Tarnation originally comprised just Frazer on vocals and guitar, but she was joined in 1993 by Brandan Kearny on lap steel guitar and Brent Johnson on guitar and vocals.
Musicians Michelle Cernuto, Lincoln Allen and Matt Sullivan soon joined the band. With this line-up, Tarnation released the album I’ll Give You Something To Cry About on Nuf Sed Records in 1993.
Cernuto, Allen and Sullivan left the band in May 1995, after recording the album Gentle Creatures. It was released on 4AD later that year, featuring seven re-worked songs from I’ll Give You Something To Cry About.
Frazer quickly reformed Tarnation, with a line-up including Alex Oropeza on guitar, Bill Cuevas on bass and lap steel guitar and Joe Byrnes on drums.
Jamie Meagan joined on bass in 1997, in time to take part in the recording sessions for the band's final album, Mirador.
After the break-up of Tarnation, Oropeza and Byrnes continue to play in their own band, Broken Horse, while Frazer continues as a solo artist.
Wait
Tarnation Lyrics
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It sits laughing in an empty sky
There's one thing that I can't do without,
But I can see through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me
It's wise to say that I don't care
It's wise to say but I don't mean a word
I'm only asking why must I pretend to not see
Through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me
In Tarnation's song "Wait," the lyrics speak to the feelings of being betrayed by someone close to you. The opening lines, "You wait, but the sun has told you lies, It sits laughing in an empty sky," evoke the image of waiting for something that will never come to fruition. The metaphor of the sun laughing in an empty sky sets the tone for the restlessness and desperation felt throughout the song. The next lines, "There's one thing that I can't do without, but I can see through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me," imply that there is an important relationship that has ended or is unraveling. The singer acknowledges the importance of this person to them, but can see that the other person has turned their back on the relationship.
The following lines, "It's wise to say that I don't care, It's wise to say but I don't mean a word," highlight the singer's conflict between what they feel and what they know to be "wise." It is easier to pretend that they don't care than to acknowledge the hurt they feel. Finally, the bridge of the song, "I'm only asking why must I pretend to not see, Through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me," lays bare the heart of the matter. The singer cannot understand why they must continue to pretend that they do not see the other person's rejection, and they want answers for why the relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
You wait, but the sun has told you lies,
You're waiting, but the sun has deceived you. It's only sitting there, looking empty and laughing in the sky.
There's one thing that I can't do without,
There's one thing that I really need in my life.
But I can see through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me
I can tell that you're avoiding me by looking into your sad eyes that are turned away from me.
It's wise to say that I don't care
It might be smart to say that I'm indifferent, but it's not true.
It's wise to say but I don't mean a word
It might sound good to say that I don't care, but I'm not being honest.
I'm only asking why must I pretend to not see
I'm just wondering why I have to pretend that I don't notice that you're avoiding me.
Through those sullen eyes that have turned away from me
I can tell that you're avoiding me by looking into your sad eyes that are turned away from me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: ALLEE WILLIS, DAVID FOSTER, MAURICE WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GonsalvoDeCordova
Thanks for posting this. Great composition, music, and singing to die for, the whole album.
CarlesX7
Amazing song.
Gord Disley
oh, paula....(sigh)