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).
Torr's Empathy Jam
Swirlies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have been exposed to the products of life without love
As well as the products of superior genius
And, as usual, I haven't the slightest idea of what to tell about where I've been and what I've been doing
Me and my lover, we keep our treasure trails to a whiffle
We're connected at our hip and in all our orifices
I was just with him last night in the shower
They were like "Dude, get with us"
I'm lazy, but something always interesting happens
Kicked out of mom's house
Kicked out of dad's house
But I think it's justice that we're using to blow off all our negative steam
I've had to do some stuff that I couldn't even tell you about
Writing home is like walking on glass, I have to edit my life
Tell everyone what they want to hear, but what about the truth?
You could get killed, oh my god, I'm so fucking scared to die!
I should be able to tell you the truth
I'm mentally unstable: obsessive
I feel as if my family thinks that I have different priorities than they do
I don't think they understand that I don't have priorities
The highest priority in my life is making love; I love to spread love
All day and make love all night
Nothing else matters but money
Money is my wrench in the works
I've got... it's got
[Torr, use your knowledge as a tool, not a weapon]
But if you give a lot of love, you get lots of shit for free
Can purpose be found in things like rats and dogs?
Rewarded by coincidence?
It's so hard to spread love when you can't be yourself
It's like once I asked my sister...
[What did you ask her?]
It's called faith through empathy and it's through empathy, I hear...
I wear the same pants everyday, but it don't matter, dude
Because they're still sharing their earrings and spreading their AIDS
I hang out with people who smoke pot
Oh, I fell off, christ
T-Bone, you're a righteous king and I owe my life to you
The lyrics to Torr's Empathy Jam by Swirlies are a mixture of disconnected thoughts and emotions. The singer appears to be struggling with his identity and sense of self. He has a complex about how he looks in t-shirts with big, stretched-out necks and has been exposed to products of life without love and superior genius. However, he doesn't know what to tell about where he's been and what he's been doing. He talks about being lazy but something always interesting happens.
The singer also talks about being kicked out of his mom's and dad's house and using justice to blow off his negative steam. He mentions having to do some stuff that he couldn't even tell the listener about and having to edit his life while writing home, telling everyone what they want to hear. He feels mentally unstable and obsessive, and his family doesn't understand his priorities. He loves to spread love and make love all day and night, but money is his wrench in the works. He wonders if he can find purpose in things like rats and dogs and if he can be rewarded by coincidence. He also thinks that it's hard to spread love when he can't be himself. The song ends with a shoutout to T-Bone, who's a righteous king and to whom the singer owes his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a complex about how I look in t-shirts with big, stretched-out necks
I feel insecure about my appearance and how clothing looks on me
I have been exposed to the products of life without love
I have experienced a life without love and its impact on me
As well as the products of superior genius
I have also experienced the work of highly intelligent and creative individuals
And, as usual, I haven't the slightest idea of what to tell about where I've been and what I've been doing
I find it difficult to explain my experiences and what I have been doing lately
Me and my lover, we keep our treasure trails to a whiffle
My partner and I keep our secrets private
We're connected at our hip and in all our orifices
We are very close and intimate with each other
I was just with him last night in the shower
I had a romantic encounter with my partner last night
They were like "Dude, get with us"
Others have tried to interrupt my relationship with my partner
And I got with them
I allowed myself to be influenced by others and strayed from my relationship
I'm lazy, but something always interesting happens
I may be unmotivated, but my life is still eventful
Kicked out of mom's house
I was forced to leave my mother's home
Kicked out of dad's house
I was forced to leave my father's home
But I think it's justice that we're using to blow off all our negative steam
I feel that it is fair for me to release my negativity through my actions
I've had to do some stuff that I couldn't even tell you about
I have done some things that I cannot share with others
Writing home is like walking on glass, I have to edit my life
I am very cautious and selective when updating my family about my life
Tell everyone what they want to hear, but what about the truth?
I feel like I have to please others and share what they want to hear, rather than being honest
You could get killed, oh my god, I'm so fucking scared to die!
I fear for my life and am petrified of death
I should be able to tell you the truth
I wish I could be honest and tell the truth
I'm mentally unstable: obsessive
I am struggling with mental instability, particularly obsessive tendencies
I feel as if my family thinks that I have different priorities than they do
My family believes I have different goals than they do
I don't think they understand that I don't have priorities
I don't have a set of priorities
The highest priority in my life is making love; I love to spread love
My top priority is to promote and share love
All day and make love all night
I want to show love constantly
Nothing else matters but money
Money is the only thing that matters to me
Money is my wrench in the works
Money is an obstacle for me
I've got... it's got
I possess something significant
[Torr, use your knowledge as a tool, not a weapon]
Use your intelligence positively, rather than negatively
But if you give a lot of love, you get lots of shit for free
There are negative consequences when trying to spread love
Can purpose be found in things like rats and dogs?
Can meaning be found in seemingly insignificant things
Rewarded by coincidence?
Can good things happen by chance
It's so hard to spread love when you can't be yourself
It is challenging to be true to oneself and spread love
It's like once I asked my sister...
I was reminded of a specific conversation I had with my sister
It's called faith through empathy and it's through empathy, I hear...
The ability to have faith is through empathy
I wear the same pants everyday, but it don't matter, dude
I wear the same pants often, but it's not a big deal
Because they're still sharing their earrings and spreading their AIDS
Despite my habit, others are still sharing their belongings, which could spread disease
I hang out with people who smoke pot
I spend time with individuals who use marijuana
Oh, I fell off, christ
Oh no, I lost track of my priorities
T-Bone, you're a righteous king and I owe my life to you
T-Bone, you are an admirable and influential leader that has had a significant impact on my life
Contributed by Aaron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.