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.
Meladori Magpie
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd forsaken what was mine
What it mattered, mattered little now
We had shattered, apart somehow
I can't help but stay the same
I'll remain true to my name
Time to get up and take the long walk home
For the first time I go alone
Chasing down the alleyways behind my dad's
I can't help but stay the same
I remain true to the name of lovers past
Good enough to lose
And good enough to chose you too
The Smashing Pumpkins’ song “Meladori Magpie” is a poignant meditation on nostalgia, regret and the passage of time. The lyrics speak to the singer’s realization of their errors in forsaking what was “theirs” and in the disintegration of a relationship that for a while, brought them light and love. The lines “On her doorstep I saw that I was blind/I’d forsaken what was mine” denote both contrition and the hopelessness of being unable to reclaim what was once so near and dear. The repetition of “I can’t help but stay the same” underscores the singer’s sense of self-condemnation, the feeling that they are unable to change their ways in order to rectify past missteps. And yet, the final lines “Good enough to lose/And good enough to choose you too” serve to express a morsel of hope, the belief that though they have erred, they will still strive to become better, and to select partners who match their worth.
In essence, “Meladori Magpie” is a song about loss, growth and ultimately, redemption. It is a painful yet ultimately cathartic exploration of the human experience, of the many ways in which we falter, find ourselves lacking, and seek to rectify our missteps. With its haunting melody and evocative lyrics, it speaks to the part of us that longs for catharsis and closure, and affirms that even in the darkest moments, there is always a path to healing and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
And on her doorstep I saw that I was blind
I realized my mistakes when it was too late
I'd forsaken what was mine
I neglected what I had
What it mattered, mattered little now
It's too late to do anything about it now
We had shattered, apart somehow
Our bond has broken and we aren't together anymore
I can't help but stay the same
I am stricken with my past actions and cannot change them
I'll remain true to my name
I won't compromise my identity
Time to get up and take the long walk home
I'm ready to move on, even if it takes time
For the first time I go alone
I'm taking this journey on my own
Do you remember when we first met
Let's reminisce about our past
Chasing down the alleyways behind my dad's
We were young and carefree, exploring the world
I remain true to the name of lovers past
I still hold onto the memory of our past love
Good enough to lose
Our love was worth taking a risk and possibly losing it in the end
And good enough to chose you too
I chose to love you even though it was a gamble
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind