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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Nothing To Writte Home About
Soul Asylum Lyrics
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It's been so long since I went away
And yes, I miss the comforts of home
But I guess I'm better off on my own
No one told me people could be so cruel
Nobody told me about any of this in school
Still nobody understands the things that I don't understand
I've nothing to write home about
Nothing I have figured out
Still I have the same old doubts
Nothing to write home about
Dear John, that ain't my name
I'm just hangin' 'round to take the blame
I'm filled with guilt, I'm filled with shame
Too much or not enough it's all the same
And no one wants to talk about the loss
No one wants to talk about the cost
Every one just looks away, just like any other day
I've nothing to write home about
Nothing I have figured out
Still I have the same old doubts
Nothing to write home about
Who can teach me how to change my ways
Who will come and save the day
Who will tell me what to say
When there's nothing left to say
Nobody told me about any of this in school
No one told me I'd be taken for a fool
And everyone just looks away, and tries to make it through the day
I've nothing to write home about
Nothing I have figured out
Still I have the same old doubts
Nothing to write home about
The lyrics of the song "Nothing To Write Home About" by Soul Asylum are about the feelings of confusion, loneliness, and homesickness of a person who has left home. The song starts with the singer addressing their mother and admitting that it has been a long time since they left home. While they miss the comforts of home, they feel that it is better off for them to be on their own. The second verse is addressed to John, who is not the singer's real name. The singer is filled with guilt and shame and feels that they are either too much or not enough. Nobody wants to talk about the loss and cost of leaving home, and everyone just looks away like any other day.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's feelings of inadequacy and confusion. They have nothing to write home about since they have not figured anything out yet, and they still have their doubts. The last verse of the song is about the singer's search for answers. They wonder who will teach them how to change their ways, who will save the day, and who will tell them what to say when there is nothing left to say. The song ends on the same refrain of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's feelings of confusion and lack of direction.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear mother, what can I say
Addressing his mother, the singer wonders how he can communicate how he truly feels.
It's been so long since I went away
It has been a while since he left home.
And yes, I miss the comforts of home
He admits that he misses being at home and all that comes with it.
But I guess I'm better off on my own
Although he misses home, he knows that he is better off being independent.
No one told me people could be so cruel
He expresses his surprise at the cruelty of people.
Nobody told me about any of this in school
He notes that he was not warned or taught about the hardships of the real world while in school.
Still nobody understands the things that I don't understand
Despite not knowing everything and being lost at times, he observes that no one understands this.
I've nothing to write home about
He feels that he has nothing significant to share or say to his family, especially when he hasn't figured things out for himself.
Nothing I have figured out
He acknowledges that he still has a lot to figure out before he can write anything worth sharing.
Still I have the same old doubts
He admits that his doubts are persistent.
Dear John, that ain't my name
Addressing someone called John, he lets them know that they don't have his name right.
I'm just hangin' 'round to take the blame
He feels like he is always around to take the blame for things.
I'm filled with guilt, I'm filled with shame
He confesses to feeling guilty and ashamed.
Too much or not enough it's all the same
To him, it doesn't matter if he does too much or too little because in the end, it doesn't change anything.
And no one wants to talk about the loss
He highlights that people don't like talking about loss or grief.
No one wants to talk about the cost
People also avoid discussing the price or implications of certain actions or decisions.
Every one just looks away, just like any other day
Everyone seems to be avoiding anything that might potentially be uncomfortable and are just skirting around the issues as usual.
Who can teach me how to change my ways
He seeks guidance on how he can effectively make changes in his life.
Who will come and save the day
He asks who will be the hero or savior that will rescue him from his problems.
Who will tell me what to say
He expresses his uncertainty about what he can say or do to improve his situation.
When there's nothing left to say
He points out that when all has been said and done, he is still left with emptiness and inadequacy.
No one told me I'd be taken for a fool
He expresses his disappointment at being taken for granted.
And everyone just looks away, and tries to make it through the day
He notices that everyone else is avoiding facing their problems and are just trying to carry on with their lives as usual.
I've nothing to write home about
He still feels that he has nothing noteworthy to share with his family or anyone else at this point.
Nothing I have figured out
He reiterates that he hasn't managed to figure anything out yet.
Still I have the same old doubts
He recognizes that his doubts have been plaguing him for a while now.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind