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.
Medellia Of The Gray Skies
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're an easy chair
You're the gods forces
Struck down somewhere
You're a secret noticed
You're a mystery sky
You're a wish floating
Medellia of my eyes
You're the emptiness of I
You're the reason that I write
And if you say you will
I would love you still
And if I could
I'd throw away this world
I'd dress you all in pearls
I'd give you what you wanted
You're all I notice
In a crowded room
Your vacant motives
Unmoved, revealed
Medellia of my eyes
You're the emptiness of I
You're the reason that I drive
And if you say you will
I would love you still
And if I just could
Be anything for you
Just anyone at all
Anything that mattered, washed out
You're the silly reasons
In a goldfish laugh
You're the ageless seasons
At rest, at last
The lyrics to The Smashing Pumpkins' song "Medellia Of The Gray Skies" are a poetic exploration of the singer's feelings towards someone who seems to be both enigmatic and all-consuming. The opening lines of the first verse describe this person as an "empty promise" and an "easy chair," suggesting that they may be comfortable and familiar, but ultimately disappointing or unfulfilling. However, the next lines reveal that this person also has the power of the gods, but has been "struck down somewhere," which adds to the sense of mystery and complexity.
The chorus further develops this idea of an enigmatic figure who is both captivating and unsettling, with the singer referring to them as the "Medellia of my eyes" and "the emptiness of I." This latter phrase suggests that the singer feels incomplete without this person, as though their presence is necessary for the singer to feel whole. The final lines of the chorus reveal that the singer would love this person "still" if they were to say they will, suggesting that there may be some conflict or uncertainty in the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You're an empty promise
You're someone who never follows through with what you say.
You're an easy chair
You're comfortable and easily accessible, but relatively useless.
You're the gods forces struck down somewhere
You have potential but have failed to reach it due to external or internal barriers.
You're a secret noticed
You're someone who keeps to themselves but is still able to garner attention or interest.
You're a mystery sky
You're something people are drawn to but can't quite figure out or understand.
You're a wish floating up to the night
You're a desire that people send out to the universe with hope that it will come true.
Medellia of my eyes
You're something that is seen in the mind's eye, often a memory or person.
You're the emptiness of I
You represent the void someone feels within themselves.
You're the reason that I write
You inspire creativity, often through some kind of emotional response.
And if you say you will, I would love you still
Despite any shortcomings or flaws, the artist still cares for this person.
And if I could, I'd throw away this world
The singer would do anything for this person, including giving up everything they know.
I'd dress you all in pearls
The artist wants to make this person feel special and valued.
You're all I notice in a crowded room
This person stands out to the singer even amongst many others.
Your vacant motives unmoved, revealed
This person's intentions or motivations are unclear and perhaps even undesirable.
You're the reason that I drive
This person inspires motivation, often through some kind of emotional response.
And if you just could be anything for you
The artist is willing to change themselves to make this person happy.
Just anyone at all
The artist wants to be someone that is important or valuable to this person.
Anything that mattered, washed out
The singer feels like they lack importance or influence compared to this person.
You're the silly reasons in a goldfish laugh
This person is the source of joy and amusement even in small or seemingly insignificant moments.
You're the ageless seasons at rest, at last
This person represents consistency and stability, something that is calming and reassuring.
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.