Sometime in late 1986, Mike Dillon, Gary Muller, and Matt Chamberlain were playing in Dallas-based band Zane Grey, who actually appeared on Star Search. They did not win, but Muller did get to touch Ed McMahon (specifically, his hand). Meanwhile, Steve Brand and Slavens were playing in a Denton band called the Gonemen. Dillon, Muller, and Chamberlain lived in the same Denton house as other members of the Gonemen, and when dissatisfaction with both groups began to appear, the idea for a new band was spawned.
The first Ten Hands rehearsal (documented on videotape) took place late 1986 in Denton. Shortly thereafter, Zane Grey's manager, Tony Johnson, accepted an offer to manage the fledgling band. For the first year, Ten Hands played mostly small venues in Denton and performed a weekly gig at the Prophet Bar, a seminal Deep Ellum club in Dallas. During this time, a studio recording was made and handmade cassettes were sold and distributed in and around the Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Denton area.
Chamberlain and Dillon were already well-known in Denton as top players in the University of North Texas Jazz program, and interest in the band soon grew. It was also during this time that the New Bohemians were becoming a major draw in Dallas. It happened that several members of that band were friends with a few Ten Hands members, and ultimately, New Bohemians finagled some opening slots for Ten Hands at Deep Ellum's celebrated Club Dada. The Club Dada shows helped expose the band to a much wider audience, and the venue would later host many of Ten Hands' most memorable performances.
In late 1988, Earl Harvin joined the band as drummer after the Matt left to play with the New Bohemians. The band went into the studio to record Kung Fu...That's What I Like. As New Bohemians vacated Dallas for bigger and better things, Ten Hands stepped in to fill the void and began what would be a three or four year run as one of the region's most popular draws. The band won numerous Dallas Observer Awards in 1988-1989, and shortly after the release of their first live CD, The Big One Is Coming, and sold over 20,000 copies. Joe Cripps joined the band to replace Dillon on percussion.
Earl left the band to play with Mike Dillon's Billy Goat and "Big" Al Emert became drummer. Ten Hands started to tour heavily and built a large following with college audiences.
At a SXSW performance, the band was offered a record deal by an independent producer in L.A. Desperate to release an album after two years of inactivity, the band agreed and began work on Be My Guru in late 1991. While the album contained some of the band's best songs, the recording itself was a disappointment and the relationship with the label grew stormy. By the time the band left the label, much of their earlier momentum was lost.
As the band's popularity began to wane, a friend of the band, Byron Wilson, offered to produce a CD. Jazz for Jerks was recorded in early 1993 with the assistance of the band's friend and longtime collaborative producer, Dave Castell.
Steve Brand left the band in 1993. New guitarists, Chris Claridy and Chad Rueffer joined and the band wrote some new songs and continued to gig around the area. In the next incarnation, guitarist, Ed McMahon (in a strange twist of fate), and drummer Greg Beck were hired. A demo record was recorded with the brand new lineup, but the album was never mixed or released.
Ten Hands continues to play, with various lineups, several times a year in the Dallas area.
Underwater
Ten Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Air all around
But no water to be found
I dance around
But the surroundings don't suit me
I'm looking
For a familiar face
I'm reaching for somethingBut I don't know
I'm on the outside now
I'd love to get back in again
I never should have jumped
Just lack of self discipline
And I long to be back
Underwater
Once I was so safe and sound
Just floating all around
And there was
Nothing much to do or see
But I long to
Be back
Underwater
All lyrics by Paul Slavens
Musical Arrangements by Ten Hands
The lyrics to Ten Hands' "Underwater" depict a sense of unease and longing to return to a familiar and safe space. The contrast between the air and water is emphasized in the first two lines, as there is air all around but no water to be found. The singer is dancing, but the surroundings don't suit them, emphasizing their discomfort and displacement. The singer is searching for something or someone, but they don't know what or who it is. The line "I never should have jumped just lack of self-discipline" suggests that the singer made a mistake or took a risk that they now regret.
The chorus, "And I long to be back underwater, once I was so safe and sound, just floating all around, and there was nothing much to do or see, but I long to be back underwater" reinforces the singer's desire to return to a space where they felt safe and familiar. The image of floating all around with nothing much to do or see implies a sense of comfort and lack of pressure.
The lyrics to "Underwater" can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It could be a metaphor for a relationship or a phase in life that the singer wishes to return to. It could also be interpreted as a sense of displacement and discomfort in a new environment. Overall, the song captures the feeling of nostalgia and longing for a past that feels out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Air all around
I am surrounded by air, not water
But no water to be found
I am unable to find any water around me
I dance around
I'm moving around in my current surroundings
But the surroundings don't suit me
I don't feel comfortable or happy where I am
I'm looking
I am searching for something specific
For a familiar face
I am longing to see someone or something familiar
I'm reaching for something
I am attempting to achieve or obtain something
But I don't know
I am unsure of what I am trying to reach for or achieve
I'm on the outside now
I am no longer in the place or situation where I felt comfortable
I'd love to get back in again
I wish I could return to the place or situation where I felt safe
I never should have jumped
I regret taking the action that led me out of my comfort zone
Just lack of self discipline
My lack of self control or focus led me to make a poor decision
And I long to be back
I have a strong desire to return to the place or situation where I felt safe
Underwater
The place or situation where I felt safe and comfortable was underwater
Once I was so safe and sound
I used to feel secure and content in my environment
Just floating all around
I was carefree and relaxed, moving with ease
And there was
At that time,
Nothing much to do or see
There wasn't much activity or stimulation around me, but I was content
But I long to
I have a strong desire to
Be back
Return to the place or situation
Underwater
Where I felt safe and comfortable
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sryburn4234
Thank you. I was privileged to see ten hands at their height many times. They changed the way i accepted myself and music. Ten hands created a belonging environment. Don't know if that's what they set out to do but that's what happened and thousands of others still feel the same.
@troutmask1970
is this the jazz for jerks lineup? I wanna hear "a trip to carrollton!!