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.
Slunk
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sister above
Lead on my lover
Daddy's not comin' home
So long my mother
So long ago
She loves me like a lover
Even though you lied to me
We love you
Right on, motherfucker
Sister above
Yeah, my lover
Every house is now your home
The lyrics to The Smashing Pumpkins's song Slunk are ambiguous in interpretation. The song is open to various interpretations but one that stands out is that the lyrics describe the struggles of a person who has lost their parents or guardians. The song opens with the words "Ride on, motherfucker, Sister above, Lead on my lover, Daddy's not comin' home" which suggest that the persona is trying to come to terms with the absence of their father. The reference to "sister above" suggests that the person's sister may have passed away or that there is a higher being looking after them.
The next lines "So long my mother, So long ago, She loves me like a lover, Every house is now your home" further suggest that the persona has lost both of their parents, with the mother passing a while back. The line "Every house is now your home" refers to the fact that the persona has had to move from one place to another since the death of their parents.
The lyrics "Even though you lied to me, We love you" are ambiguous, but they may refer to the fact that the persona's parents may have kept a secret from them, but the persona still loves them regardless. Overall, the lyrics to Slunk suggest that the persona is grappling with their loss and trying to make sense of it in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride on, motherfucker
Keep moving forward with power and determination.
Sister above
There's a higher power or guiding force looking out for us.
Lead on my lover
Take charge and lead the way in our relationship.
Daddy's not comin' home
The father figure we were waiting for is not coming back.
So long my mother
It's been a while since we've had a solid connection with our mother.
So long ago
This has been a long-lasting issue that's been around for a while.
She loves me like a lover
Our mother has a deep and passionate love for us.
Every house is now your home
We can find comfort and a sense of belonging in any place we go.
Even though you lied to me
Despite the fact that you misled me, we still care for you.
We love you
Our love for you is unconditional.
Right on, motherfucker
Keep up the good work and don't let anyone bring you down.
Sister above
Our guiding force is still watching over us.
Yeah, my lover
Affirmation that our lover is still present and strong in our life.
Every house is now your home
Reiterate that we can find comfort and belonging anywhere we go.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind