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.
Lazy Bones
Soul Coughing Lyrics
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And you're in transit, dream to dream,
I'll drift there to meet you, lazybones.
When all the world has lain and sank,
And money sleeps inside the banks,
I'll drift there to meet you, layzbones.
Drunkenness is a hand-held
Scrambling down Delancey
I come stumbling;
Well I hear you had to take a shine
And firing at random, I hear the rays fell upon mine.
Cool you, Miss Amaze, with a handful of water
Trucks encircling, bearing down, coming louder.
If I could stay here, under your idle caress
And not exit to the world and phoniness and people.
When all the noise has left your head
Will someday you rise off the bed?
I'll be there to lift you, lazybones.
The lyrics to Soul Coughing's song Lazy Bones describe a sense of escapism and yearning for a simpler, more peaceful existence. The singer is envisioning a scenario where they and their loved one are both disconnected from the chaos and demands of the world, slipping into a dream state where their bodies are numb and clean. There is a sense of romanticism and poetic longing in the lines "I'll drift there to meet you, lazybones," suggesting the singer's desire to join their partner in this idyllic dreamland.
The song also touches on themes of drunkenness and the overwhelming nature of city life. The reference to a "cameraman sways to remember how the eye dances" creates a sense of disorientation, echoing the feeling of being inebriated or overwhelmed by sensory input. The line "trucks encircling, bearing down, coming louder" adds to this feeling of being trapped or oppressed by the urban environment. The chorus "I'll be there to lift you, lazybones" serves as a comforting reassurance that the singer will always be there to offer support and escape from the hectic outside world.
Overall, Lazy Bones creates a vivid image of a world outside of time and responsibility, a place where the singer can exist in a dreamlike state alongside their partner. The song's poetic imagery and universal themes of escapism and romantic longing have helped it endure as a fan favorite for more than two decades.
Line by Line Meaning
When all the limbs are numb and clean
When you feel comfortable and relaxed with no cares or worries
And you're in transit, dream to dream
When you are in a state of dreaming or daydreaming
I'll drift there to meet you, lazybones.
I will join you in your relaxed state of mind
When all the world has lain and sank,
When the world stops moving and everything seems at peace
And money sleeps inside the banks,
When the economy is slow and stagnant
I'll drift there to meet you, layzbones.
I will join you in this state of tranquility
Cameraman sways to remember how the eye dances,
A camera sways to capture a dance or movement
Drunkenness is a hand-held
Being inebriated is like holding on to something for support
Scrambling down Delancey
Frantically trying to make one's way down the street
I come stumbling;
I arrive clumsily
Well I hear you had to take a shine
I heard that you became interested
And firing at random, I hear the rays fell upon mine.
Taking chances and hoping to be chosen among many options
Cool you, Miss Amaze, with a handful of water
Trying to calm and soothe someone with a small gesture
Trucks encircling, bearing down, coming louder.
Feeling overwhelmed and surrounded by outside pressures
If I could stay here, under your idle caress
If I could remain in this peaceful state with your comforting touch
And not exit to the world and phoniness and people.
And avoid reality and the superficiality of human interactions
When all the noise has left your head
When your mind is free of distractions and unnecessary thoughts
Will someday you rise off the bed?
Will you eventually get up and face the day?
I'll be there to lift you, lazybones.
I will be there to support and encourage you to start your day
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind