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).
His Life of Academic Freedom
Swirlies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh it's just the way you are
She shines like gold
Her mind is far from being dumb
So what starts is a blush of mind
Head gives to heart
Estate of thoughts consigned
The lyrics to Swirlies' song "His Life of Academic Freedom" are rather cryptic, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that they describe the uncertain, restless existence of a person who is both intellectually acute and emotionally isolated. The opening line "Restless and numb / Oh it's just the way you are" sets a tone of ambivalence, suggesting that the person in question is perhaps struggling with an internal contradiction of some kind. This is reinforced by the next line "She shines like gold / Her mind is far from being dumb", which highlights the individual's intelligence and luminosity, but also implies that they are somewhat inaccessible, perhaps because they are closed off emotionally or preoccupied with intellectual pursuits.
The next two lines "So what starts is a blush of mind / Head gives to heart" suggest that there is some kind of internal tension or conflict occurring, as the rational part of the person's brain (their "head") yields to their emotional impulses (their "heart"). Finally, the last line "Estate of thoughts consigned" reinforces the sense of internal struggle, as if the person is wrestling with some deep thoughts or emotions that they are not quite able to articulate or reconcile.
Line by Line Meaning
Restless and numb
Feeling uneasy and without feeling
Oh it's just the way you are
Accepting someone for who they are, flaws and all
She shines like gold
She radiates with brilliance and beauty
Her mind is far from being dumb
She is intelligent and intellectually capable
So what starts is a blush of mind
The beginning of a feeling or thought that fills the mind with warmth and color
Head gives to heart
Logic and reason give way to emotions and feelings
Estate of thoughts consigned
A collection of thoughts and ideas that are put away or set aside
Contributed by Lucy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.