Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered, guitar-heavy sound, with powerful loud-to-soft-to-loud transitions, while still picking up grunge, heavy metal, power pop, psychedelic rock, shoegazer-style production.
In later recordings, namely Adore, the fourth album, an electronica flair filtered in after Jimmy Chamberlin temporarily left the band for drug rehab. Though Chamberlin returned for their fifth album, Machina/The Machines of God, electronica undertones remained. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan's songs ranged from angry (X.Y.U.) to dour (Disarm) to jubilant (Cherub Rock).
Selling more than 18.3 million albums in the United States alone (as of 2006), The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, diminishing sales, drug problems, cultural vitality, and what is speculated to be improper treatment from their record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to the 2000 break-up.
Prior to the complete dissolution of the original line-up, their final tour (dubbed "Sacred and Profane"), featured former Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur to fill in the gap left by D'arcy Wretzky, who left in September of 1999. Besides touring with the band she also appeared in the videos accompanying "Machina/The Machines of God".
The band's final album, "MACHINA II / The Friends And Enemies of Modern Music" was unofficially released on vinyl in 2000, prior to their break-up, with the record company refusing to back the band with a pressing. Only 25 vinyl copies were made, each signed by the band. The album was then released across various fan sites by those who received the album and transferred it digitally, as a final tribute to the band's supporters.
Problems have been seen since then with Billy Corgan, James Iha (who later joined A Perfect Circle), and D'arcy Wretzky, both of whom started their own record company Scratchie Records.
Billy Corgan would continue from there first forming the band Zwan with members Matt Sweeney, Paz Lenchantin, David Pajo, and Jimmy Chamberlin. After a bad breakup shortly after their debut album Mary Star Of The Sea Billy turned solo and released the album TheFutureEmbrace. Jimmy Chamberlin formed the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, and Corgan recorded vocals for them on the track entitled Loki Cat.
In mid-April 2006, The Smashing Pumpkins "reunited" with original members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. They performed live as The Smashing Pumpkins for the first time in 6 and a half years on May 22, 2007 in Paris, France. There, the band unveiled new members Jeff Schroeder, Ginger Reyes and Lisa Harriton who took over rhythm guitarist, bassist and keyboard duties respectively.
The band's latest studio album, titled "Zeitgeist", was released on July 10, 2007 to mixed reviews. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the United World Chart, and in the top ten for several other countries.
On Jan 2, 2008 the Pumpkins released the American Gothic EP exclusively on iTunes as part of an expanded version of Zeitgeist. The four tracks: "The Rose March", "Again Again Again (The Crux)", "Pox", and "Sunkissed" demonstrate a more acoustic sound when compared to the rest of Zeitgeist.
In March, 2008 the group contributed the song "Superchrist" to a compilation CD released by Guitar Center. Though Corgan and Chamberlin have continued to record as a duo, Jeff Schroeder indicated that he might be contributing to future recordings. No longer signed to a record label, Corgan and Chamberlin purchased a recording studio in Chicago and began recording in May, again, as a pair. The band released the single G.L.O.W. on October 1st of 2008.
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I Am One
Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to find messiah in your trinity
Your city to burn
Your city to burn
Try to look for something
In your city to burn, you'll burn
Am I as I seem?
I'm down
Time is right for a guiding light
Try to turn to reasons in your bitter life
Your city to burn
Your city to burn
Try to look for something
In your city to burn, you'll burn
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
See you, don't you just want to
See you
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
The lyrics of 'I Am One' by the Smashing Pumpkins are open to interpretation since the song is known for its cryptic lyrics. However, at the surface level, the song seems to be describing the feelings of disillusionment and detachment. The first two lines, "I am one as you are three, try to find messiah in your trinity" seems to be about feeling isolated and detached from the world. The musician could be suggesting that humans are all part of the same collective experience, yet people want to see themselves as individuals.
