown
Lies so forced in bored control
It learned all that it cares to know
The lyrics of Sebadoh's song "Spoiled" seem to be a reflection on the human condition, specifically the idea that as a society, we have become too comfortable and are waiting for a tragedy to jolt us out of our complacency. The mention of spoiled children and the empty urges that need to be satisfied suggest that we have become self-absorbed and obsessed with material possessions, which has led to a loss of empathy and a lack of concern for others. The line "No one cries for help, waiting for the fire" implies that we have become so desensitized and apathetic that we won't take action until it's too late.
The chorus "Could it be way over my head? Helpless to describe it" suggests that the issues we're facing are too complex and overwhelming to fully comprehend or articulate. We're stuck in a cycle of being sorry for ourselves and the things we've seen, but unable to do anything about it. The final lines "Dumb & cruel, cut before it's grown, lies so forced in bored control, it learned all that it cares to know" may represent a critique of the education system, which prioritizes conformity and obedience over individuality and critical thinking.
Line by Line Meaning
Spoiled children soon to fall
Children who have been indulged too much will soon experience failure or disappointment.
Freedom is the lie we live
The concept of freedom is not entirely true because we are affected by societal norms and expectations.
We will wait for tragedy
People tend to wait for something bad to happen before they take action or change their behavior.
And scatter helpless to the fire
People tend to panic in the face of danger and often do not know how to respond effectively.
Sorry for ourselves
We tend to feel sorry for ourselves when things don't go our way.
Sorry for the things we've seen
We often feel sorry for the negative experiences we have witnessed and how they have affected us.
No one cries for help
People often suffer silently because they do not want to burden others with their problems.
Waiting for the fire
People often wait until a situation reaches a critical point before taking action.
When all our toys are burning
People tend to ignore bigger issues until they become too big to ignore anymore.
All these empty urges must be satisfied
People often feel compelled to fulfill their desires, even if they are not essential or healthy.
Acted outside
Engaged in behavior that is not in line with societal norms or expectations.
Precious strength to turn the game to history
The power and ability to change the course of history.
Giving up, I'm blown away
Feeling defeated or overwhelmed and unable to continue.
He said all I had to say
Having nothing more to add or contribute to a conversation or situation.
The final days have come and gone
The end of an era or situation has passed.
Safe inside; there's nothing wrong
Feeling secure and content with one's current situation or surroundings.
Nothing in these words
What was said or expressed is empty or meaningless.
Sorry force of habit
Apologizing out of habit rather than genuine remorse or guilt.
Could it be way over my head?
Questioning whether something is beyond one's understanding or capability.
Helpless to describe it
Unable to put a feeling or experience into words.
Dumb & cruel
Behaving in a stupid or ignorant manner that causes harm or suffering.
Cut before it's grown
Preventing something from reaching its full potential.
Lies so forced in bored control
Deliberate lies told to maintain a sense of control or to alleviate boredom.
It learned all that it cares to know
Having no desire or motivation to learn or grow beyond its current state.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOUIS KNOX BARLOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gawdspeed
Spoiled children soon to fall
Freedom is the lie we live
We will wait for tragedy
And scatter helpless to the fire
Sorry for ourselves
Sorry for the things we've seen
No one cries for help
Waiting for the fire
When all our toys are burning
All these empty urges must be satisfied
Acted outside
Precious strength to turn the game to history
Giving up, I'm blown away
He said all I had to say
The final days have come and gone
Safe inside; there's nothing wrong
Nothing in these words
Sorry force of habit
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Dumb and cruel
Cut before it's grown
Lies so forced in bored control
It learned all that it cares to know
@TheViralPulse
@@j39955 Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong advice that i can pass along here because it really is a personal journey.
There is some advice i can give you that might help.
One: Always be self aware of the repercussions of every action before you do it, only you can decide what feels right or what feels wrong.
BUT, don't think yourself into an abyss.
Two: Don't take yourself too seriously at your age, but also know when to say no. Find a balance and have fun! Realize high school is not the end all, be all of life which leads me to the third...
Three: There is no greater time to make mistakes than now.
Date, hangout with friends, if someone gives you shit, punch them in the mouth and stand up for yourself. Live your life. Go through the raw emotions now when everyone around you is still a rookie and on ALMOST the same playing field. (AKA this is the time when everyone around you has the same insecurities and phobias more or less...)
Go out there so you won't feel like you missed out on what it is to be a teenager.
Don't be afraid of failure or success, pain or humiliation, it's all part of stretching out your emotional palette. You'll sometimes regret the things you did, but you will always regret the things you didn't do.
Good luck!
@maxdembo5242
This song has such a weird, deep, melancholy vibe to it. I can’t explain how it makes me feel. Nostalgia forsure but something deeper.
@lechanneldemysterieuxmante1807
You capture the unsayable quality of it. It is close to nostalgia, but it isn’t, and there is sadness there.
@faridaningsih5376
Daniel Johnston vibes
@kicksyyarosh5708
It's Breathtaking
It's warm and Cozy
It's Tragic
It's Beautiful
It's Childlike
It's Heartbreaking
It's Sincere
It's Underrated.
@swissfrenchfilms
nostalgia for a childhood you never had.
@viagrashow
I feel it too, its like crying while being held
@Dane_Youssef
This song was perfect for the film KIDS. It perfectly describes the "protagonists" in that film. And the others who really are like this...
@NextToToddliness
When all our toys are burning
All these empty urges must be satisfied
Acted outside
Precious strength to turn the game to history
- 2023
@gawdspeed
Spoiled children soon to fall
Freedom is the lie we live
We will wait for tragedy
And scatter helpless to the fire
Sorry for ourselves
Sorry for the things we've seen
No one cries for help
Waiting for the fire
When all our toys are burning
All these empty urges must be satisfied
Acted outside
Precious strength to turn the game to history
Giving up, I'm blown away
He said all I had to say
The final days have come and gone
Safe inside; there's nothing wrong
Nothing in these words
Sorry force of habit
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Could it be way over my head?
Helpless to describe it
Dumb and cruel
Cut before it's grown
Lies so forced in bored control
It learned all that it cares to know
@halifaxverbeck7098
i find it truly sad that so many people will never see Kids, or understand it. this song is so perfect.