Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later reissued as Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken in 1986, While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.
In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track and it's video of missing teens that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.
In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From A Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years. During the interim singer Dave Pirner released a solo album and Dan Murphy toured and recorded with Golden Smog.
They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album, The Silver Lining, brought together by the news of Mueller being diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Murphy, Mueller, and Pirner, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Mueller passed away after finishing his work on several tracks on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Murphy expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."
In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and current Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum in tribute to the late Karl Mueller. They completed their American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on their American tour. On March 10th, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse to hold a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the legendary reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant.
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By The Way
Soul Asylum Lyrics
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I'd pound it down like a nail in wood
I'd never let go of that feeling again I know
I know that I felt this way before
I'd pound it down like a cellar door
I want you to know I'm behind you, by the way
By the way that I affect the things you do
By the way did I tell you I can't leave you, by the way
I'll be waiting for you on judgment day
To watch all these judgments pass away
And by the way the details fall, by the way
By the way all the people that care about you
Are all watching to see what your gonna do
By the way have I told you I can't leave you, by the way
By the way that you built me up again
Back to a time when I was intense
And now I know you play for what you pay
By the way that you make me feel all right
By the way that you put up such a fight
By the way that my trust and faith is safe with you
In Soul Asylum's "By The Way," the lyrics center around the theme of finding and holding onto what makes the singer feel good. The first verse sets the tone as the singer declares that, if he could only remember what gives him that feeling, he would hold onto it like a nail in wood. This powerful sense of self-discovery and personal fulfillment is further emphasized in the chorus as the singer talks about how he is never going to let go of that feeling again. He also expresses a desire to make it known that he is there for the person he is addressing, and that he's behind them every step of the way.
Moving into the second verse, the song takes on an interesting shift, where the singer seems to be focused on the other person's perspective, wondering how he affects and confronts them. The bridge then takes an even greater turn, as the singer seems to be commenting on the final judgment and the passing away of judgment itself. This could be interpreted as the singer stressing the importance of living in the moment, without fear of past mistakes or future consequences. Overall, "By the Way" is a powerful and introspective song with an emphasis on personal discovery and the journey to self-fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could remember what makes me feel good
If I could recall what brings me joy and happiness
I'd pound it down like a nail in wood
I would hold onto it with great force
I'd never let go of that feeling again I know
I would ensure it never leaves me again
I know that I felt this way before
I'm familiar with this feeling
I'd pound it down like a cellar door
I'd keep it locked in
I want you to know I'm behind you, by the way
I want you to know I support you no matter what
By the way that you look when I confront you
I can tell how you're feeling based on your expression
By the way that I affect the things you do
I have an impact on the way you behave
By the way did I tell you I can't leave you, by the way
I haven't mentioned before that I can't live without you
I'll be waiting for you on judgment day
I'll be waiting for you at the end of all things
To watch all these judgments pass away
To witness the end of all judgments and decisions
And by the way the details fall, by the way
Regardless of what happens, I'll still be here
By the way all the people that care about you
Everyone who cares for you, just so you know
Are all watching to see what your gonna do
Are observing your actions and decisions
By the way have I told you I can't leave you, by the way
Have I mentioned how much I depend on you?
By the way that you built me up again
The way you helped me regain my strength and confidence
Back to a time when I was intense
To a period where I had a strong and forceful personality
And now I know you play for what you pay
I understand that you get what you give
By the way that you make me feel all right
The way you make me feel okay
By the way that you put up such a fight
The way you resist and struggle despite challenges
By the way that my trust and faith is safe with you
Just so you know, I can trust you completely
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind