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
The Way You Punish Me
Steve Wynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In another life I must have been bad
Stripped down, break my pride
Straight through the other side
Rip through my memory
Nothing that I want to see
I love the way you punish me
In another life I must have done wrong
In another life I must have done wrong
Don't tell me what I've done
Don't see what I've become
Ravish me, tear me down
Stub my life into the ground
I love the way you punish me
"The Way You Punish Me" by Steve Wynn is a song that depicts a tormented relationship in which the singer feels that he must have been a bad person in another life to deserve the punishment he endures. He is stripped down, stripped of his pride and is taken straight to the other side, and his memory is torn, leaving him with nothing he wants to see. Despite all of this, he continues to love the way he is punished. In the second verse, he admits that he must have done something wrong in another life, and he doesn't want to be told or see what he became. He is ravished and torn down and feels that his life is being stubbed into the ground. Despite all of this, he still loves the way he is punished.
The lyrics of this song illustrate a deeply troubled relationship in which the singer has become addicted to punishment while still craving his partner's love. It is a song about the dark side of love and how one can become so entwined in a toxic dynamic that they begin to love the pain they are put through.
Line by Line Meaning
In another life I must have been bad
I must have made mistakes or done wrong things in a previous life.
Stripped down, break my pride
Take away everything that makes me feel good about myself and break my self-confidence.
Straight through the other side
Take me to the other side, past my limits and boundaries.
Rip through my memory
Take away my memories or make me forget them.
Nothing that I want to see
I don't want to remember or see the things that hurt me.
I love the way you punish me
Despite everything, I love the way you make me feel punished or disciplined.
In another life I must have done wrong
I must have committed sins or acted badly in a past life.
Don't tell me what I've done
I don't want to know or face the truth about my actions.
Don't see what I've become
I don't want to acknowledge or accept who I have become.
Ravish me, tear me down
Make love to me with force and take away my defenses and resistance.
Stub my life into the ground
End my life or destroy everything I have worked for.
I love the way you punish me
Despite everything, I love the way you make me feel punished or disciplined.
Contributed by Max M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.