The band originally consisted of Damon Tutunjian (vocals, guitar), Seana Carmody (vocals, guitar), Andy Bernick (bass) and Ben Drucker (drums), with second bassist Morgan Andrews joining in 1992. Andrews and Drucker left in 1993, and Carmody left to form Syrup USA in 1994.
Currently, the band consists of Tutunjian, Bernick, Rob Laakso (guitar), Deborah Warfield (vocals) and Adam Pierce (drums).
The band has released four albums since their formation: "Blonder Tongue Audio Baton" (1993), "They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons" (1996), "The Yes Girls" (2000) and "Cats of the Wild, Volume 2" (2003).
Didn't Understand
Swirlies Lyrics
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And we slid down on the beach and sand
And i could not let go
Rearrange in your head to see her hair here on your bed
Soft and sweet her cheeks turn red in a blush from your smile
It warms up your heart and runs your head another mile
It's the last breath for you're in the cold cold car
Tangled hair in my arms
Rearrange in your head to see her hair here on your bed
Outside it's so cold and i don't want to let it go
The lyrics of Swirlies's song "Didn't Understand" captures a moment of fleeting connection and longing. The opening lines, "Crushed up in her hand/ And we slid down on the beach and sand/ And I could not let go," suggests the singer is in a state of helplessness, unable to resist the pull of a romantic encounter. The image of them sliding down on the beach and sand is like a metaphor for their relationship, which is slipping away from them. The singer is holding on to this moment, aware that it will soon be over.
The chorus of the song, "Rearrange in your head to see her hair here on your bed/Outside it's so cold and I don't want to let it go," highlights the uncertainty and longing of the singer. The line "Rearrange in your head" suggests a desire to hold on to this memory, to make it stay despite the inevitable decline. The singer is aware of the temporary nature of their connection and the line "Outside it's so cold and I don't want to let it go" implies a desperation to hold on to this moment while the world around them moves on.
The second verse builds on the imagery of the first verse with "Soft and sweet her cheeks turn red in a blush from your smile/It warms up your heart and runs your head another mile." The singer is reflecting on the impact this encounter has on them, the warmth and intimacy shared with the other person. The closing lines of the song "It's the last breath for you're in the cold cold car/Tangled hair in my arms" suggest the end of the encounter, the singer holding on to a last embrace. The repetition of the chorus, "Rearrange in your head to see her hair here on your bed/Outside it's so cold and I don't want to let it go," emphasizes the longing and desire to hold on to this moment, even after it has passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Crushed up in her hand
She held onto something tightly, perhaps a small object.
And we slid down on the beach and sand
They went down to the sandy beach and may have had fun sliding around.
And i could not let go
The singer had a hard time letting something or someone go.
Rearrange in your head to see her hair here on your bed
Try to imagine someone's hair on your bed even though they are not physically there.
Outside it's so cold and i don't want to let it go
It's cold outside but the artist does not want to let go of something or someone.
Soft and sweet her cheeks turn red in a blush from your smile
The person mentioned has a nice smile that causes someone's cheeks to turn red with a blush.
It warms up your heart and runs your head another mile
The positive feeling from the person's smile makes the singer's heart feel warm and makes them happy.
It's the last breath for you're in the cold cold car
This line is a bit ambiguous but it could be talking about a person's last breath before leaving a cold car, perhaps in a sad way.
Tangled hair in my arms
The artist has someone's tangled hair in their arms, likely holding onto them closely.
Outside it's so cold and i don't want to let it go
Repeating this line again emphasizes the artist's reluctance to let someone or something go despite the cold weather.
Contributed by Aria K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.