Guitarist Mike Connell formed the band in 1984, along with his brother David Connell on bass, Doug MacMillan on vocals, and future filmmaker John Schultz on drums. This initial four-person line-up was quickly supplemented by the addition of George Huntley on second guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Around the same time, former Johnny Quest drummer Peele Wimberley replaced Schultz, finalizing the "classic" line-up of the band.
From the beginning of the group, Mike Connell wrote both the music and the lyrics of the majority of the band’s songs, although he was not the band's primary lead singer. Connell’s influences included the 1960's guitar pop of his childhood, including The Byrds and The Beatles; in an early interview, he stated that the first song he wrote as a teenager was titled “Psychedelic Butterfly."
Like Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Connell and Huntley played Rickenbacker guitars for the first several years of the band’s career, creating a jangly, folk-rock sound reminiscent of The Byrds and other Southern U.S. and North Carolina bands of the era, such as the dB's and Let's Active.
A re-recorded version of “Darker Days” provided the title track to the band’s debut album, which was produced by fellow North Carolinian Don Dixon and released in 1985 on Elvis Costello's Demon Records in the UK and the band’s own Black Park Records label in the U.S.
After touring heavily behind Darker Days, the Connells re-entered the studio in 1986 with Dixon and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter to record their second album, Boylan Heights. The decision to work with Easter continued to perpetuate the comparisons to R.E.M.
Although the band shopped Boylan Heights to various labels, the major record companies, including Columbia Records, which expressed some mild interest, passed on it; the record was ultimately released in 1987 on mid-major TVT Records, which had made its name releasing a series of "Tee Vee Toons" television theme song compilation CDs. TVT would prove to be no commercial match for R.E.M.'s own mid-major label, I.R.S. Records, and over the next decade, The Connells would engage in a series of disputes with the label, on at least one occasion suing, unsuccessfully, to break their recording contract.
Despite the problems with TVT, Boylan Heights was a substantial college radio hit, and The Connells continued to tour relentlessly. During this period, both Connell and Huntley began to move away from their twelve-string Rickenbackers towards six-string Fender and Gibson guitars, leading to a heavier, less folky sound on Fun and Games, the 1989 follow-up album.
Fun and Games was quickly followed in 1990 by One Simple Word, which was recorded in Wales with U.K. producer Hugh Jones.
After a three-year recording hiatus, which included more legal jousting with TVT Records, a rejuvenated Connells released Ring in 1993. While European music fans made Ring a platinum record outside the United States, such high level success in America remained elusive. 1996's Weird Food and Devastation failed to build on the momentum established by its predecessor.
In 1998, the band released Still Life, which marked their final album for TVT. The band released Old School Dropouts on the revived Black Park Records label in 2000. The band recorded the record themselves and promoted it sparingly in the American South.
Peele Wimberley and George Huntley have since left the band. Wimberley briefly played with another band called Parklife, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue interests in Hollywood and in electronic music. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles band, The Lamps.
Huntley is now selling real estate and working part time at the University of North Carolina music department.
Peele Wimberley was replaced on drums by Steve Ritter; after several years Ritter was soon replaced by Chris Stevenson on drums, and Mike Ayers took George's place on lead guitar. The new lineup recorded the album Old School Dropouts.
In 1993, they released "''74-'75" which remains their most popular song. It is based on experiences of the Class of 1975 in a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. The video juxtaposed original yearbook pictures with the class members as they appeared at the time. And then in 2015, the producers tracked down the original members once again, and produced a remixed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l3Lh2cb_g
The last official release of the band was in 2001. They still occasionally perform together, including a reunion concert in 2020.
The Joke
The Connells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wails and battles and bawls.
Here's a man who lost his control.
And I can see, we all can see, that he'll never get that joke.
Crowds of many makes a man of steel,
But alone he battles his rust.
I can't tell if he's the only one.
Why don't you buy time, toss-around time
You want to get that joke.
Why don't you find time, and realize
The walls won't fall on you.
The critics came and changed the earth.
Sticks and stones are all dust.
