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.
Glynis
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her name is Glynis, yes
And with these tears of respect
Conforms a sadness
For anyone who's ever lost
One who's dearest, and the love of a friend
On our worried knees
Scarecrows and disease haunt us all
Ooh, bury your heads in the sand
Ooh, bury your heads
So have we stumbled from grace
Are we being punished for fate
My god is subtle and great
He can't be wounded
By the gossip and the hate of the frightened
Who took their paths on the sand, yeah
Fear that grips us all
Gives us an awful sound
Can't help anything but ourselves
Ooh, bury your head in the sand
Ooh, bury your head, yeah
Ooh, bury your head
Ooh, I believe in one love
Ooh, I believe in one love
Ooh, I believe in one love
Yeah, yeah
The Smashing Pumpkins' song "Glynis" is a tribute to somebody that the songwriter cannot forget, whose name is Glynis. The lyrics express a deep sense of sadness and respect for anyone who has lost someone they love, such as a friend. The song suggests that we are all vulnerable to the trials and tribulations of life, and that we must find a way to cope with the fear that grips us all. The idea is that we must turn to some higher power in order to find the strength and guidance we need to overcome our fears and doubts.
The song touches on themes of religious faith, loss, and the human condition. The lyrics suggest that we must all find a way to deal with the hardships and uncertainties that life throws our way. We must take responsibility for our own wellbeing and not simply bury our heads in the sand. Instead, we must learn to believe in ourselves and in a higher power that can offer us comfort and guidance in our darkest moments.
Overall, "Glynis" is a song about the fragility of human existence and the importance of finding hope and meaning in the face of adversity. It is a tribute to the power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. The song expresses a deep sense of compassion and empathy for those who have experienced loss, and it offers a message of hope and strength in the face of the challenges we all face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a name you cannot forget
Introducing the subject of the song, a woman named Glynis who is bound to be remembered
Her name is Glynis, yes
Confirmation of the woman's name
And with these tears of respect
The singer shows honor to Glynis by shedding tears
Conforms a sadness
The tears express a feeling of sadness
For anyone who's ever lost
The sadness expressed here is not just for Glynis, but for anyone who has experienced loss
One who's dearest, and the love of a friend
Loss of a loved one, especially a friend, is a great source of pain
On our worried knees
The pain of loss can bring us to our knees in worry and despair
Given to all beliefs
When we're hurt, we are susceptible to any belief system that offers comfort
Scarecrows and disease haunt us all
The world is full of threats that can strike fear in the hearts of all of us
Ooh, bury your heads in the sand
The idea of burying our heads in the sand (ignoring the threats) is tempting when we feel overwhelmed
So have we stumbled from grace
The singer questions if we have fallen from a state of grace or if something else is to blame for our pain
Are we being punished for fate
One possibility is that fate is punishing us, but the singer is unsure
My god is subtle and great
Despite the confusion and pain, the singer has faith in a god who is both powerful and subtle in their actions
He can't be wounded
This god cannot be harmed by the negativity and hate of others
By the gossip and the hate of the frightened
The singer believes that some people's negativity and hate comes from a place of fear and insecurity
Who took their paths on the sand, yeah
These people may have chosen an unreliable course of action or belief system
Fear that grips us all
The overwhelming power of fear can take hold of everyone
Gives us an awful sound
Fear can create negative, even destructive, emotions and actions
Can't help anything but ourselves
Ultimately, we can only control our own actions and reactions to fear and loss
Ooh, bury your head in the sand
The temptation to ignore problems and focus only on ourselves can be strong, but it's not a solution
Ooh, I believe in one love
Despite the pain and fear in the world, the singer chooses to believe in the unifying power of love
Yeah, yeah
An affirmation of this belief
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Kai-mc4nx
Here's a name you cannot forget
Her name is Glynis, yes
And with these tears of respect
Conforms a sadness
For anyone who's ever lost
One who's dearest, and the love of a friend
On our worried knees
Given to all beliefs
Scarecrows and disease haunt us all
Ooh, bury your heads in the sand
Ooh, bury your heads
So have we stumbled from grace
Are we being punished for fate
My god is subtle and great
He can't be wounded
By the gossip and the hate of the frightened
Who took their paths on the sand, yeah
Fear that grips us all
Gives us an awful sound
Can't help anything but ourselves
Ooh, bury your head in the sand
Ooh, bury your head, yeah
Ooh, bury your head
Ooh, I believe in one love
Ooh, I believe in one love
Ooh, I believe in one love
Yeah, yeah
@Moronmommy
got this CD today for 50 cents at the local record shop. best 50 cents i ever spent. this song blows my mind.
@themysticmuse1111
Meowsy Score my friend.
@forgivenessstops423
Got my copy for a dollar at the thrift store
@philspill6854
I bought it new when it came out. Years later i found it at goodwill for $1. Such a great comp
@IBGelby
My favorite Pumpkins song.
@FlipperLaBeouf
You might like the hidden track. Track 19.
@77Creation
Keep Resting In Peace, Glynis. You must have been a beautiful person to have inspired one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Thanks, Smashing Pumpkins.
@jonathanrandol794
I remember receiving this as a Christmas gift in 1993, right before I turned 12. My "cool" cousin, who lived in downtown San Frnacisco gave it to me and I must have listened to is a thousand times. This song brings back a lot of nostalgia...
@sebdetyra651
Man that such an awesome story, love it <3
@jonathanrandol794
@@sebdetyra651 thanks! It's a great song/album!