History
Early years
Their origins sprung from Oxford, United Kingdom in 1984 with the formation of a group called Shake Appeal, named after a song from one of their main influences, The Stooges. Consisting of vocalist/guitarists Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, lead vocalist Graham Franklin (Adam's brother), bassist Adi Vines, and drummer Paddy Pulzer; Shake Appeal went ahead reproducing the sounds of American garage rock of the late 60's and early 70's. The group wrote what would become Swervedriver's first classic "Son of Mustang Ford," however after a few years the band began to fall apart when both Graham and Paddy left.
The remaining three members drafted drummer Graham Bonnar, but by this time the group's sound mutated significantly under the influence of re-invented guitar music by American bands like Dinosaur Jr., and Sonic Youth. So with a new lineup and new sound came a new name, Swervedriver. Their hometown colleagues from fellow shoegazing group Ride passed their re-recorded demo of "Son of Mustang Ford" to Alan McGee of Creation Records; who, as legend has it, played the tape for the first time while cruising the inner streets of Los Angeles in a limo. The experience caused him sign the band immediately.
First album and possible breakup
Merging the whirling qualities of the shoegazer genre with heavy distorted guitars, and lyrics often featuring cars and escapism, the group debuted with a series of EPs; "Son of Mustang Ford," "Rave Down" and "Sandblasted," before issuing their full-length album debut "Raise" in 1991. Then after a U.S. tour in support of Soundgarden, Bonner left the band; the departure of Vines followed shortly afterwards. Bonner and Vines would eventually go on to form a new group called Skyscraper. Swervedriver's final release with the original lineup, 1992's "Never Lose That Feeling" EP, appeared to be the group's last.
Release of Mezcal Head
But in 1993, Swervedriver re-emerged with the core of Franklin and Hartridge along with newly recruited drummer Jez, and released their landmark album "Mezcal Head." If "Raise" was a product featuring a love of Americana, escapism and the open highway, then "Mezcal Head" was all that, but broadcast in IMAX with Dolby surround sound. Production and sound were greatly improved, and the album gave them their most successful single "Duel," hailed as one of the premier songs of the shoegazer genre. The album clearly forged a permanent link with their American fans, and made them more popular there than in their own native Britain. During this era, the fabled b-side "The Hitcher" found a release on the "Last Train to Satansville" EP. "The Hitcher" is widely considered to be a fan favorite.
Ejector Seat Reservation & Britpop
1994 found the band adding new bassist Steve George, along with extensive touring of the U.S. (supporting The Smashing Pumpkins), Japan and Europe. However by then the shoegazing genre in Britain was dead, replaced by the more mainstream Britpop movement hi-lighted by bands such as Oasis and Blur. The massive rise of Britpop caused Creation Records to drop the band just one week after the U.K. release of 1995 album "Ejector Seat Reservation." It was never released in the U.S. where they could have capitalized on the momentum of "Mezcal Head." ESR was another leap forward for the band, incorporating a wider number of influences from Elvis Costello to Bob Dylan. It saw the group grow into rebel visionaries and received the highest critical acclaim; however without any record company support it was doomed to be their poorest selling venture. This began a period of protracted record label problems for the band which fans dubbed the Swervedriver label curse.
Final years
In 1996, Swervedriver signed on with Geffen Records with a multi-record deal, and promptly began recording their fourth album. However their contract was terminated when their A&R (Artists & Repertoire) representative was fired in a corporate downsizing. Once the legal dust settled the band was awarded their own recording studio along with the finished album, however it was still a major setback. Their fourth and final album "99th Dream" was finally released in 1998 after signing on with Zero Hour Records of the U.S., and it continued the evolution that began with "Ejector Seat Reservation." Drawing less from their earlier ‘grunge' sound, the band never the less maintained their swerving, pyschedelic guitar rifts coupled with Franklin's magical lyrics and droning vocals, and was another brilliant body of work. The group continued to draw on a broader range of musical influences; for example the title track "99th Dream" was written as a prequel to Bob Dylan's song "115th Dream." Despite this album easily containing a half dozen possible hit singles, and a successful tour of the U.S., Britain and Australia; they did not break out beyond their traditional cult following. The "Wrong Treats" EP released in 1999 would become the bands last body of work as an extant group; they announced a hiatus later that year that persists to this day. Adam Franklin continues to release albums under his new band Toshack Highway.
