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.
Disarm
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And cut you like you want me to
Cut that little child
Inside of me and such a part of you
Ooh, the years burn
Ooh, the years burn
I used to be a little boy
And what I choose is my choice
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
Send this smile over to you
Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who's left alone
Ooh, the years burn
Ooh, the years burn, burn, burn
I used to be a little boy
So old in my shoes
What I choose is my voice
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
I send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The Smashing Pumpkins’ song “Disarm”contains lyrics that evoke a sense of tension and inner strife. The opening line, "Disarm you with a smile / And cut you like you want me to," can be interpreted as a criticism of society's tendency to mask aggression and harm in superficial pleasantries. The next line, "Cut that little child / Inside of me and such a part of you," may refer to the singer's inner child, which is both innocent and vulnerable, but also capable of great harm when provoked. Through this metaphor, the song expresses a sense of inner turmoil and a fear of how one's past and nature may influence them in dangerous ways.
The second verse is a reflection upon childhood and the difficulties of growing up. The singer acknowledges the confusion and uncertainty they experienced as a child, stating, “What’s a boy supposed to do?” The killer in me is the killer in you / My love,” seems to imply that we all have the potential for violence and aggression. This theme of inner turmoil is carried into the chorus, which repeats the line "Ooh, the years burn." These lines may suggest the singer's anguish over the intersection of past and present.
Overall, "Disarm" is a complex exploration of the human psyche, examining how the past and our inherent nature can shape our actions and attitudes. The song's interpretation is open to endless possibilities and in such a way, it remains a relevant and compelling work of music, continuing to speak to generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Disarm you with a smile
I will charm you so you let down your guard.
And cut you like you want me to
I will cause you pain just as you desire.
Cut that little child, inside of me and such a part of you
I will destroy the vulnerable part of myself that stems from our shared history.
Ooh, the years burn
The pain of the past continues to hurt.
I used to be a little boy, so old in my shoes
I was forced to grow up too quickly.
And what I choose is my choice
I have the right to make my own decisions.
What's a boy supposed to do?
It's hard to figure out what to do in a society that pressures men to suppress their emotions.
The killer in me is the killer in you, my love
The violent tendencies within me are also present within you, my closest companion.
Send this smile over to you
Despite the pain, I still care for you.
And leave you like they left me here
The people who hurt me abandoned me to suffer alone, and I will do the same to you.
To wither in denial
You will suffer the same fate, refusing to accept the truth of what we've done to each other.
The bitterness of one who's left alone
The bitterness felt by someone abandoned by those they love.
Ooh, the years burn, burn, burn
The pain never truly goes away, instead it intensifies and resurfaces again and again.
The killer in me is the killer in you
Our connection is so deep, that we share even the darkest and most violent parts of ourselves.
Send this smile over to you
Despite the pain and trauma, I still share a bond with you and wish you well.
Lyrics © Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Corgan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dawgrogers
Best version hands down, captures the feel of 93
RadioguyJ
Who’s watching this in 2022, still in awe of its absolute perfection?
Priscila Muniz
2023
YAOG
@Priscila Muniz 2024 for me.
David Seals
This is the best version of disarm, 2023! 🤘
AtomicTDog
Be great if they did a studio version of this.
Terry Smith
Absolutely love this version.The tv show (The Word) was nothing short of carnage and anarchy and captured the times we were living in the UK so this version went down a treat more so than the studio version.Only a hunch they done this version for the show.
Adam Greenwell
This version is an absolute banger.
Manny Guzman
I always felt jimmy was the best drummer
Kristopher Ryan
he always was. will always be.