The Spin Doctors is a rock group from New York, USA, best known for its 199… Read Full Bio ↴The Spin Doctors is a rock group from New York, USA, best known for its 1992 hits, "Two Princes" and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong", which charted at #7 & #17 on the pop chart, respectively. The album that included those songs, 'Pocket Full of Kryptonite', sold poorly until MTV and radio began playing those singles. The album eventually went gold, receiving another boost in sales after the band appeared on Saturday Night Live in October 1992, and it ultimately sold five million copies in the U.S., peaking at #3 on the Billboard top 200 album chart. The band also made an appearance on 'Sesame Street', singing a modified version of "Two Princes" that emphasized the importance of sharing.

The current members are Chris Barron (lead vocals), Anthony Krizan (guitar and vocals), Aaron Comess (drums) and Mark White (bass). The history of the Spin Doctors can be traced back to the late 80s in New York City, originally as a band called Trucking Company, which included Canadian guitarist Eric Schenkman, John Popper, and later Chris Barron. Barron was John Popper's Princeton, New Jersey high school friend. Popper left this side project to focus on his main gig with rock group Blues Traveler full time. With a name change to Spin Doctors, as well as the addition of Aaron Comess and Mark White, the classic lineup was in place by the spring of 1989.

Recorded from August to December 1990 at both the famous Power Station studio in NYC as well as the RPM Studios, NYC and ACME Recording Studios Inc. in Mamaroneck, NY, the band released 'Pocket Full of Kryptonite' on August 20, 1991. Experiencing a slow burn of sorts in terms of success over the next few years, the band released the singles "Jimmy Olsen's Blues", "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong", "How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?)", "Two Princes", and "What Time Is It?", managing serious chart success in both the U.S. and the U.K. Their sound incorporated shades of contemporary college rock and underground power pop as well as more indie and blues rock styles.

'Turn It Upside Down' (1994) was not as successful as 'Kryptonite', although it did sell a million copies. Its second single, "You Let Your Heart Go Too Fast", was a modest hit (#48 on the pop chart). Shortly after the release of Turn It Upside Down, original guitarist Eric Schenkman left the band, citing both musical and personal differences. He was replaced by Anthony Krizan. Fans feared, for good reasons, that the group had somewhat stalled creatively.

The follow-up, You've Got to Believe in Something (1996), sold poorly and the band lost its record contract. Guitarist Krizan also left the band following its release, for reasons that remain relatively unknown. He was replaced by Eran Tabid. Also during this time, Ivan Neville joined the band on keyboards. In 1998, the band signed to Uptown/Universal and released Here Comes the Bride in 1999. During the recording of Here Comes The Bride, Mark White left the band. The bass tracks on the album were finished by original band member Aaron Comess.

During the tour supporting Here Comes The Bride, Chris Barron lost his voice due to a rare form of vocal cord paralysis. Keyboardist Ivan Neville took over vocal duties for a few dates, but the band eventually cancelled the remainder of its tour, crippling sales of the album. Chris' voice came back in late 2000, where he began performing with his band Chris Barron and the Give Daddy Five.

The Spin Doctors remained stagnant until 2001, when the closing of the famous New York City club Wetlands brought the original four members back together. The band started playing one-offs and eventually recorded an album, Nice Talking To Me, released on September 13, 2005. So far, the album has yet to be met with much commercial success. They have also made a guest appearance on the children's book and its accompanying album by Children's Author/Artist Sandra Boynton singing "Tantrum".

Stepped on a Crack
Spin Doctors Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's a funny way to tell you baby,
What could I do?
I've been talkin to the preacher,
And he sent me to you.
There's a penny on the sidewalk,
But you stepped on a crack
Mama's singing in the kitchen,
But she's clutchin' her back

There's a funny wind a-blowin'
Down the rays you your hair
Everybody doin' cartwheels baby,
But you're still in bed
You can tell me it's your nature, girl
But I don't buy that
I can tell you like to lie
Just by the tilt of your hat

One guy's laughing,
One guy's weeping,
One guy's twitchin'
And you lay sleeping

Tell me why you sleeping baby
One guy's laughing, mama,
One guy's weeping,
One guy's twitchin' down on the floor, mama
Tell me why you sleeping baby

I've been talking in the kitchen,
And I'm skinning a cat
I know you you want to see my jackknife,
But I'm using a bat
Put the mutton on the table,
There's a fork by your plate
Someone told me you're starving,
But I know you just ate.

