Initially named "The Hush," the band changed their name to "The Hush Sound" when Geffen Records objected that their name was too similar to rapper Hush. The band consists of Bob Morris on vocals and guitar, Mike Leblanc on bass and vocals, Darren Wilson on drums and vocals, and Greta Salpeter on vocals and piano. Original bassist Chris Faller left the band in October 2008 in order to pursue other musical interests and was replaced by Mike LeBlanc, who had toured with them previously on their "Dance Across the Country Tour".
In 2005 the band released their first studio album So Sudden. Their second studio album, Like Vines, was released in 2006 on Fueled by Ramen.
The Hush Sound was founded by Greta Salpeter and Bob Morris. The two met when Greta was in 7th grade and Bob was in 10th. In the eyes of many of their peers, Bob and Greta were deemed an "odd couple." Bob had always been a player and performer of rock music, whereas Greta was a classical pianist.
By the end of March of 2005, The Hush Sound took their music into the studio to record their debut full-length album. The studio was the Gallery of Carpet located in Villa Park, IL run by owner Brian Zieske. They named it "So Sudden"--a reflection on how quickly things were moving for the band. They released their first album with no label support at the time, but nevertheless sold 300 CDs in two nights.
Five months later, the band began playing shows. They soon gained the attention of Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. On the day they were streaming "So Sudden" on purevolume, Ryan Ross of Panic at the Disco discovered their page and passed it along to Pete Wentz. Wentz knew Bob from his previous work in Chicago-based band the AUDITION, and, after listening, he sent The Hush Sound an email saying that he was interested in signing them to his Decaydance Records label.
So Sudden was re-released on Decaydance (with some minor lyric changes) and the band soon became a part of the 2006 Black Clouds and Underdogs tour, with Fall Out Boy in the headlining slot and also featuring From First to Last, Hawthorne Heights, and the All-American Rejects. During this time, the band started recording the follow-up to So Sudden, entitled Like Vines, which was produced by Sean O'Keefe and Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump (who also does guest vocals on the song "Don't Wake Me Up").
Like Vines was released on June 6, 2006. In support of the new record, the band went on a summer tour with label mates Panic at the Disco and fellow cabaret-rock band the Dresden Dolls. The album has since sold steadily. The band took a month-long break before beginning another tour with Jack's Mannequin, Copeland, and Daphne Loves Derby.
In November 2006, The Hush Sound embarked on their first headlining tour, supported by This Providence, This Is Me Smiling, and Murder By Death. Since then, they've toured heavily all over the United States with Straylight Run, Spitalfield, HelloGoodbye, Boys Like Girls, and Pablo among others, making stops including the Wiltern in Los Angeles, The Warfield in San Francisco, and the SXSW festival in Austin, TX.
The band's third studio album, Goodbye Blues, was named one of the Most Anticipated Albums of 2008 according to Alternative Press Magazine. "GOODBYE BLUES" was recorded Fall 2007 at North Hollywood's Fairfax Recordings with producer/engineer Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Jon Brion) at the helm. In tracks such as "Honey" and "Medicine Man",The Hush Sound shows influence of Blues, Swing, Rock, and Folk. On January 16th, a press release said that that album would in fact be released on March 18th and that the first single, Honey, would be available for purchase on the iTunes store on February 5th. Goodbye Blues is available for purchase through The Hush Sound's official website. Shortly after the release of Goodbye Blues the band announced an indefinite hiatus.
In August 2012 the band announced a series of fall 2012 tour dates. In Spring 2013, they released an EP, "Forty Five".
Medicine Man
The Hush Sound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Medicine man, you dance me across the country
Medicine man, you dance me across the sky
Medicine man, now my feet are dragging
Medicine man, can you hear my cry?
I don't wanna be
The one, the one, the one
I don't, I don't, I don't
Just want to be your regret
[Chorus]
Medicine man, I lay my head in your hands
Medicine man, you will clear my mind
Medicine man, can you heal my body?
Medicine man, can you hear my cry?