Oh, ? just fade away.
Words are cheap, all really deep, now we want to get that joke.
Why don't you buy time, dance-around time
You're really not that joke.
Why don't you find time, and realize
The walls won't fall on you.
Empathize and hide your eyes,
Let's just talk about us.
Two friends walk into the dark.
Got to be, when he can sleep, and we never get that joke.
Why don't you but time, toss-around time
We're really not that joke.
Why don't you find time, and realize
The walls won't fall on you.
Why don't you find time, kick-around time
You're really not that joke.
Why don't you find time, and realize
The walls won't fall on you.
The Connells's song The Joke is a poignant take on the idea that not everyone understands or appreciates a joke. The song seems to be describing someone who takes everything too seriously, and doesn't have the ability to laugh at themselves or take a lighthearted approach to life. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer describing a man who just can't take a joke. This person is shown to be too emotional and unable to control themselves, which only further isolates them from others who can laugh and enjoy life.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that this man will never get the joke, no matter how many people try to explain it to him. The second verse introduces the idea that being surrounded by others can make someone stronger, but this man is still battling his own demons alone. The bridge of the song seems to be addressing the idea that words can be hurtful, but they will eventually fade away. The song ends with the singer urging the subject to take a step back and realize that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time.
In summary, The Joke is a moving commentary on the importance of being able to laugh at oneself and not taking life too seriously. The song seems to be addressing someone who can't seem to do that, which only makes them more isolated and alone. The bridge of the song seems to suggest that words may be hurtful, but they will eventually fade away, leading to a more lighthearted and enjoyable life in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a man who can't take a joke.
This man is easily offended and can't handle humor at his expense.
He wails and battles and bawls.
He reacts strongly and emotionally with anger and tears.
Here's a man who lost his control.
This man has lost his composure and self-control.
And I can see, we all can see, that he'll never get that joke.
Everyone can see that this man doesn't have the sense of humor or perspective to understand the joke being made.
Crowds of many makes a man of steel,
Being part of a group can provide strength and resilience.
But alone he battles his rust.
When alone, he struggles with his own flaws and weaknesses.
I can't tell if he's the only one.
It's unclear if this man is the only one who can't take a joke, or if there are others like him.
And I can see, we all can see, how he'll never get that joke.
Despite our best efforts to explain the joke, this man will never understand it.
Why don't you buy time, toss-around time
Take your time and try to understand the joke better.
You want to get that joke.
The desire to understand the joke is present.
Why don't you find time, and realize
Find some free time and understand.
The walls won't fall on you.
There's nothing to fear about understanding the joke – it won't harm you.
The critics came and changed the earth.
Criticisms and changes can have a significant impact.
Sticks and stones are all dust.
Insults and hurtful words ultimately have no lasting effect.
Oh, ? just fade away.
The singer seems to be trailing off, suggesting something that should fade away.
Words are cheap, all really deep, now we want to get that joke.
Although words can be powerful, in the end we all want to laugh and understand the joke.
Empathize and hide your eyes,
Try to see things from another's perspective, while still shielding yourself from potential negativity.
Let's just talk about us.
Let's focus on ourselves, rather than worrying about others who can't understand the joke.
Two friends walk into the dark.
Here, the idea of two friends facing an unknown future or path is introduced.
Got to be, when he can sleep, and we never get that joke.
It seems that when this man finally relaxes or goes to bed, the joke may become even more elusive to everyone else.
Why don't you but time, toss-around time
Find more time and be patient with the joke.
We're really not that joke.
The artist is suggesting that they are not the joke on the table, but the situation or person who can't understand it is.
Why don't you find time, kick-around time
Take some time to consider the joke from different angles.
You're really not that joke.
The person being addressed is separate from the concept of the joke – they don't have to take it personally or be the subject of it.
Why don't you find time, and realize
Again, take time to consider the joke and understand it better.
The walls won't fall on you.
Understanding the joke won't have any negative consequences or harm you in any way.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GEORGE HUNTLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B Bloem
on In my Head
I always thought this was being sung to an aborted baby.