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.
Apathy's Last Kiss
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the difference
You'll feel better if you lie
With the stars in your eyes
Honey, Honey
Where's my baby
She know better than to cry
There is
No safe place to go
I should know
The lame
And the droll have needs
To let their feelings show
What's the matter
What's the difference
What's the question
You'll feel better
If you lie
With the stars in your eyes
There is
No safe place to go
I should know
The lame
And the droll have needs
To let their feelings show
Bury your heart in a hole
Bury your heart in a
Bury your heart in a
Bury your heart in a hole
The lyrics to The Smashing Pumpkins' song "Apathy's Last Kiss" speak to the idea of escapism and the desire to distract oneself from pain or discomfort. The opening lines, "What's the matter/What's the difference/You'll feel better if you lie/With the stars in your eyes," suggest that ignoring or obscuring the truth can be a soothing balm, even if only for a moment. The use of the phrase "stars in your eyes" conjures images of wonder and beauty, but also hints at a detachment from reality.
The singer then addresses a person referred to as "Honey" and asks where their baby is. The line "She know better than to cry/With the stars in her eyes" suggests that even crying or feeling emotional pain can be seen as weak or undesirable in a culture that prizes invulnerability and apathy. The idea of hiding one's emotions is reinforced by the repeated refrain of "Bury your heart in a hole."
The final lines of the song, "The lame/And the droll have needs/To let their feelings show," may be a criticism of a society that dismisses or mocks those who are perceived as "lame" or boring. The use of the word "needs" reminds us that all people have emotional needs, even if they are not always expressed or acknowledged.
Overall, "Apathy's Last Kiss" presents a bleak picture of a world where pain is hidden and beauty "with the stars in your eyes" is fleeting and illusory.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the matter
What is troubling you
What's the difference
What distinguishes the options and their outcomes
You'll feel better if you lie
You may find comfort in avoiding the truth
With the stars in your eyes
Through a dreamy and idealistic perspective
Honey, Honey
A term of affection for a loved one
Where's my baby
Where is the person I care deeply for
She know better than to cry
She understands how to deal with emotions
No safe place to go
There is nowhere to feel secure
I should know
I am aware of this from experience
The lame
Those who are unable to express themselves well
And the droll have needs
Even those who are amusing and witty require emotional support
To let their feelings show
To reveal their true emotions
What's the question
What is the issue to be addressed
Bury your heart in a hole
Hide away your emotions
Bury your heart in a
Suppress your feelings
Bury your heart in a
Conceal your emotional vulnerability
Bury your heart in a hole
Keep your feelings locked away
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.