I don't wanna be
The one, the one, the one
That you forget
I don't, I don't, I don't
Just want to be your regret
I don't know where to begin
I don't know how to break
The bottle I'm living in
Do anything to take away
The memory of him
Can't you see that I have no way out
From leaving now?
[Chorus]
Medicine man, clear my mind
Medicine man, whoa
Medicine man, hear my cry
Medicine man, no
Medicine man, you are here in my mind
Medicine man, oh
Medicine man, hear my cry
Medicine man, whoa
Medicine man, medicine man
Medicine man, whoa
In "Medicine Man" by The Hush Sound, the singer addresses the medicine man as someone who helps him cope with the pain he has been going through. The singer seems to be seeking for a way out of the bottled-up emotions and memories of a past relationship that haunts him. The medicine man is therefore the only escape the singer can find to free himself from the agony. In the chorus, the medicine man is depicted as someone who can dance him across the country and the sky, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for transcending the emotional and psychological boundaries he has set for himself. The repeated plea for hearing his cry shows the desperation of the singer to be understood and rescued from his emotional state. By asking the medicine man to clear his mind, the singer is revealing his desire to be relieved of his emotional burden and achieve some form of inner peace.
The second verse shows how the singer is willing to resort to anything to get past the memories of his past relationship that continue to overwhelm him. The singer is admitted to living in a bottle, suggesting he has resorted to alcohol as a way of numbing his pain. The plea, "Can't you see that I have no way out from leaving now?" further highlights the singer's desperation and hence the dependency on the medicine man.
Line by Line Meaning
Medicine man, you dance me across the country
The singer feels like they are being taken on a journey to new places and experiences by the medicine man.
Medicine man, you dance me across the sky
The singer is being taken on a journey that feels like flying, as if they are soaring through the sky.
Medicine man, now my feet are dragging
The singer is starting to feel tired and weary from the journey, like they need a break.
Medicine man, can you hear my cry?
The artist is calling out to the medicine man for help, feeling lost and unsure of what to do.
I don't wanna be
The one, the one, the one
That you forget
The artist is afraid of being forgotten by the medicine man, feeling like they need their guidance and support.
I don't, I don't, I don't
Just want to be your regret
The singer doesn't want to be a source of regret for the medicine man, but rather wants their help to become a better version of themselves.
Medicine man, I lay my head in your hands
The singer is trusting the medicine man to help them and is surrendering control to them.
Medicine man, you will clear my mind
The artist is hoping that the medicine man will provide clarity and help them sort through their thoughts and emotions.
Medicine man, can you heal my body?
The artist is hoping that the medicine man can help them not only mentally, but physically as well.
Medicine man, can you hear my cry?
The artist is calling out to the medicine man once again, hoping that they are listening and will offer help.
I don't know where to begin
I don't know how to break
The bottle I'm living in
Do anything to take away
The memory of him
Can't you see that I have no way out
From leaving now?
The singer is struggling with a past relationship and feels trapped by their memories and emotions. They are asking for the medicine man's help to move on and find a way out of their current situation.
Medicine man, you are here in my mind
The artist is grateful for the help and guidance of the medicine man, even when they are not physically present.
Medicine man, hear my cry
The singer is again calling out for help.
Medicine man, medicine man
Medicine man, whoa
The singer is acknowledging the importance of the medicine man and has a sense of awe and respect for them.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GRETA MORGAN SALPETER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
stev6963
I freaking love this band. Something about the voices of Greta and Bob just seep into my soul. I forgot how much I loved them.
Len
seriously, i know right! criminally underrated
Gumball
Same here mate
Eric and Amanda Jones
Seriously underrated band.
Boris The PA
Love em
Javier Mendoza
Very true
~MUFASA~
Nice! I haven't seen this video since I played the Medicine Man in this video. It was fun to make!! Very underrated band!
Len
Wow really?? Wow. Omg. That’s so cool :) I love the hush sound so much, that’s a cool experience
Justin Holmes
Man I miss these guys. Please make more music one day
Boris The PA
Saw them live about 10 years ago, still love listening to them