Splashdown, formed in Allston, Massachusetts, in 1996, was an American pop … Read Full Bio ↴Splashdown, formed in Allston, Massachusetts, in 1996, was an American pop rock band. The group disbanded in 2001. Splashdown gained a small but extremely loyal following in the Northeast United States for their combination of electronica, rock, jazz, and Middle-Eastern influences.

Splashdown consisted of singer/pianist Melissa Kaplan (Universal Hall Pass), electronic programmer Kasson Crooker (later working under the name Symbion Project), and guitarist/bassist Adam Buhler. The trio increased in size to a five- or six-piece group for live shows; these line-ups frequently included drummer Jason Sakos and guitarist Trevor Shand. Buhler and Crooker were in another female-fronted band in the mid-1990s, Sirensong.

When they were together- during the height of file-sharing programs such as Napster- Splashdown was against sharing their songs online. However, due to their break-up and the fact that much of Splashdown's work has never been commercially available, the band and their fans have made efforts to see that Splashdown's music is available for free online. Some such ways have been forums posts, websites, and other points of interest to an internet user. Such link can be found in their Wikipedia entry, or directly from forums posts such as this, which was found on WNA Forums.

Other downloading locations (still online at the beginning of 2009) include
http://www.sadena.com/music/splashdown/
http://www.injected.org/splashdown/downloads.html
http://www.symbionproject.com/instant.html

Need vs. Want
Splashdown Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello?!?
C'mon, I know you're there
Yeah, I have arrived with a message from someone you've wanted to hear from that may get you running scared.
Let's go!
It's time to show your wares
Yeah, I've got what you want, I haven't much time
Hey, I'm only the messenger, be sure you've tipped me fair

The roll of even tide
May balance either side
And so I know I'm right
To say you're out of time

That's right
I've seen this once before
On some tv show
Only difference is they broke down the door
Let's go!
It's time to show your wares
Yeah, I've got what you want, I'll say it again, hey, I'm only the messenger working for my fair share

If I could, yeah, if I could
Lend you a secret to clean out your closet
And if I could -- you know I want to
Buy you a ticket to nowhere but safety
But as things are, I have no more secrets I'm only the messenger

Goodbye!
And thanks for all your help
They'll be by in the morning to gather your things
If you're gone they will find you so get on your knees
Just to pray you remember one moment of ease

Sorry, I'm just the messenger and now it's my time to leave
Goodbye!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Splashdown's song "Need vs. Want" speak of a message being delivered by someone to another person who may be afraid of the message. The messenger is urging the recipient to show what they have, as they have what the person wants, but they don't have much time. The roll of the tide may balance either side, and the messenger is confident that they are right in saying that the person is out of time.

The messenger has seen this scenario before, but only on a TV show where the difference was that they broke down the door. The messenger reiterates that they only have what the person wants and that they are only a messenger working for their fair share. The messenger expresses a desire to lend the person a secret to clean out their closet or even buy them a ticket to nowhere but safety, but as things are, they have no more secrets, and they are only the messenger.

As the song comes to a close, the messenger bids farewell, thanking the person for their help. They warn the person that in the morning, someone will come to gather their things, and they urge the person to pray that they remember one moment of ease. The messenger once again repeats that they are only the messenger and that it's their time to leave.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello?!?
Attempting to get the listener's attention and confirming that they are present

C'mon, I know you're there
An assertion that the listener is present and unwilling to engage

Yeah, I have arrived with a message from someone you've wanted to hear from that may get you running scared.
The singer is delivering a message on behalf of someone the listener has been hoping to hear from, but the message may cause fear

Let's go! It's time to show your wares
An invitation to demonstrate the listener's abilities or offerings

Yeah, I've got what you want, I haven't much time
The artist possesses something desired by the listener but is unable to linger

Hey, I'm only the messenger, be sure you've tipped me fair
The singer is not the source but is delivering a message and requesting recompense

The roll of even tide
The singer is referencing the balance of nature

May balance either side
Balance can be achieved between opposing forces

And so I know I'm right
The artist asserts their correctness

To say you're out of time
The listener has run out of time to rectify something

That's right
The singer confirms a statement that has been made

I've seen this once before
The artist has witnessed a similar event in the past

On some tv show
The previous experience was through a television program

Only difference is they broke down the door
A minor difference exists between the current situation and the previous experience

If I could, yeah, if I could
The singer expresses a desire to offer assistance

Lend you a secret to clean out your closet
The artist suggests they could provide insight to aid in personal improvement

And if I could -- you know I want to
The artist reiterates the desire to help if possible

Buy you a ticket to nowhere but safety
The singer would like to provide an opportunity for safety and relaxation

But as things are, I have no more secrets I'm only the messenger
The singer does not have the means to provide assistance beyond delivering the message

Goodbye! And thanks for all your help
The artist is concluding the interaction and expressing gratitude

They'll be by in the morning to gather your things
A situation involving loss or eviction is imminent

If you're gone they will find you so get on your knees
The listener should pray before potentially facing negative consequences

Just to pray you remember one moment of ease
The prayer should remind the listener of a time when things were easier

Sorry, I'm just the messenger and now it's my time to leave
The artist is not responsible for the negative circumstances and is ending the interaction

Goodbye!
A farewell to the listener

Contributed by Alexis J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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