After a pair of well-received singles, Superchunk released Superchunk in 1990, a critically-lauded LP. In spite of the ensuing interest from major labels, Superchunk decided to stay independent, going with Matador Records for their second, just as critically-lauded LP, No Pocky for Kitty, followed by a collection of singles, Tossing Seeds and another pair of well-reviewed LP's, On the Mouth and Foolish.
Superchunk singer Mac McCaughan and bassist Laura Ballance decided to release future albums on their own Merge Records, which they had started in 1989. The band continued touring and recording, appearing on Lollapalooza and backing a minor hit in "Hyper Enough" (from Here's Where the Strings Come In). In 1999, Superchunk released Come Pick Me Up.
McCaughan was a member of Seam and has also recorded several albums as Portastatic. Initially a solo project, Portastatic has evolved into a full band, which currently includes Superchunk's Jim Wilbur as a member. Before forming Superchunk, McCaughan was a member of the Slushpuppies, Wwax, and Bricks.
In 2008, the band announced they would be performing live shows and working on new material. That new material manifested itself as 2009's Leaves in the Gutter EP, which was followed by a full-length in 2010.
In 2013 bassist Laura Ballance announced that she would no longer tour, due to a worsening hearing condition (hyperacusis). However, the band continues to release new material, including the 2018 album "What a Time to be Alive."
Cursed Mirror
Superchunk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon I'll see right through
You warned me once
But its frightening to see the shape of you
Now you're knee deep in the sucking mud
Won't you toss me your glove again
You warmed this hand before
The mirror gets cursed
For what's reflected
So you disconnect it
Will you disconnect it
Now you're wrapped up like an onion in layers
Suckin on Bayers and shaking
The point is I can feel you
A funny elbow in my side
But in real life my calls go unfollowed
Medicine swallowed in secret
You can't beat it
When reports of your demise are correct
The mirror gets cursed
For what's reflected
So you disconnect it
You disconnect it
Now I'm forcing the issue
Wrappin loose ends in wet tissues
When you're ready
You'll reappear, wont you?
The mirror gets cursed
For what's reflected
So you disconnect it
You disconnect it
And it only gets worse
When you know you wrecked it
So you disconnect it
In the song "Cursed Mirror" by Superchunk, the lyrics describe a disconnection between two people. The first verse implies that one person is becoming more transparent and losing their grip on reality or their identity. The second verse reveals that the other person is also struggling, perhaps with an addiction to medication. The chorus repeats the idea of a cursed mirror, suggesting that their self-image has been distorted and they disconnect from reality to avoid seeing themselves.
The bridge shows the singer trying to mend things, wrapping up loose ends and waiting for the other person to reappear. However, the final chorus suggests that things have only gotten worse, and the disconnect between them has deepened. The song ends with the idea of a curse, a reflection of something destructive in the mirror, that they can't escape from.
Taken as a whole, the song seems to be about two people who are struggling to connect, perhaps because of personal issues or addiction. The cursed mirror represents a distorted view of themselves, and they disconnect from reality to avoid facing it. Despite the singer's attempts to reach out, the divide between them only grows deeper.
Line by Line Meaning
Fair skinned to pale, translucent
The person's complexion is so light and pale that it is almost transparent.
Soon I'll see right through
The singer will soon be able to see right through the person and understand them completely.
You warned me once
The person warned the singer about their behavior or something related to them before.
But its frightening to see the shape of you
The singer finds it scary to see the real person behind the mask.
Now you're knee deep in the sucking mud
The person is in a difficult situation or troubling circumstance.
Won't you toss me your glove again
The singer is asking for the person's help again.
You warmed this hand before
The person has helped the singer before and the singer is grateful for it.
Last summer dancing
The person and the singer had fun together last summer.
The mirror gets cursed
The mirror is blamed for reflecting an image that the singer does not like.
For what's reflected
The image in the mirror that the singer does not like is what is being reflected.
So you disconnect it
The singer disconnects the mirror to avoid seeing the image that they don't like.
Will you disconnect it
The singer is asking the person if they will also disconnect the mirror.
Now you're wrapped up like an onion in layers
The person is hiding something or has built up walls around themselves.
Suckin on Bayers and shaking
The person is taking medicine and experiencing some sort of physical reaction.
The point is I can feel you
The singer can sense the person's presence or emotions.
A funny elbow in my side
The person is making the singer feel uncomfortable or uneasy, like a sudden jab in the side.
But in real life my calls go unfollowed
The person does not respond to the singer's attempts to reach out in real life.
Medicine swallowed in secret
The person is taking medicine without telling anyone.
You can't beat it
The situation is unbeatable or cannot be resolved.
When reports of your demise are correct
When rumors of the person's death or downfall are true.
Now I'm forcing the issue
The singer is trying to push the situation forward or get a response from the person.
Wrappin loose ends in wet tissues
The singer is trying to tidy up loose ends or unresolved issues.
When you're ready
The singer is waiting for the person to be ready for something.
You'll reappear, wont you?
The singer is asking the person if they will come back or reappear when they are ready.
And it only gets worse
The situation is getting worse or more difficult to handle.
When you know you wrecked it
The person knows that they are responsible for making the situation worse.
So you disconnect it
The person disconnects themselves from the situation or relationship.
You disconnect it
The singer is urging the person to disconnect themselves from the situation or relationship.
Contributed by David F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BusquedaBlues
I have to agree man, this is probably my favorite superchunk song.
Siqueli ́s TV
Wonderful music!
Poppy 1
2:01-2:14 could listen on repeat
brentsabear
@DMCdawg nice! yeah superchunk is a very talented and underrated band in my opinion and i'd have to say that "come pick me up" is one of my most favorite albums of all time. i think i like every song on it lol i'm thinking of uploading the whole thing ^^
VYWillNeverDie
The Mirror gets cursed, for whats reflected, so you're disconnected, and it only gets worst"
brentsabear
@mrbiggles9999 yeah i liked it. i haven't heard it in a while though lol
bangpictures
Jorge Simonian, this is the Producer of Joe Kid on a Stingray. We spent many years and I mortgaged my home to make the film and you are taking that away from us by posting this on your Channel. As a "filmmaker", I would think you would understand this concept. PLEASE REMOVE THE FILM I SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR NOW.