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."
Here
Superchunk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the last hurtful expression on your face
And I don't remember the time, but I remember the scene
Everything got ugly; well how do we get so mean?
And I'm sorry if the ride has been so disappointing
Well I tell you from my side, I can't remember much
And I'm sorry if the whole thing has left you wanting
No I don't remember much about it
Well can you see well from where you are sitting?
Because it didn't cost you a cent
It's for the pigeons to do your bidding
And with every single step, a stinking film of sweat
Well should I wear it like a three-piece suit, a torn flat, or a nervous halo?
And I'm sorry if the ride has been so disappointing
Well I tell you from my side, I can't remember much
And I'm sorry if the whole thing has left you wanting
'Cause to tell you the truth, I don't remember much
No I don't remember much about it
Now we're two trains on the same track
The conductor passed out drunk
And you still ask me why I look so bad
Like my bathtub duck just sunk
But where's everything comes together
Either that or it falls all apart
Yeah, here's where the strings come in
The lyrics of Superchunk's "Here" seem to be a contemplation of a failed relationship. The singer recalls a past argument with their partner, remembering the hurtful expression on their face even though they don't recall the exact details of the fight. They express remorse and apologizes for the disappointment, and allude to the idea that they may not have been fully present during the relationship. The second verse appears to be a reflection on a sense of entitlement and privilege, suggesting that someone else may be doing the hard work while they reap the rewards. The final verse has a sense of resignation, acknowledging that perhaps everything falls together or falls apart in the end, and then the music swells with strings as the song comes to a close.
Overall, the lyrics are introspective and contain a bittersweet tone. There is a sense of regret and nostalgia, wondering what could have been if things had turned out differently. The use of vivid imagery in describing the sweat and odor adds to the gritty feel of the song. The strings that come in at the end provide a sense of melancholy and reflection, tying the song together thematically.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I have a fading impression
I somewhat remember the past hurtful expression you made
Of the last hurtful expression on your face
I can barely recall the specific hurtful thing you said
And I don't remember the time, but I remember the scene
Although I don't have the exact timestamp, I can visualize the incident
Everything got ugly; well how do we get so mean?
The situation escalated badly and I don't know how we reached such negativity
And I'm sorry if the ride has been so disappointing
Apology for the unpleasant journey we had together
Well I tell you from my side, I can't remember much
I, too, am not able to recall important events from that journey
And I'm sorry if the whole thing has left you wanting
Regretting that the entire experience was unsatisfactory to you
'Cause to tell you the truth, I don't remember much
Because honestly, I don't have a clear memory of most of it
No I don't remember much about it
I barely have any recollection of what happened
Well can you see well from where you are sitting?
Are you able to clearly see the situation from your perspective?
Because it didn't cost you a cent
You didn't pay anything for the ride so you're not affected as much
It's for the pigeons to do your bidding
The service we provided is not of high quality; it's just for show
And with every single step, a stinking film of sweat
The journey was uncomfortable with lots of sweating and unpleasant smells
Well should I wear it like a three-piece suit, a torn flat, or a nervous halo?
What should I wear to express my regret and shame in this situation?
Now we're two trains on the same track
We're both in the same situation
The conductor passed out drunk
The person in charge is not able to control the situation
And you still ask me why I look so bad
Despite all of this, you still don't understand why I'm struggling
Like my bathtub duck just sunk
Feeling as if something small and insignificant to you has just died
But where's everything comes together
If we work together, everything can fall into place
Either that or it falls all apart
If we don't work together, everything will only get worse
Yeah, here's where the strings come in
This is the part where everything needs to start coming together and we need to work in harmony
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sethhardy7280
My dad used to play this song for me and my siblings back in the early 2000’s and we’d die laughing at the shaking your ass part every time
@st.johnsstorytelling9558
A good Dad - keep him close.
@elizabethlacouture9530
I used to play it for my kiddo!
@markhower86
Superchunk are national treasure
@spwb2k
under-rated harmonic melodic literate power pop guitar goodness.
@blonieamw2998
I just got "Crowding Up Your Visual Field" on DVD from Superchunk and Merge Records... its soooo dam awesome! i didn't even know that they had a video for this song until today, then i came to youtube to tell everyone that this is AWESOME!!
@polavision
thanks andy! it was super fun to make
@washerdryer
This is the most 90's music video in the world
@shawnnorton2674
One of the most important bands ever, since the first show I mixed of theirs back in 1991 at the infamous Sudsy Malones I’ve loved this band, the songs don’t get old. A perfect band.
@frflinstone
Amen.