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.
Sleeping Aides And Razorblades
The Exploding Hearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya know it's been such a long long time,
It's a little offbeat and it ain't in tune ya know it's just like this heart of mine
And it hurt
When you went away
And all i wanted you to do was stay
But your friends said it wouldn't last,
It was up to you to prove them wrong,
But you couldn't even do that
And if it hurt, when you left,
Ya know you're only hurtin' yourself
Ya know the first night you left me babe, it was so hard,
And it didn't hurt you told all my friends i'm a retard
And ya say you know what's best for me,
Well if you got your way, i'd have a lobotomy
I got new girls and i'm runnin' around,
The house doesn't look the same,
I hung new posters on my wall and the dog don't remember your name
And if it hurt, when you left,
Ya know you're hurtin' yourself
You can try to change your heart, that's true,
But ya never ever ever do
Ohhhh baby you never ever do
I'll tell you something, you never ever do
Sleeding aides
And razorblades,
Tear stained pictures of younger days,
Broken mirrors and a bloody nose,
Late night tv rerun episodes
The Exploding Hearts' song Sleeping Aides And Razorblades is a poignant ballad about heartbreak and loss. The lyrics are a reflection on a failed relationship and the pain and confusion that follows. The opening lines express the singer's emotional reaction to hearing a particular song that triggers memories. They reveal the nostalgia and emotional weight attached to past experiences. The song's dissonant and offbeat melody is a metaphor for the singer's fractured heart.
The chorus is a plea for the lost love to return, with the singer pouring out his heart, admitting how much hurt her leaving has caused him. The second verse addresses the pressure and expectations that come with being in a committed relationship. The singer recalls how they had big plans, but ultimately, the doubts and negativity of others had a devastating impact. He pleads with his lover to understand that their departure has caused them pain, as well.
The final verse describes the aftermath of the breakup, with the singer trying to move on and find happiness with new partners. Still, the memories of his past love haunt him, as seen in his description of "tear-stained pictures of younger days" and "late-night TV rerun episodes." The song's title "Sleeping Aides And Razorblades" is a reference to the dangerous ways people attempt to cope with heartbreak, with sleeping aides being a sedative and razor blades as potentially lethal.
Line by Line Meaning
Well i felt so bad when i heard that song,
The song reminded me of my own heartbreak and it made me feel emotional.
Ya know it's been such a long long time,
It's been a while since the breakup happened.
It's a little offbeat and it ain't in tune ya know it's just like this heart of mine
The imperfections in the song's rhythm and melody are similar to the flaws in my own heart and emotions.
And it hurt
When you went away
And all i wanted you to do was stay
Your departure caused me pain and all I wanted was for you to come back.
Going steady ya we had big plans,
But your friends said it wouldn't last,
It was up to you to prove them wrong,
But you couldn't even do that
We were in a serious relationship and had plans for the future, but your friends didn't believe in us. It was your responsibility to prove them wrong, but you failed to do so.
And if it hurt, when you left,
Ya know you're only hurtin' yourself
Your decision to break up with me caused you pain as well and you only ended up hurting yourself.
Ya know the first night you left me babe, it was so hard,
And it didn't hurt you told all my friends i'm a retard
The first night after you left me was difficult, and it hurt me that you badmouthed me to my friends.
And ya say you know what's best for me,
Well if you got your way, i'd have a lobotomy
You claim to know what's best for me, but in reality, your suggestions are extreme and harmful.
I got new girls and i'm runnin' around,
The house doesn't look the same,
I hung new posters on my wall and the dog don't remember your name
I've moved on and started seeing other people. The changes in my house and my dog's memory show that you are no longer a significant part of my life.
You can try to change your heart, that's true,
But ya never ever ever do
You may want to change your feelings, but it's nearly impossible to do so.
Ohhhh baby you never ever do
I'll tell you something, you never ever do
You have never been able to change your heart, and I don't think you ever will.
Sleeding aides
And razorblades,
Tear stained pictures of younger days,
Broken mirrors and a bloody nose,
Late night tv rerun episodes
The chorus lists various symbols of pain and nostalgia, representing the aftermath of heartbreak.
Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KELTONWOLFE
Well I felt so bad when I heard that song,
Ya know it's been such a long long time,
It's a little offbeat and it ain't in tune ya know it's just like this heart of mine
And it hurt
When you went away
And all I wanted you to do was stay
Going steady ya we had big plans,
But your friends said it wouldn't last,
It was up to you to prove them wrong,
But you couldn't even do that
And if it hurt, when you left,
Ya know you're only hurtin' yourself
Ya know the first night you left me babe, it was so hard,
And it didn't hurt you told all my friends I'm a retard
And ya say you know what's best for me,
Well if you got your way, I'd have a lobotomy
I got new girls and I'm runnin' around,
The house doesn't look the same,
I hung new posters on my wall and the dog don't remember your name
And if it hurt, when you left,
Ya know you're hurtin' yourself
You can try to change your heart, that's true,
But ya never ever ever do
Ohhhh baby you never ever do
I'll tell you something, you never ever do
Sleeping aides
And razorblades,
Tear stained pictures of younger days,
Broken mirrors and a bloody nose,
Late night TV rerun episodes
@theneedledrop
catchy tune!
@johndee3868
fuck off tony pepperoni
@KeithSmerbeck
agreed - wish more people knew about this
@sonicrevic4928
My man Fantano
@DixieSchizo
Viper is better
@TomtheShoppingbag
hey shutup!
@opymcgillicuttysasmrmpitof3497
Taken too young. I've just started really appreciating them now. They really knew their stuff, and it showed for such young people. Would have been so great to see what else they would have done. Rest easy and ty for the awesome tunes.
@Graces_wrldASMR
Who’s here cause of Jake Webber lol 🖤
@RileiWilliams
Me lmao 😂
@lilwastebin2661
Me ✌🏻🤙🏻