Disavowing the punk rock roots of many of their alt-rock contemporaries, they have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegazing, and, in later recordings, electronica. Corgan is the group's primary songwriter; his musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land".
The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. 1998's Adore would just barely miss out, peaking at number two. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 break-up.
In 2006, Corgan and Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. Later that year, Corgan began a new recording series with a rotating lineup of musicians entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which encompassed the release of stand-alone singles, compilation EP releases, and two full albums that also fell under the project's scope—Oceania in 2012 and Monuments to an Elegy in 2014. Chamberlin and Iha officially rejoined the band in February 2018. The reunited lineup has released three albums so far—Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. in November 2018, Cyr in November 2020, and ATUM in 2023.
...Said Sadly
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We should love like lovers do
And I can't help but fall for you
Oh honey I'm just a fool
Now you know
Darling, I'll never be true
You see, for so long I was blue
And if I hurt, then you will, too
Oh honey I always lose
Now you know
Lover, when will you?
I'm so afraid that no one cares
Lover, can't find you
I swear to God don't leave me here
Now you know
Only you know that it can't be
When no one else here really means
Anything to me
If you hurt inside
If you confide in me again
Since you ran away
Hold me now, tell me how
Nothing's lost
Lover, when will you?
I'm so afraid that no one cares
Lover, can't find you
And no one knows what brings us here
Lover
Hold me now
Hold me now
Tell me how
Nothings lost
In "Said Sadly," The Smashing Pumpkins create a mournful and melancholic atmosphere that reflects heartache and disappointment in love. The song's theme appears to be about the fragility of love and the pain that ensues after its collapse. The lines "You should know that I love you" and "We should love like lovers do" express the singer's desire for intimacy, but they also suggest that the relationship is not as close as they envisioned.
The chorus of the song confesses that the singer is incapable of fidelity and that they always seem to lose the people they love. The repeated phrase, "Now you know," may suggest that the singer has been honest and does not want to lead their lover on. However, it could also indicate that they are resigned to the fact that their relationship is destined to fail.
The second verse contains a plea for affection, with the singer asking, "Lover when will you?" This expression of longing is contrasted by a sense of dread that "no one cares" and "no one knows what brings us here." The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer hoping to reconcile but also questioning everything they once believed.
Line by Line Meaning
You should know that I love you
I want you to know that I have deep feelings of love for you
We should love like lovers do
Our love should be passionate and intimate like the love between two lovers
And I can't help but fall for you
My heart is drawn to you and I cannot resist falling in love with you
Oh honey I'm just a fool
I know my actions may not be rational or wise when it comes to you, but my heart still desires you
Now you know
I want you to understand and acknowledge my feelings for you
Darling, I'll never be true
I cannot commit myself to you completely and honestly
You see, for so long I was blue
For a long time, I was sad and lonely before you came into my life
I'm not the lonely one
I am no longer alone now that I have you in my life
And if I hurt, then you will, too
If I am in pain, it will also affect your emotions
Oh honey I always lose
I tend to lose in matters of love and relationships
Lover, when will you?
I am anxiously waiting for you to make a move and show your feelings for me
I'm so afraid that no one cares
I have insecurities about whether or not anyone truly cares about me or my feelings
Lover, can't find you
I am having trouble finding someone to love and connect with
I swear to God don't leave me here
I am deeply afraid of being abandoned or left alone
Only you know that it can't be
You are the only one who understands that our relationship may not work out
When no one else here really means
Other people in my life do not hold as much significance to me as you do
Anything to me
You are the most important person in my life
If you hurt inside
If you are experiencing emotional pain, I am always here to listen and support you
If you confide in me again
If you trust me enough to confide in me, I will always keep your secrets and support you
Since you ran away
Ever since you left or distanced yourself, I have felt lost and incomplete
Hold me now, tell me how
I need comfort and reassurance from you that everything will be okay
Nothing's lost
Our love still has a chance to survive and thrive
And no one knows what brings us here
The reason for our love and connection is unknown and unclear to everyone else
Lover
My affectionate term of endearment for you
Hold me now
I need your physical and emotional support and comfort now more than ever
Tell me how
I need you to express to me that everything is going to be okay
Nothings lost
Our love still has a chance to survive and thrive despite any challenges we may face
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind