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
To My Own Devices
Soul Asylum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I damn near exploded
Oh Lord, you know I should'a known it
Whatever the price is, whatever the crisis
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
Please don't leave me to my own devices
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
She was a pretty good waitress
Said she waited on Elvis
Said she talks too much
Please don't leave me to my own devices
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
Save it up for a rainy day
It just rained yesterday
Whatever the price is, whatever the crisis
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
Please don't leave me to my own devices
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
The lyrics to Soul Asylum's song To My Own Devices speak about the singer's struggles with alcoholism and his own self-destructive tendencies. He laments getting too drunk and almost "exploding", acknowledging that he should have known better. He pleads for someone to save him from himself, not wanting to be left to his own devices. The mention of the waitress who served Elvis and talks too much reflects the singer's tendency to surround himself with people who distract him from dealing with his issues.
The repeated plea to not be left to his own devices reveals the singer's awareness of the danger he presents to himself when left alone. He recognizes that he is not capable of handling things on his own and needs outside help to avoid further destruction. The line "Save it up for a rainy day, it just rained yesterday" serves as a reminder that he has wasted his chances before and needs to start making changes before it's too late.
Overall, the lyrics provide a poignant glimpse into the struggle of addiction and the need for support in overcoming it.
Line by Line Meaning
Shouldn't'a got so loaded
I regret that I drank so much alcohol
I damn near exploded
I almost had a physical or emotional breakdown
Oh Lord, you know I should'a known it
I acknowledge that I should have been aware of the consequences
Whatever the price is, whatever the crisis
No matter how difficult the situation becomes
Oh please don't leave me to my own devices
I need someone's help or support to get through this
Please don't leave me to my own devices
I am desperate for someone to assist or guide me
She was a pretty good waitress
The woman who served me was competent and attractive
Said she waited on Elvis
She claimed to have served the famous musician, Elvis Presley
Said she talks too much
She talked excessively or unnecessarily
Save it up for a rainy day
Put money or resources aside for an uncertain future
It just rained yesterday
A difficult or unpleasant event occurred recently
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Izra Cisneros
I'm a mexican man. I was on the equivalent to junior high when I first listened to "let your dim light shine". It marked my life. Do You have an idea what it was like back then to get ahold of a cd like this? I still have it, and David, u are one of My heroes.
Joseph Susnjara
Fantastic, catchy tune as we all know. I still support you and the band (Oxygen is epic). Cheers from Cleveland, Ohio.
Spiffy
Soul Asylum are so underrated. Really grateful Dave is still out there making music.
Uncle Art
Few years have gone by now..I am still listening them,never give up from Napoli (south italy)
Sheena
Beautiful, Dave🖤
Norman Ratliff
Fantastic Dave !!!!