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).
Pancake
Swirlies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For sometime i go to classes
And i don't wear my glasses
It's getting blurry in my eyes
The summer sunshine slowly stole my eyesight
I get headaches from time to time
It's kind of foggy and i can't hardly see right
The lyrics of Pancake by Swirlies depict the struggles of someone dealing with eyesight problems. The first two lines portray the singer as someone who is actively trying to better themselves, perhaps through education or self-improvement, but this is hindered by their deteriorating eyesight. They mention not wearing glasses, which implies that they perhaps need them but are avoiding using them for some reason. The next few lines describe the difficulties and frustrations that come with eye problems – the blurriness and foggy vision leading to headaches and difficulty seeing clearly.
As a whole, the song speaks to the larger idea of mortality and the inevitable decline of our physical abilities as we age. It could be interpreted as a commentary on society's dismissal of the elderly or those with disabilities, as the singer asserts that they are "not a codger" despite their struggles. The melancholic melody and dreamy instrumentals add to this contemplative mood, creating a wistful and introspective piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not a codger
I am not an old person
For sometime i go to classes
I attend classes occasionally
And i don't wear my glasses
I do not wear my glasses while attending classes
It's getting blurry in my eyes
My vision is becoming unclear
The summer sunshine slowly stole my eyesight
The intense sunlight during summer has gradually affected my eyesight
I get headaches from time to time
I experience occasional headaches
It's kind of foggy and i can't hardly see right
My vision is hazy and not very clear
Contributed by Jordyn N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.