Glenn Mercer and Bill Million formed the band as The Outkids in 1976, and changed their name to The Feelies later that year. The band moved to New York and began receiving critical acclaim for their performances. By the 1978, the band consisted of Mercer, Million, basist Keith DeNunzio and drummer Anton Fier. The band released their debut single "Fa Cé-La", on Rough Trade Records in 1979.
In 1980, the band released their debut album, "Crazy Rhythms" on Stiff Records. Fier and DeNunzio left the band shortly after the release of the album, and the band was put on hiatus as Mercer and Million pursued other projects. The two continued to occasionally perform with other musicians as The Feelies throughout the early 1980's.
The band reformed in 1985 with a lineup consisting of Million, Mercer, Dave Wackerman, Brenda Sauter and Stan Demeski and released "The Good Earth" in 1986. The album was co-produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The Feelies toured with Lou Reed and R.E.M. during 1986.
In 1988, the band released "Only Life" on A&M Records, and in 1991, released "Time for a Witness" on the same label. The band disbanded in 1992.
The band reunited in 2008 and toured with Sonic Youth, before beginning a schedule of festival dates throughout 2009 and 2010. The band released their fifth album, "Here Before", on Bar/None Records in 2011.
Invitation
The Feelies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know where we're going or how long
Watch out for the things along the way
Careful don't get bitten by the road (?)
Take me there
Take me away
Take me there
Going to a party on the lawn
Leaving in the morning one by one
Would it really matter anyway?
Would you really miss them when they're gone?
Take me there
Take me away
Take me there
Take me away
Away
Try and find the way, it's getting dark
Take me there before it gets too hard
Watch out for the things along the way
Try to find the path before we start
Take me there
Take me away
Take me there
Take me away
Away
The Feelies' song Invitation seems to be a call to come and join the singer on a journey that is both uncertain and exciting. The lines "Come on, everybody, come along / Don't know where we're going or how long" suggest that the destination is not known, but the journey itself is worth taking. However, there is a sense of caution as well, with the warning to "Watch out for the things along the way / Careful don't get bitten by the road." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that one may encounter in life, and the importance of being cautious while taking risks.
The second stanza of the song talks about going to a party on the lawn, and leaving the next morning one by one. The tone of the lyrics suggests that the party may not have been particularly memorable, with the question "Would it really matter anyway? / Would you really miss them when they're gone?" This could be seen as a commentary on the fleeting nature of social events and interactions, and the tendency of people to forget about them just as quickly as they happen.
Overall, the song seems to be about the joys and uncertainties of taking risks, and the importance of living in the present moment without worrying too much about the future or dwelling on the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, everybody, come along
Let's all go together on this journey.
Don't know where we're going or how long
We are uncertain about where this journey will take us and how long it will last.
Watch out for the things along the way
We need to be careful of obstacles and dangers that we may encounter on this journey.
Careful don't get bitten by the road
We need to be cautious of negative consequences that may come with our journey.
Take me there
I'm ready to go on this journey.
Take me away
Take me to a different place, a better place.
Going to a party on the lawn
We are heading towards a gathering or celebration on the grass.
Leaving in the morning one by one
We will eventually leave this gathering, one by one, when the morning comes.
Would it really matter anyway?
Is this gathering or journey truly meaningful or relevant in the grand scheme of things?
Would you really miss them when they're gone?
Will you truly feel a sense of loss when this journey or gathering is over?
Try and find the way, it's getting dark
As time passes, it becomes harder to navigate and find the right path.
Take me there before it gets too hard
Let's try to reach our destination before things become too challenging or difficult.
Away
Let's escape or leave this current situation and find something better.
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
EL SEA
favorite feelies song ever....what a rush...
thehappyfew
You are my youtube hero of the week. Thanks for the upload.
AudiophileTubes
Sound a bit like The Cure 'Boys Dont Cry'!
Michael Lara
But positive and demanding a road trip. You can feel the wind in your hair while driving w/ windows down.
That’s something iconically from the USA and equally shared and loved by Australians and Canadians. We three have massive lands of diverse topography and diversity to explore and enjoy alone or shared with others. And we celebrate this blessing year round, especially during spring, summer and fall. UK people perhaps feels the same.