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.
Here's to the Atom Bomb
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gravity fingers dig in your back
The strangest man won't let you breathe
Rocking on you in a movie scene
His words fill your mouth
His guests bleed sick
Devoid of touch
Sittin' home waiting for the coming age
You had to wait your turn
You had to wait your turn
Wake up early, wash up late
Satellites connect you to your hate
Your patience grows but your skin is thin
The pager signals they're coming in
Through the hole in the wall
You left the hole in the wall
Here's to the atom bomb
May everyone find a way to get on
A little piece of heaven is all you seek
In the same old re-run week after week
Their faces make you want to kill
The little piece of heaven singin' on the windowsill
No lights can turn you on
Pixelate the night
Reading the words
Of your eyes on the streets where you were born
Sittin' home waiting for the coming dawn
Near the hole in the wall
You left a hole in the wall
The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Here’s to the Atom Bomb” is a dark, brooding song that delves into themes of alienation, frustration, and longing. The lyrics speak to the frustration that builds when one feels trapped in a life that feels meaningless or unfulfilling. The repeated refrain of “here’s to the atom bomb” suggests a desire for drastic change and destruction, a willingness to destroy everything in order to start anew.
The song paints a bleak picture of a world where everyone is connected but no one truly understands or cares about each other. The lines “Satellites connect you to your hate / Your patience grows but your skin is thin” suggest a sense of isolation and frustration. The singer is stuck in a life they don’t want, with people they don’t like, and they long for something better.
The line “You had to wait your turn” speaks to a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the world. The singer has been waiting for something to happen, for someone to come and save them, but nothing ever does. The “little piece of heaven” they seek is just out of reach, and they are left feeling stranded and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Away to the side you move your head
You try to avoid confronting reality
Gravity fingers dig in your back
You feel weighed down by the burdens of life
The strangest man won't let you breathe
You feel oppressed by those who don't understand you
Rocking on you in a movie scene
Life feels like a surreal experience beyond your control
His words fill your mouth
You feel suffocated and silenced by someone else's opinions
His guests bleed sick
The people around you are toxic and draining
Devoid of touch
You feel isolated and disconnected from others
He lets out to the streets where you were raised
Someone is spreading rumors or gossip about you in your hometown
Sittin' home waiting for the coming age
You feel stuck and anxious for what's to come
You had to wait your turn
You feel like you've been held back and overlooked
Wake up early, wash up late
You're overworked and exhausted from routine
Satellites connect you to your hate
You feel bombarded by negative influences and media
Your patience grows but your skin is thin
You try to stay composed but your emotions are close to the surface
The pager signals they're coming in
You're receiving unwelcome news or attention
Through the hole in the wall
You escape from your problems into a small, private space
You left the hole in the wall
You must eventually face your problems and reenter the world
Here's to the atom bomb
A sarcastic toast to the horrors of war and destruction
May everyone find a way to get on
A bitter wish for everyone to cope with the world's problems
A little piece of heaven is all you seek
You crave a sense of comfort or happiness
In the same old re-run week after week
You feel trapped in a monotonous routine
Their faces make you want to kill
You feel an intense hatred or frustration towards certain people
The little piece of heaven singin' on the windowsill
There are small moments of happiness or beauty amidst the chaos
No lights can turn you on
You're unable to find inspiration or joy
Pixelate the night
Everything feels blurry and unclear
Reading the words
Trying to understand and interpret the world around you
Of your eyes on the streets where you were born
Reflecting on the memories and experiences of your past
Sittin' home waiting for the coming dawn
You're anticipating a new beginning, but uncertain of what it might bring
Near the hole in the wall
Still feeling the need to escape or hide from problems
You left a hole in the wall
You've made progress but still have work to do to face your problems
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CalabazaVacia
Away to the side you move your head
Gravity fingers dig in your back
The strangest man won't let you breathe
Rocking on you in a movie scene
His words fill your mouth
His guests bleed sick
Devoid of touch
He lets out to the streets where you were raised
Sittin' home waiting for the coming age
You had to wait your turn
You had to wait your turn
Wake up early, wash up late
Satellites connect you to your hate
Your patience grows but your skin is thin
The pager signals they're coming in
Through the hole in the wall
You left the hole in the wall
Here's to the atom bomb
May everyone find a way to get on
A little piece of heaven is all you seek
In the same old re-run week after week
Their faces make you want to kill
The little piece of heaven singin' on the windowsill
No lights can turn you on
Pixelate the night
Reading the words
Of your eyes on the streets where you were born
Sittin' home waiting for the coming dawn
Near the hole in the wall
You left a hole in the wall
@Pinoquai7064
Away to the side you move your head
Gravity fingers dig in your back
The strangest man won't let you breathe
Rocking on you in a movie scene
His words fill your mouth
His guests bleed sick
Devoid of touch
He lets out to the streets where you were raised
Sittin' home waiting for the coming age
You had to wait your turn
You had to wait your turn
Wake up early, wash up late
Satellites connect you to your hate
Your patience grows but your skin is thin
The pager signals they're coming in
Through the hole in the wall
You left the hole in the wall
Here's to the atom bomb
May everyone find a way to get on
A little piece of heaven is all you seek
In the same old re-run week after week
Their faces make you want to kill
The little piece of heaven singin' on the windowsill
@solace1392
I love this band, all their b-sides or rare songs are truly jewels. Aside their studio records the legacy of their music are in songs like this one. Long live Smashing Pumpkins.
@TYETHEG83
Factsssss!
@SaulmanPhishbass
still true
@BearWindAppleyard
One of their best songs, this version especially
@brandonedgealbums
exactly what i was gonna say. actually i like some of the lyrics from this and some from the other version lol. but i like the sound of this more.
@jamiekay7811
BearWindAppleyard ouiokklkkk
@jamiekay7811
brandonedgealbums mnnnnn
@CyanideOfficialMusic06
I gotta say, this version is way way better than the New Wave Version
@mcallenbell2279
Kinda like pisces iscariot, the aeroplanes flies high, some of the best songs are bsides
@2Pac4ever
Cannot understand how this get only 21K views, it deserves 1000 times more. Fav song from the Pumpkins with 1979.