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.
The Celestials
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They built an empire off a scream
I cant explain
Endlessly theyll set you free
Give you reason to believe
This empty place
I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
Til the end
Til the end
Til the end
Im gonna love you 101 percent
Im gonna love you til this ends
Take a chance if you should go
Face upon your happy home
The scanners wait
Selfishly they might concede
You were always on your own
You cant escape
I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
But I will be special k
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
Youre not me and never ever will you be
Im gonna find you and never run against
Im gonna find you til the end
Til the end
Til the end
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even while their numbers call you out
Everything I want is free
Free youre free with me
Youre free with me
The Smashing Pumpkins' "The Celestials" is a song about the power of love and the struggle to maintain it in a world that is constantly trying to tear us apart. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the line "On the day that you were born, they built an empire off a scream." This line refers to the power of our voices and the impact that they can have on the world. It suggests that every time a child is born, they have the potential to change the world with their voice, if only they are given the chance.
The song goes on to explore the idea of freedom and the importance of holding onto it. The line "Endlessly they'll set you free, give you reason to believe" suggests that while there may be people and forces that try to control us, ultimately we are the masters of our own fate. The chorus reinforces this message, with the repeated line "Never let the summer catch you down, never let your thoughts run free." This line is a reminder to stay true to yourself and your beliefs, even in the face of opposition or adversity.
The song also touches on the theme of individuality and the need to be true to yourself. The repeated line "You're not me and never ever will you be" suggests that we are all unique and special in our own way, and that we should celebrate our differences rather than trying to conform to an ideal. This idea is reinforced by the lines "Everything I want is free, Free you're free with me," which suggest that true freedom comes when we accept and celebrate our individuality, rather than trying to fit into someone else's mold.
Line by Line Meaning
On the day that you were born
The very day you were born, something happened that led to a certain development.
They built an empire off a scream
Something that started as a mere scream resulted in a significant achievement and success.
I cant explain
For some reason, I am unable to fully comprehend or articulate this situation.
Endlessly theyll set you free
They will continue to provide you with endless opportunities that will grant you your freedom and independence.
Give you reason to believe
They will provide you with ample reasons and evidence to instill a strong belief in you.
This empty place
This place feels very unfulfilling and devoid of any real meaning or purpose.
I may seem unafraid
I may appear brave and unafraid, but there are underlying insecurities that are not visible to others.
And I may seem unashamed
I may appear unashamed and unaffected, but there are emotions and feelings that lie beneath the surface.
But I will be special k
But I will strive to achieve a level of excellence and uniqueness that sets me apart from others.
Never let the summer catch you down
Do not let the carefree and easygoing nature of summer distract you from your goals and aspirations.
Never let your thoughts run free
Do not let your unbridled thoughts and feelings take control of your actions and decision-making.
Even when their numbers draw you out
Even when large groups of people or opposing forces try to drive you away, stay true to yourself and your beliefs.
Everything I want is free
Everything that I truly desire in life, such as love and happiness, cannot be bought with money or attained through material possessions.
Til the end
Until the very end of time or until the completion of a certain event.
Im gonna love you 101 percent
I am going to love you with every fiber of my being and give you everything that I am capable of giving.
Im gonna love you til this ends
I am going to love you until there is no more love left to give or until the end of our time together.
Take a chance if you should go
If you must leave or take a risk, do so with courage and conviction.
Face upon your happy home
Look directly at your happy and safe place where you feel most content and at peace.
The scanners wait
There are forces or obstacles that are waiting and watching for any sign of weakness or vulnerability.
Selfishly they might concede
Those who oppose or challenge you may reluctantly give in, but only for their own selfish reasons.
You were always on your own
You have always been independent and self-reliant, even in times of great difficulty and adversity.
You cant escape
There is no way to completely avoid or evade the challenges or problems that come your way.
Youre not me and never ever will you be
You are an individual with your own unique thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and no one can ever replicate or replace that.
Im gonna find you and never run against
I am going to search for you and stand beside you without ever wavering or turning away.
Free youre free with me
You are free to be yourself and pursue your own happiness when you are with me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roiybenkel682
On the day that you were born
They built an empire off a scream
I can't explain
Endlessly they'll set you free
Give you reason to believe
This empty place
I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
But I will be special k
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
'Til the end
'Til the end
'Til the end
I'm gonna love you 101 percent
I'm gonna love you 'til this ends
Take a chance if you should go
Face upon your happy home
The scanners wait
Selfishly they might concede
You were always on your own
You can't escape
I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
But I will be special k
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
You're not me and never ever will you ever be
I'm gonna find you and never run against
I'm gonna find you 'til the end
'Til the end
'Til the end
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers call you out
Everything I want is free
Free you're free with me
You're free with me
@Bircus1
This is weird: I went to middle school and high school with Mike Byrne, the drummer. One time, he lent me "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" in jazz combos so I could burn it. So cool...
@bindingjames
Shame he didn't listen to the drumming and take notes.
@williamhart1966
Wicked cool!
@mikeisagodd2121
Nice lie
@bluewhye8832
@@bindingjameswhere's your demo tape at.
@OrinPhelps
This has been the most depressing birthday of my entire life. I miss my mother and friends, my favorite restaurants and the good times had.
--but I am listening to this song right now and as I type this I am feeling better. I have everything I need right now. I love you for listening to this and reading this. I hope the summer doesn't get you down.
@OrinPhelps
@@smashingpumpkins You have no idea how happy this made me on my birthday. Thank you. :')
@thewwekid7957
@@OrinPhelps I dont know when your birthday is Paul but it looks like it coming up again
Happy early birthday hope this one is more exciting:)
@OrinPhelps
@@thewwekid7957 Ah man, thank you! Made me smile for sure. 😁
@nathanferry8716
Love is all you need . And you have it. I see it here