Steve Wynn (born February 21, 1960) is a songwriter based in New York (born… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Wynn (born February 21, 1960) is a songwriter based in New York (born in California). He led the influential band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.

Before forming the Dream Syndicate, Wynn played guitar in the Davis, California-based band The Suspects, whose members included vocalist Kendra Smith (who later played bass in the Dream Syndicate) and Russ Tolman and Gavin Blair (who would form True West (band)); in 1979 they released a single, "It's Up to You" b/w "Talking Loud." Two years later, under the name 15 Minutes, he self-released another single, "Last Chance for You" b/w "That's What You Always Say" (later performed by the Dream Syndicate), which owed much to Joy Division.

Though they were popular with critics, an influence on other musicians, and signed briefly to a major label, The Dream Syndicate were never really commercially successful. They did establish, however, the fan base on which Wynn built his solo career.

Since 1990, Wynn has released a number of albums exploring various musical styles. His first solo album, Kerosene Man, included backing work by bassist Fernando Saunders (a frequent sideman of Lou Reed, to whom Wynn was often compared early in his career), drummer D.J. Bonebrake from the L.A. punk band X, Howe Gelb of Giant Sand and saxophonist Steve Berlin from Los Lobos. Peter Buck, from R.E.M., played on its follow-up, Dazzling Display, and co-wrote the title song. Backing on Melting in the Dark (1996) was provided by the Boston band Come.

Here Come the Miracles (2001) was his best-selling solo album to date, and the best-reviewed, appearing at year's end on numerous critical Top Ten lists.

In 1985, Wynn wrote a collection of songs with Dan Stuart of Green on Red, and recorded and released them as Danny and Dusty. This collaboration was revisited in 2007 for a second Danny & Dusty album. In the '90s he was a part of the indie supergroup Gutterball along with Stephen McCarthy of The Long Ryders and Brian Harvey and Johnny Hott of House of Freaks. In 2008 Wynn and his wife Linda Pitmon collaborated with Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5) and Peter Buck (R.E.M., The Minus 5) for a record with songs about legendary baseball players - this collaboration is known as The Baseball Project.

The double CD From a Man of Mysteries: A Steve Wynn Tribute was released by the German label Blue Rose in 2004 and features Wynn's songs performed by the likes of Concrete Blonde, the Silos, Chuck Prophet, The Minus 5 and others.

Wynn also records as Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3.

Wynn is at present more popular in Europe than in the United States. While domestic tours are rare, he continues to perform regularly overseas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wynn_%28songwriter%29

Butterscotch
Steve Wynn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Never liked to beg
For what she already had
Every grain of sand
Had fallen through her hand

Never liked the game
But played it just the same
Every angry face

Forgotten and replaced

Tell me what you see
When all you see is me
Never liked to watch
Drowned in butterscotch

Turned to pantomimes
Because you didn't like your lines
Turned to frozen stares
Parachutes and flares

Melting in the sun
In front of everyone

Every angry face
Forgotten and replaced

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steve Wynn's "Butterscotch" reflect a person's struggle to come to terms with who they are and what they want in life. The singer speaks of a woman who never liked to beg for what she already had, suggesting that she was strong and independent. However, every grain of sand had fallen through her hand, indicating that she has lost something valuable to her. This could be a metaphor for a relationship that has ended, a missed opportunity, or any other loss that has left her feeling empty.

The next verse suggests that despite not liking the game, she played it anyway. Every angry face was forgotten and replaced, implying that she has been hurt by others and has had to move on from those experiences. The chorus presents a question - "Tell me what you see when all you see is me" - which could be interpreted as the singer asking the woman to be honest with herself about who she is and what she wants.

The line "never liked to watch, drowned in butterscotch" is both literal and metaphorical. It could mean that the woman doesn't like to see herself reflected in the sticky, sweet substance of butterscotch - possibly a metaphor for the sameness and monotony of her life. Alternatively, it could imply that she has drowned in butterscotch, meaning that she has become trapped in a cycle of familiarity and comfort that prevents her from growing and changing.

The final verse speaks of turning to pantomimes and frozen stares, possibly indicating that she has become numb to her own emotions and is living a life that is empty and unfulfilling. However, there is a glimmer of hope in the line "parachutes and flares". This could suggest that she is willing to take risks and try new things - to jump out of a plane with a parachute or light flares to signal her presence. And in the end, despite the angry faces and losses she has experienced, she is melting in the sun in front of everyone, suggesting that she is becoming more comfortable with who she is and more willing to let others see her true self.

Line by Line Meaning

Never liked to beg
She was always independent and self-sufficient

For what she already had
She never asked for more than what she needed

Every grain of sand
Every small thing that mattered to her

Had fallen through her hand
Were lost to her despite her efforts

Never liked the game
She didn't like the way people played social interactions

But played it just the same
She tried to conform to society's expectations

Every angry face
Unpleasant interactions with others

Forgotten and replaced
Moved on from and not dwelling

Tell me what you see
Wanting to know how others perceive her

When all you see is me
Feeling exposed and vulnerable in front of others

Never liked to watch
Avoiding being a spectator of life