In 2005, Castle Music released a Swervedriver anthology album titled "Juggernaut Rides" which brought together 33 songs; including many only available on rare EPs, and four that were previously unreleased..
In Late 2007 the Creation Records web site confirmed Swervedriver was reuniting for a 2008 tour.
Origins of name
How Swervedriver settled on their name has been the subject of debate among their fans for many years. During interviews whenever questioned on this topic, the band would simply respond that it was just a name; as The Beatles were just a name (in reference to that band's simple response in many early interviews). However Adam Franklin had once mentioned the band liked the connotation of a speeding driver, swerving and ultimately losing control of their car.
Discography
Full length albums
* Raise (1991)
* Mezcal Head (1993)
* Ejector Seat Reservation (1995)
* 99th Dream (1998)
* Juggernaut Rides 1989-1998 (2005) - 2 CD set
*I Wasn't Born to Lose You(2015)
*Future Ruins(2019)
Singles/EPs
* Son of Mustang Ford (1991)
* Rave Down (1991)
* Sandblasted (1991)
* Reel To Real (1991)
* Never Lose That Feeling (1993)
* Duel (1993)
* Last Train To Satansville (1993)
* My Zephyr (1994)
* Magic Bus (1994) - from Day Tripper movie soundtrack
* Last Day on Earth (1995)
* Swervedriver / Sophia Split (1996)
* 93 Million Miles From the Sun ... and Counting (1997)
* Space Travel Rock 'n' Roll (1998)
* Wrong Treats (1999)
A Change Is Gonna Come
Swervedriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I'm chiding you in a song
It's comin' your way
You shouldn't feel this way
And yeah you think it's a sin
I ain't your color of skin
You shouldn't feel this way
I keep on losin' my feet
When I walk down the street
I keep on thinkin' it's you
Guess it makes me feel blue
You say it's broken your dreams
They fall apart at the seams
It's comin' our way
You shouldn't feel this way
You shouldn't feel this way
I shouldn't feel this way
You shouldn't feel this way
We shouldn't feel this way
The lyrics to Swervedriver's song "A Change Is Gonna Come" can be interpreted as a message of hope for those who feel like they don't fit in because of their race or skin color. The singer seems to be addressing someone who is struggling with their own identity, telling them that they shouldn't feel ashamed of who they are, and that change is imminent. The repeated phrase "It's coming your way" paints a picture of something on the horizon, a positive shift that will benefit everyone who has felt marginalized.
The second verse addresses the fear that comes with being different, and the way in which it can cause one to become disconnected from their own surroundings. The singer admits that he has been affected by this, and that he is starting to recognize the source of his confusion. However, he also points out that it's not just his own personal struggle, but that it's something that we all share. The chorus reinforces this idea by repeating the phrase "You shouldn't feel this way" as if to say, let go of your fear, you're not alone, we're all in this together.
Overall, the lyrics of "A Change Is Gonna Come" are hopeful and uplifting. They serve as a reminder that change is always possible, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The song encourages listeners to embrace their differences and to be proud of who they are, while also recognizing that we are all part of a greater whole.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep on thinkin' it's wrong
I can't shake the feeling that what's happening is not right.
So I'm chiding you in a song
I express my disapproval of your actions through this song.
It's comin' your way
The consequences of your actions will soon catch up with you.
You shouldn't feel this way
You shouldn't be comfortable with how things are going.
And yeah you think it's a sin
You believe what you're doing is morally wrong.
I ain't your color of skin
Our differences shouldn't be a factor in how we treat each other.
I keep on losin' my feet
I feel unsteady and unsure about the situation.
When I walk down the street
As I go about my daily life.
I keep on thinkin' it's you
I can't help but think that you're the cause of my unease.
Guess it makes me feel blue
It leaves me feeling sad and depressed.
You say it's broken your dreams
You feel like your hopes and aspirations have been shattered.
They fall apart at the seams
The things you've worked so hard for are coming apart at the seams.
It's comin' our way
The consequences of our actions will soon catch up with us.
You shouldn't feel this way
Neither of us should be content with the way things are.
You shouldn't feel this way
We need to change our ways because we can't continue down this path.
I shouldn't feel this way
I need to do my part in making things right.
You shouldn't feel this way
We both have to stop accepting the status quo.
We shouldn't feel this way
Together, we must strive for positive change.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: ADAM FRANKLIN, JIMMY HARTRIDGE, JEREMY HINDMARSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind