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
Why
Steve Wynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do a little damage
Nothing left to salvage
Never mind the carnage
Why do birds fall from the sky
Every time that you walk by?
I don't know why
Get a little lowdown
Gonna be a showdown
Not enough to go 'round
Look at what I found (ch)
Kinda like a dancer
New romancer
Spreading like a cancer
There's no answer (ch)
The opening lines of Steve Wynn's song Why, "Speak my language, do a little damage, nothing left to salvage, never mind the carnage" hints that the songwriter is communicating with someone who doesn't seem to understand or relate with him. There is a sense of losing control, impatience, and frustration in the tone. The pre-chorus sets up the song's main question "Why do birds fall from the sky every time that you walk by?" which brings together the feelings of confusion, discomfort, and insecurity. The chorus repeats this question, and Wynn admits he doesn't know why.
The second stanza of the song adds a new layer to this feeling of unease, with the phrase "get a little lowdown" indicating that the songwriter is gathering information about this person. The lyrics "gonna be a showdown, not enough to go 'round, look at what I found" suggest that there is a sense of competition or perhaps even danger in this situation. The final verse adds a sense of desperation and hopelessness, with the line "spreading like cancer, there's no answer". Overall, the song seems to explore feelings of confusion, discomfort, and frustration when confronting someone who is hard to understand or relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak my language
Communicate with me in a way that I understand
Do a little damage
Take some risks, create excitement and intensity
Nothing left to salvage
No way to repair the damage that has been done
Never mind the carnage
Don't worry about the destruction that has occurred
Why do birds fall from the sky
Why do strange and unexplainable things happen when you're around?
Every time that you walk by?
Whenever you're near me?
I don't know why
I can't explain it or understand it myself
Get a little lowdown
Get some inside information, find out what's really going on
Gonna be a showdown
There's going to be a big confrontation
Not enough to go 'round
There isn't enough for everyone
Look at what I found
I've discovered something valuable
Kinda like a dancer
Moving gracefully, with style
New romancer
Starting a new relationship
Spreading like a cancer
Growing and expanding rapidly, and possibly out of control
There's no answer
There is no clear solution or explanation
Contributed by Alyssa F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin Roberg-Perez
If Bob Dylan had been in a punk band.
Petar Koljensic
pozdrav iz sombora