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.
Clones
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know it and I'm fine
I'm one and more are on the way
I'm two, doctor
Three's on the line
He'll take incubation another day
I'm all alone, so are we all
We're all clones
All are one and one are all
We destroyed the government
We're destroying time
No more problems on the way
I'm through doctor
We don't need your kind
The other ones
Ugly ones
Stupid boys
Wrong ones
I'm all alone, so are we all
We're all clones
All are one and one are all
All are one and one are all
Six is having problems
Adjusting to his clone status
Have to put him on a shelf
All day long we hear him crying so loud
I just wanna be myself
I just wanna be myself
I just wanna be myself
Be myself
Be myself
I'm all alone, so are we all
We destroyed the government
We're destroyed time
No more problems on the way
I'm through doctor
We don't need your kind
The other ones
Ugly ones
Stupid boys
Wrong ones
I'm all alone, so are we all
We're all clones
All are one and one are all
All are one and one are all
I'm all alone, so are we all
We're all clones
All are one and one are all
All are one and one are all
The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Clones” explores the theme of conformity and the loss of individuality. The singer, who is a clone, admits that he is aware of his existence as a clone but accepts it as is. The lyrics portray an assembly-line-like image of clones, suggesting that there are many more clones to come. The first verse establishes the singer’s identity as a clone, with the lines “I’m a clone, I know it and I’m fine, I’m one, and more are on the way.” He then introduces two other clones, implying that the cloning process has been going on for some time.
The second verse presents the clones’ rebellion against the government, which created them. They have “destroyed the government” and “destroyed time,” implying that the clones have gained control and overthrown the traditional authority structures in place. The clones do not need the doctors or scientists who created them anymore, and the reference to “ugly ones” and “stupid boys” suggests that they reject any human flaws that they might see as limiting their perfection. The final verse presents a more vulnerable side of a clone, with the emergence of individual differences among them. Six is having problems adjusting to his clone status, and all day long, they hear him crying so loud, wanting to be himself. The song ends with the repeated line “I’m all alone, so are we all,” implying that despite their sameness, they are still individual beings struggling to find their purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a clone
I am an identical copy of another person or thing
I know it and I'm fine
I am aware of my status as a clone, and it does not bother me
I'm one and more are on the way
I am the first clone, and others are being created
I'm two, doctor
There is now a second clone
Three's on the line
A third clone is being created
He'll take incubation another day
The third clone is not yet ready to be born
I'm all alone, so are we all
Although we are all clones, we are still individuals and feel isolated
We're all clones
We are all copies of the same original person
All are one and one are all
We are all the same, but also unique
We destroyed the government
As a unified group of clones, we overthrew the ruling regime
We're destroying time
Our rebellion is causing a disruption to the fabric of time
No more problems on the way
We do not anticipate any more obstacles in our rebellion
We don't need your kind
We reject the authority and influence of those who created us
The other ones
Referring to other clones who may not share our beliefs or goals
Ugly ones
Those clones who do not conform to our desired aesthetic standards
Stupid boys
Male clones who we perceive to be unintelligent or unimportant
Wrong ones
Those clones who do not share our values or vision for the future
Six is having problems
The sixth clone is experiencing difficulties
Adjusting to his clone status
The sixth clone is struggling to come to terms with his identity as a copy of another person
Have to put him on a shelf
The sixth clone is being placed in storage until a solution is found
All day long we hear him crying so loud
The sixth clone is emotionally distressed and expressing it vocally
I just wanna be myself
The clones desire individuality and freedom from their predetermined role as copies
Be myself
Continuation of the desire for autonomy and self-expression
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.