During the early 2000s the band rose to prominence in the US Pacific Northwest punk / new wave scene with a combination of energetic live shows and extremely well received singles. The band drew their influence from early British punk bands like The Undertones, The Jam, The Boys and The Buzzcocks, as well as pop acts like Nick Lowe. The Exploding Hearts lead a revival of 70s power pop and new wave in the Seattle / Portland area along with bands like The Briefs and The Epoxies on the then-Seattle based Dirtnap Records.
On July 20th, 2003 the band was in an automotive accident which claimed the lives of three members. Their touring van flipped over on Interstate 5 just north of Eugene, Oregon while en route from San Francisco to Portland. Jeremy Gage (age 21) and Adam Cox (age 23) were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Matthew Fitzgerald (age 20), died at a hospital. Terry Six and band manager Rachelle Ramos both survived with minor injuries.
No attempts were made to carry on the band name after the accident, yet the band's music continued to gain popularity as word of mouth spread on the internet. Sole surviving member Terry Six went on to form The Nice Boys who are quite unlike the punk vibe of his former band and take on more of a 70s glam sensibility. In his current band, Six is the lead singer as well as the lead guitar player.
Jailbird
The Exploding Hearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you just keep getting high now so what can I do?
The jail man took me away
On what would have been our wedding day
I'm all lost out here at the bar
Playing guitar, living out of my car
There's no more glue, but I'll see you
I'm just a jailbird (for your love)
I'm just a jailbird honey
Marking years on the wall
I got some sniffing to do
To get as high as you
We stuck rubber cement into the fair
We rode all the rides, but you wanted to fly
So you jumped off into the air
The neon lights and cotton candy skies
Couldn't bring you down from those highs
Oh now, you're so sad, oh girl
I see you talking to a squirrel
Kissing its lips, why not mine?
So kiss me please!
I'm just a jailbird (for your love)
I'm just a jailbird honey
Marking years on the wall
I got some sniffing to do
To get as high as you
When the jailor man takes me away
I won't cry, I'll just obey
Oh now, you're so sad, oh girl
I see you on the Tilt-a-Whirl
Kissing his lips, why not mine?
So kiss me please!
I'm just a jailbird (for your love)
I'm just a jailbird honey
Marking years on the wall
I got some sniffing to do
To get as high as you
The Exploding Hearts's song Jailbird seems to tell the story of two lovers who are addicted to sniffing glue. The male protagonist is sent to jail on the day of their wedding and is now living out of his car, playing guitar in bars. He's constantly reminded of his love for his partner who remains free and continues to sniff glue. Although they are physically apart, he remains a "jailbird for [her] love" marking time on the walls of his cell.
The second verse describes a time when they went to a fair together and got high by sticking rubber cement into it. The girl jumps off one of the rides and appears to be lost in her own world, seeing things that the boy cannot see. He longs for her affection and asks her to kiss him, but she is too caught up in her own high. The song ends with the boy resigning himself to obedience and the girl still lost in her own world.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, we're caught in the act of sniffing glue
We got caught doing something illegal together
And you just keep getting high now so what can I do?
You're addicted to getting high and I don't know how to help you
The jail man took me away
I got arrested and sent to jail
On what would have been our wedding day
The day we were supposed to get married, I got thrown in jail
I'm all lost out here at the bar
I'm wandering aimlessly and alone
Playing guitar, living out of my car
My only comfort is playing music and sleeping in my car
There's no more glue, but I'll see you
I can't do drugs in jail but I still miss you
I'm just a jailbird (for your love)
I'm in jail because of my love for you
Marking years on the wall
Counting the days I've been in jail with marks on the wall
I got some sniffing to do
I need to do drugs to escape the reality of jail
To get as high as you
To reach the same level of addiction that you have
We stuck rubber cement into the fair
We did something mischievous at the fair with rubber cement
We rode all the rides, but you wanted to fly
We had fun at the fair, but you wanted something more extreme
So you jumped off into the air
You took a risk and did something dangerous
The neon lights and cotton candy skies
The colorful and fun fair surroundings
Couldn't bring you down from those highs
Even the fun and excitement of the fair couldn't satisfy your addiction
Oh now, you're so sad, oh girl
You're unhappy with your current situation
I see you talking to a squirrel
You're acting a bit strange and disconnected
Kissing its lips, why not mine?
You're showing affection to something other than me
So kiss me please!
I want your attention and affection
When the jailor man takes me away
I'll accept my punishment without resistance
I won't cry, I'll just obey
I won't complain, I'll just follow the rules
I see you on the Tilt-a-Whirl
I imagine you having fun without me
Kissing his lips, why not mine?
You're still showing affection to someone else
So kiss me please!
I still want your attention and affection despite my situation
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jamesheath7601
Amazing band I love them ❤
@julieruinxx
Wow, this band was so amazing!. RIP.
@albertosantillan5134
What could've been.
Fuck man, what could've been.
@LonelyDad42069
Thank you Lil Ugly Mane's insta story for bringing me here
@macieknieznaju5298
same!
@gaberamos8364
Got some sniffin’ to do…hahahaha!
@henrybrannan
The intro sounds like the theme song from cool hand luke!!
@MikeLindquist
@uncorridojodido 8 months later and this is at 560. I am probably at least 300 of those views.
@mhtpk1989
I really wanna remaster this shit and make the keys louder.