The band consisted of Scott Spillane, John D'Azzo and Will Westbrook, college roommates in Ruston, LA. Along with sometimes-cellist Penny Burbank, they released a couple singles on a variety of record labels from 1996-1998 before recording an album (which included the four previously-released songs) in 1998 on Hidden Agenda Records.
Spillane's Neutral Milk Hotel bandmate Jeremy Barnes eventually joined as drummer, which drove the somewhat twee pop sound of the band's first album towards a more energetic hard rock. The members of the band decided to unofficially call it quits with a farewell show in 1999 in Athens. While D'Azzo pursued interests in California, Spillane and Westbrook (with the help of members of Of Montreal, Elf Power, and Neutral Milk Hotel) finished mixing the album that was completed with Chris Bishop prior to their separation. Once The Battle of Electricity was finished, the Gerbils did a national tour with Elf Power before again separating.
Once again, the band has reformed, playing regularly and becoming fully active. A third Gerbils album was in pre-production before December 11th, 2006, when guitarist Will Westbrook passed away, after which the band disbanded.
Glue
The Gerbils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buried in the tune that I call love
She sings to me, the words I cannot hear
But then, the melody's so clear it makes me cry
Her love is so beautiful
Her love is so real, it smells like glue
She's leaving me to find a place she never will call home
I stand shaking like a stone and smile inside
She's calling me to come to her and curl inside her womb,
I hear lies, acid too, but I won't die,
The pain is so beautiful, the urge is so real,
It smells like glue
And I will scream, she hears me
I will tell myself she loves me
And all the lies and fears
Will stick to me like glue
The Gerbils's song Glue is a touching and emotional composition that deals with themes of love, loss, and addiction. The song begins with a depiction of a narrator who is locked inside their room, lost in the melody of a tune they call love. It is then revealed that this melody is sung to the singer by someone who comes to them when they are alone. Even though the singer can't hear the words of the song, they are moved by the clear and beautiful melody that makes them cry. As the song progresses, we learn that this individual's love is so intense and real that it smells like glue, which could be interpreted as an indication of addiction.
The song's chorus speaks to the singer's experience of being left behind by the one they love. They stand shaking like a stone, but internally they smile because of the depth of the love they share with this person. The individual calls for the singer to come to them and curl inside their womb, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for wanting to return to the comfort and safety of the womb. However, even as the singer hears the lies and acid that come with this individual, they continue to cling to the intensity and beauty of their love, which is compared to the smell of glue. The final verse sees the singer screaming for the individual, knowing deep down that they love them, even as lies and fears stick to them like glue.
Overall, Glue is a moving and insightful song that explores themes of love and addiction. Through the use of vivid language and powerful imagery, the song speaks to the beauty and pain of human connection, and the sometimes difficult choices that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes to me whenever I am locked inside my room
Whenever I isolate myself and shut the world out, she comes to me
Buried in the tune that I call love
Enveloped by the feeling of love that I have, even though it may not be reciprocated
She sings to me, the words I cannot hear
She communicates with me on a deeper level that I may not fully comprehend
But then, the melody's so clear it makes me cry
Despite not being able to understand the words, the emotion behind the singing is still so powerful that it moves me to tears
Her love is so beautiful
The love she gives to me is inspiring and stunning
Her love is so real, it smells like glue
Her love is tangible and strong, akin to the adhesive properties of glue
She's leaving me to find a place she never will call home
She is searching for something that she may never find, and I am left behind
I stand shaking like a stone and smile inside
Although I am outwardly still and unmoving, internally I am filled with emotion
She's calling me to come to her and curl inside her womb
She is inviting me to come to her and be enveloped by her love and care
I hear lies, acid too, but I won't die
Although there may be falsehoods and harsh words being spoken, I will not let them break me
The pain is so beautiful, the urge is so real,
The emotions I am experiencing, while painful, are still inspiring and powerful
It smells like glue
The intensity of the emotions is so strong that it is palpable, much like the scent of glue
And I will scream, she hears me
Despite my internal struggles, she is always there for me and will listen to my cries
I will tell myself she loves me
Even in moments where it may be hard to believe, I hold onto the thought that she loves me
And all the lies and fears
Despite the negative thoughts and fears that may fill me, I am still able to hold onto hope
Will stick to me like glue
Even in the face of adversity, I will remain strong and resilient
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FlaminFingaz
This song never feels long enough.
@laurenanderson7823
This rendition is CLEAR 💜💙💛
Well done 👏 ✔ 👍
@MegaAwesomeAshley
I will tell myself she loves me And all the lies and fears will stick to me like glue I love the lyrics to this song
@KGarvey125
I like the Neutral Milk Hotel version of this one too. Great song!!
@ExtremeGutter
i knew just now this song from that version, i can't believe how beauty it is
@LucidPsychosis
I was one of the people who shouted for him to play "Glue!" I was so bummed that he didn't, but it was a great show nonetheless.
@sydwhitaker5776
this is dope Scott has one of those voices you just can’t replicate
@Frogwai
I was lucky enough to see Scott play this two nights in a row opening for Jeff in Portland. It was pretty awesome.
@skatinghippo366
The ending of this song makes me transcend to the 6th dimension
@antigonesouthwind5570
scott you are a god thank you