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.
http://www.soulasylum.com
The Beginning
Soul Asylum Lyrics
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Cupid and Casper were asking about ya
You used to be so wild
I know how it is you get drunk at a party
It seems there's someone you should call
Then the cycle begins you decide to stay in
You don't talk to anyone at all
Never know what you might find
You never know what you leave behind
This is the beginning of a great adventure
Now's not the time, not the time to step aside
I've had my share of missteps and delusions
Head-trips and tales that are tall
Every conclusion is better than never
Happily, after all
You dig yourself out of the tangled up barbed wire
Fightin' over every wall
And then you get over you pull yourself up
You pull yourself up by the straps of your overalls
Never know what you might find
You never know what you leave behind
This is the beginning of a great adventure
Leavin' with you, leavin' with you, leavin' with you
This is the beginning of a great adventure
Now's not the time, not the time to leave it behind
I'm right behind you
Behind you all the way
And when I find you
We'll be on our way
Everyone's waiting to see if you're coming
Out of your shell for a while
Cupid and Casper were asking about you
You used to be so wild
And this is the beginning of a great adventure
Now's not the time, not the time to step aside
This is the beginning of a great adventure
Now's not the time, not the time to leave it behind
Do do do do do do do do do do do do
Leavin' with you, leavin' with you, leavin' with you
(Do do do do do do do do do do do do)
I'm leavin' with you, leavin' with you, leavin' with you
(Do do do do do do do do do do do do)
Leavin' with you, leavin' with you, leavin' with you
The song "The Beginning" by Soul Asylum is about embarking on a great adventure and leaving behind old habits and patterns. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been stuck in a rut, perhaps due to self-doubt or fear of the unknown, and has been avoiding opportunities for growth and change. The chorus encourages the listener to take risks and embrace the uncertainty of life: "This is the beginning of a great adventure / Now's not the time, not the time to step aside."
The verse about getting drunk at a party and avoiding communication with others illustrates the singer's tendency to isolate themselves and avoid social interactions. The line "Every conclusion is better than never" suggests that taking action, even if it doesn't lead to the desired outcome, is better than remaining stagnant and never trying at all. The imagery of digging oneself out of barbed wire and fighting over walls suggests that personal growth requires determination and perseverance.
The song's overall message is one of hope and optimism, encouraging the listener to embrace change and face their fears. The repetition of "leavin' with you" in the final lines emphasizes the importance of companionship and shared experiences on this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone's waiting to see if you're coming outta your shell for a while
People are curious to see if you will be your fun old self, even if it's just for a little while.
Cupid and Casper were asking about ya
Even mystical beings like Cupid and Casper have taken an interest in you.
You used to be so wild
You were previously more adventurous and daring.
I know how it is you get drunk at a party
I understand that sometimes you let loose and have a little too much to drink at social events.
It seems there's someone you should call
You might need to reach out to someone for help or support.
Then the cycle begins you decide to stay in
You fall into a pattern of isolating yourself from others.
You don't talk to anyone at all
You become completely closed off and avoid socializing with others.
Never know what you might find
Life is full of surprises and you never know what opportunities or challenges might come your way.
You never know what you leave behind
Every decision you make affects your future and it's important to think about the consequences of your choices.
This is the beginning of a great adventure
Life is full of exciting opportunities and experiences waiting to be had.
Now's not the time, not the time to step aside
You shouldn't give up or give in, and instead should push forward and seize the moment.
I've had my share of missteps and delusions
I've made mistakes and had unrealistic expectations in the past.
Head-trips and tales that are tall
I've had experiences that were more in my head than in reality.
Every conclusion is better than never
It's better to come to a conclusion or decision than to never make up your mind at all.
Happily, after all
Despite the challenges and mistakes, everything ended up working out for the best.
You dig yourself out of the tangled up barbed wire
You work hard to free yourself from difficult or sticky situations.
Fightin' over every wall
You face obstacles head-on and never give up, even if it means fighting over every wall in your way.
And then you get over you pull yourself up
You eventually overcome your challenges and rise above your struggles.
You pull yourself up by the straps of your overalls
You rely on your own strength and determination to succeed.
I'm right behind you
I'm here to support and encourage you every step of the way.
Behind you all the way
I'm fully committed to being by your side and supporting you throughout your journey.
And when I find you
I'm actively looking for you and want to be with you.
We'll be on our way
We'll embark on this adventure together and see where it takes us.
Do do do do do do do do do do do do
N/A
Leavin' with you, leavin' with you, leavin' with you
I'm committed to going on this adventure with you and supporting you along the way.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Pirner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fred Miguel
I’m a big fan of Soul Asylum! 👏👏👏🇧🇷
jon smith
Most underrated band of ALL time!!!!
Excellent lyrics, catchy as F riffs, but noooooo radio play ever.
Well except runaway train...
Spiffy
Absolutely, after Misery it's like the industry just started ignoring them. For my money Soul Asylum is as good as any band that was big in the 90s.
Tracy McPherson
I hope this IS just the beginning... With much more to come from this great group of guys! Love every minute! 💕
Ana Salvador
Great Song!! Loving Soul Asylum since 1993. Grave dancers Union was the first CD that I bought :)
RAve
This should've been the theme tune for a 90s TV series about a group of high school kids! Sooooo nostalgic.
citrine sunrise
Lol it does sound like a tv theme song or something. Fantastic.
Candy From A Stranger
Simply the best album released in 2020!!! Congratulations, Soul Asylum!!! Thank you for everything!!!!
Jenifer Kramer
Sounds great! I enjoy watching the recording process.
DaneTV - Videoclipes
Thank you for this!!! This album is amazing!!!! And this band is my favorite since I was 11 \O/