The lines "Your city to burn, your city to burn. Try to look for something in your city to burn, you'll burn" may symbolize the futility of life's pursuits. They could be suggesting that everything one does is ultimately for naught, and we will continue to burn out all of our resources in this fruitless search for meaning. The artist could be suggesting that we should stop looking wherever we are seeking, and should instead find contentment within ourselves.
The lines, "See you, don't you just want to see you, I am one," could be about self-discovery and acceptance, with the artist encouraging the listener to look within to find their own self-identity, instead of feeling like they are a part of a larger, conformist society.
Overall, 'I Am One' can be interpreted as a commentary on the challenges of individualism and self-discovery, the search for meaning and truth in the world, and the inevitability of life's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I am one as you are three
I am an individual while you are a group of three
Try to find messiah in your trinity
You are trying to seek a savior in your group of three
Your city to burn
Your hometown is in chaos or danger
Your city to burn
Your hometown is in chaos or danger
Try to look for something
You are trying to search for something in your hometown
In your city to burn, you'll burn
By searching for something in your hometown, you will get caught up in the chaos or danger and get burned
Am I as I seem?
I am questioning if my outward appearance matches who I truly am inside
I'm down
I am feeling sad or depressed
Down, so down
I am extremely sad or depressed
Time is right for a guiding light
It's the right time for someone or something to guide you
Try to turn to reasons in your bitter life
You are trying to find a purpose or explanation for your difficult life
Your city to burn
Your hometown is still in chaos or danger
Your city to burn
Your hometown is still in chaos or danger
Try to look for something
You are still searching for something in your hometown despite the danger
In your city to burn, you'll burn
You are still at risk of getting hurt or burned by staying in your hometown
See you, don't you just want to
I want to see you, don't you want to see me too?
See you, I am one
By seeing you, I can feel like an individual again
See you, don't you just want to
Again, I want to see you, don't you want to see me too?
See you, I am one
Seeing you can give me a sense of individuality and belonging
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN, JAMES YOSHINOBU IHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BeSimpleTV
Lyrics :
I am one as you are three
Try to find messiah in your trinity
Your city to burn
Your city to burn
Try to look for something
In your city to burn, you'll burn
Am I as I seem?
I'm down
Down, so down
Time is right for a guiding light
Try to turn to reasons in your bitter life
Your city to burn
Your city to burn
Try to look for something
In your city to burn, you'll burn
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
See you, don't you just want to
See you
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
See you, don't you just want to
See you, I am one
@baronvonorlock7039
Billy Corgan is one of the nicest guys in Rock n Roll. During the Gish tour in '91 they were playing a gig at the I-beam club in San Franciso. Me and my band at the time really wanted to go but were all broke and couldnt afford tickets. It just so happned that Billy Corgan went into the store my drummer worked at and bought a pair of Doc Martins off of him. When Billy found out we were a broke struggling band and all wanted to go to the show he put my entire band on his personal guest list. It was a kick ass show! Thanks again Billy! Pure class.
@offsrx
Wow! What an honor, and what a phenomenal event! Lucky you! :)
@RamesesBolton
Baron Von Orlock Then he fucked Kurt Cobains wife. naughty Billy.
@ThomasPrattEsq
lol I've actually been given the bird by him. Spotted him at Walt Disney World and snapped a few photos. Last one, he was looking right at me, giving me the finger. Later found out it was his birthday that day! I'll never forget it. I don't think he was being mean at all, because he never even made a face, just gave me the finger.
@brinshut2140
in all fairness you were taking pictures of him
@uzumaki6759
You're like paparazzi or focurse he would giving finger to you
@bryanhargrove5452
What I love about Billy's solos is that he sounds like he is squeezing the life out of his guitar with his emotions.
@manco828
The guy is a genius and utterly driven to perfection. Alas, not the rest of his band mates.
@porcelinaofthevastoceans3903
I love this❤
@danb1572
Ever heard of Jimmy Chamberlain and James Iha?@@manco828