Soul Coughing,was founded by vocalist and guitarist Mike Doughty (who billed himself at the time as 'M. Doughty'), a folk singer, slam poet, and music writer.
Doughty was a doorman at the old Knitting Factory on Houston Street in New York. While working there he met sampler artist Mark De Gli Antoni, upright bass player Sebastian Steinberg, drummer Yuval Gabay, and artist David Linton. Doughty convinced them to join him in forming a new band. They played their first gig, as 'M. Doughty's Soul Coughing' at the Knitting Factory on June 15, 1992, a late-Monday night slot that Doughty cadged from his boss because nobody else wanted it. In 1993, he founded a club night called SLAW at CBGB's 313 Gallery, which was meant to emulate the popular jazz and hip hop club Giant Step, but eventually became a showcase for Soul Coughing. Posters for SLAW were headlined 'Deep Slacker Jazz' (a parody of The Who's slogan 'Maximum R&B'), which became an enduring description of the band's sound.
The band was signed within a year to Warner Brothers subsidiary Slash Records, and released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996), and El Oso (1998). They enjoyed minor hit singles with "Circles," "Super Bon Bon," and "Screenwriter's Blues."
The band broke up in 2000, after years of feuding over songwriting credits and publishing money. Doughty continued as a solo artist, and Gabay, Steinberg, and De Gli Antoni have been involved with other projects including a trio disc sans Doughty in 2004.
Fully Retractable
Soul Coughing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This house was half my mind
I don't dispute the doubts you've outlined
But it's my right to waste your time
And these things
It stands to reason
These things won't kill me
Your feelings
It bores me
Don't tell me
Burned in on the 8th of May
She was spectacular
I walk a half-moon by the bus stop
Sliding 'cross the street to her
Three stings
Sequentially
Three strings
Won't kill me
Your spieling
Gracelessly
Is my grief
Please tell me
Half-masted, bass-boosted, slingbacked, fully retractable
Throw out the la-la by the busload
Match the photo to the description
I do indeed and shall continue
Dispatch the shiftless man to points beyond
The lyrics of Soul Coughing's song "Fully Retractable" are complex and abstract, but they seem to touch on themes of relationships, identity, and the passage of time. The song begins with the singer feeling "shooed out" like a housefly from a house that was once half their mind. They acknowledge that there are doubts about their actions or decisions, but they feel that it is their right to waste someone else's time. The next lines introduce two contrasting things: the things that won't kill the singer, which "stands to reason," and the other person's feelings, which "bores" them. The singer seems to be detached and uninterested in the other person's emotions, and may be struggling to understand their own.
In the next section, the lyrics shift to a memory or fantasy about a woman who was "spectacular" and burned in on the 8th of May. The singer walks a half-moon by the bus stop to get closer to her, and the repetition of "three stings/strings" adds a sense of rhythm and urgency. The imagery is surreal and fragmented, hinting at the ephemeral nature of the encounter. The last lines of the song seem to tie the individual verses together with a sense of resignation or command. The singer describes themselves as "half-masted, bass-boosted, slingbacked, fully retractable," suggesting different states of being or personas. They reject the "la-la" or shallow distractions, and want to match "the photo to the description," perhaps seeking authenticity or clarity. Finally, they "dispatch the shiftless man to points beyond," possibly referring to their own insecurities or fears.
Overall, "Fully Retractable" is a song that invites interpretation and contemplation. The lyrics have a dreamlike quality, and the references to dates, locations, and people are ambiguous. The singer may be struggling with their own identity, trying to bridge the gap between their inner world and the outside world. The themes of time, memory, and detachment are woven throughout the song, creating a mood that is both wistful and defiant.
Line by Line Meaning
Shooed out like a housefly
I was told to leave abruptly, like an annoying fly
This house was half my mind
This place used to hold great significance to me
I don't dispute the doubts you've outlined
I acknowledge the concerns you have pointed out
But it's my right to waste your time
I have the freedom to use up your time, even if it serves no purpose
And these things
These situations or problems
It stands to reason
It's logical to assume
These things won't kill me
These issues are not severe enough to cause my demise
Your feelings
The emotions you have
The spattering
The expression or display of said emotions
It bores me
I find it uninteresting or tedious
Don't tell me
I don't want to hear it
Burned in on the 8th of May
Occurred on a specific date in time - May 8th
She was spectacular
She was impressive or stunning
I walk a half-moon by the bus stop
I am walking leisurely in a semicircle around the bus stop
Sliding 'cross the street to her
Moving smoothly across the street to reach her
Three stings
Three instances of being stung or injured
Sequentially
In a particular order or sequence
Three strings
Three problems or issues
Won't kill me
Are not life-threatening or fatal
Your spieling
The endless talking or preaching you do
Gracelessly
Without tact or refinement
Is my grief
Causes me distress or sorrow
Please tell me
I would like to know
Half-masted, bass-boosted, slingbacked, fully retractable
Describing a speaker system with lowered volume, increased bass, supported shoes, and adjustable components
Throw out the la-la by the busload
Getting rid of frivolous or unimportant things in excess
Match the photo to the description
Ensuring the details and visuals are accurately aligned
I do indeed and shall continue
I agree and will carry on with my actions
Dispatch the shiftless man to points beyond
Sending the lazy or unproductive person away to distant locations
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Payne
when Limewire was huge, this was the only album i completely ripped. (not for profit or anything) Surprised more people don't bring up this absolute masterpiece!!
saber wolfe
amazing groove. genius samples.
Wezley Jenks
I was completely obsessed with this song when I was 16. Had a music flashback and had to come find the song! Still love it to this day <3
Hoey Thaman
Dispatch the shiftless men to points beyond.
Brent Wilbur
This song is their magnum opus.
The Friendly African97
Remind me of kid cudi
Chameleonardodavinci
Kid Cudi does sing a lot like Mike here honestly, I do see what you're saying. (Btw just because it's a comparison is between old and new doesn't make him wrong, it's a simple observation)
lance vaillancourt
that guitar riff kinda reminds me of some of Cudi's work on Speedin' Bullet to Heaven.
Hydra11B __
Worst comparison ever. How the fuck did you get kid cudi out of this?? New to music?
AnonsCrossfader
Not sure why this would remind you of kid cudi