One guy's laughing,
One guy's weeping,

One guy's twitchin'
And you lay sleepin'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stepped On A Crack by Spin Doctors convey a sense of confusion and chaos in everyday life. The singer is speaking directly to his lover, trying to express his feelings and thoughts about the world around them. He mentions that he has been talking to a preacher, and the preacher told him to come to his lover. This suggests that the singer may be seeking guidance or answers to questions about his life.

The mention of a penny on the sidewalk symbolizes the idea of luck or fortune, but the fact that the lover stepped on a crack could suggest that luck may not be on their side. The mother singing in the kitchen, but clutching her back, implies a sense of pain or discomfort. The funny wind blowing down the rays of the lover's hair suggests a sense of chaos and unpredictability that surrounds them.

The singer speaks of his lover's nature, and how she may like to lie. He can tell this just by the tilt of her hat. This may suggest that the singer is not sure if he can trust his lover, or if she is being honest with him. The mention of one guy laughing, one guy weeping, one guy twitching and his lover sleeping could symbolize the varied emotions and experiences that everyone goes through in life, and how his lover may not be fully present or aware of them.

Overall, the song Stepped On A Crack by Spin Doctors is a commentary on the unpredictable and sometimes confusing nature of life. The singer is trying to express his feelings to his lover and make sense of the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

It's a funny way to tell you baby,
I am attempting to inform you in a humorous manner

What could I do?
I am unsure how to proceed

I've been talkin to the preacher,
I have sought counsel from a religious figure

And he sent me to you.
The preacher instructed me to come to you

There's a penny on the sidewalk,
A small piece of currency lies on the ground

But you stepped on a crack
You accidentally stepped on a break in the pavement

Mama's singing in the kitchen,
Your mother is currently vocalizing in the cooking area

But she's clutchin' her back
She is gripping her lower back in discomfort

There's a funny wind a-blowin'
A strange breeze is blowing

Down the rays you your hair
It is moving the strands of your hair in a downward direction

Everybody doin' cartwheels baby,
Other people around you are performing gymnastic moves

But you're still in bed
You are still lying in bed

You can tell me it's your nature, girl
You may say it is your instinct, woman

But I don't buy that
I do not believe your claim

I can tell you like to lie
I can sense that you enjoy being untruthful

Just by the tilt of your hat
I can determine this from how your hat is positioned

One guy's laughing,
One person is displaying joy

One guy's weeping,
Another individual is shedding tears

One guy's twitchin'
A third person is experiencing muscle spasms

And you lay sleeping
Meanwhile, you are currently sleeping

Tell me why you sleeping baby
Please disclose the reason for your slumber, darling

One guy's laughing, mama,
One man is happily laughing, mother

One guy's weeping,
Another man is crying

One guy's twitchin' down on the floor, mama
One man is convulsing on the ground, mother

Tell me why you sleeping baby
Please explain why you are currently asleep, dear

I've been talking in the kitchen,
I have been conversing while in the cooking area

And I'm skinning a cat
I am performing the task of preparing a feline for cooking

I know you you want to see my jackknife,
I am aware that you desire to view my blade

But I'm using a bat
However, I am utilizing a different implement

Put the mutton on the table,
Please place the sheep meat onto the eating surface

There's a fork by your plate
There is utensil near your area for consuming the food

Someone told me you're starving,
Another individual informed me that you are extremely hungry

But I know you just ate.
However, I am aware that you have recently consumed food.

One guy's laughing,
One person is displaying joy

One guy's weeping,
Another individual is shedding tears

One guy's twitchin'
A third person is experiencing muscle spasms

And you lay sleepin'
Meanwhile, you are currently sleeping

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AARON COMESS, CHRISTOPHER GROSS, ERIC SCHENKMAN, MARK WHITE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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