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.
This Time
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really must be told
If it's over
It's up to you you know
The things you want to hold
Are in pieces
Crashing down
Crashing down
Crashing down my friends
I've got to move it on
I've got to sing my song
While I still can
Dispatch the last alarms
Hand out the last few charms
There's no surprises
Only love
Only love can win
Crashing down
Crashing down again
Only love, yeah
Only love will win
Crashing down
Crashing down again
This time I need to know
I really must be told
That it's over
I've lived my life alone
My every step foretold
To never linger
And yet it haunts me so
What are we letting go
Our spell is broken
Crashing down
Crashing down, my friends
Crashing down
Crashing down again
Only love, yeah
Only love will be enough
Yeah, only love will win
For every chemical
You trade a piece of your soul
With no return
And who you think you know
Doesn't know you at all
Their drain is needless
Someday we'll wave hello
And wish we'd never waved goodbye
To this romance
We'll drink up every line
And shoot up every word
Till there's no more
Crashing down
Crashing down, my friends
Only love
Only love can win
So cry these tears
We'll cry as all
We've held so long to fall apart
As the curtain falls
We bid you all goodnight
In the lyrics of The Smashing Pumpkins' song "This Time," the singer seems to be addressing someone they care about deeply. They're uncertain of the status of their relationship and ask for clarification. They feel that things are falling apart and can't continue without some resolution. The song contains a sense of urgency and despair. The lyrics depict the themes of love, loss, and moving on. The singer has to "move it on" and "sing my song" while they still can.
The song features Billy Corgan's heartfelt vocals, which add depth to the lyrics' emotions. The music also emphasizes the feeling of urgency, with crashing drums and electric guitars. "This Time" is one of The Smashing Pumpkins' less well-known songs but is a favorite of many longtime fans.
Line by Line Meaning
This time I need to know
I want to know the truth this time, without any doubts or uncertainty.
I really must be told
It is necessary that you tell me what I need to hear, even if it's difficult.
If it's over
If our relationship is over and can't be salvaged anymore.
It's up to you you know
The fate of our relationship lies in your hands, and you are aware of it.
The things you want to hold
Your desires, needs, and priorities matter to you deeply.
Are in pieces
They have shattered, broken down due to circumstances beyond your control.
Crashing down
Falling apart abruptly and spontaneously with great impact.
Crashing down again
This is a recurring pattern that keeps happening over and over again.
I've got to move it on
I have to continue with my life and move on from this relationship that has ended.
I've got to sing my song
I have a passion to pursue and make the most of while I still have the chance.
While I still can
Before it's too late, and I regret not taking advantage of the moment.
Dispatch the last alarms
Get rid of any lingering remnants or reminders of the past to move on completely.
Hand out the last few charms
Give away the remaining good luck or protective items to others who may need them.
There's no surprises
Nothing unexpected or unpredictable will happen. It's all been said and done.
Only love
Love is the only thing that truly matters in the end.
Only love can win
Only love has the power to conquer the pain and hurt of life.
I've lived my life alone
I have spent most of my life feeling lonely and isolated emotionally, despite having people around me.
My every step foretold
I feel like my life has already been decided for me and I have no control over it.
To never linger
To always be ready to move on quickly, without looking back or hesitating.
And yet it haunts me so
Despite my efforts to forget the past, it still troubles and preoccupies me.
What are we letting go
What are we giving up or losing by ending our relationship?
Our spell is broken
Our magic or influence over each other has ceased to exist, and we cannot bring it back.
For every chemical
Every substance or activity that alters your state of mind or body.
You trade a piece of your soul
Every time you indulge in such behavior, you lose a part of yourself, your identity, and your values.
With no return
You don't gain anything positive or worth the sacrifice in return.
And who you think you know
The person you thought you knew best and loved dearly has turned out to be a stranger to you.
Doesn't know you at all
You are not who they thought you were, or they're incapable of understanding, accepting, and loving you fully.
Their drain is needless
They are a negative influence, draining your energy and draining you of your resources needlessly.
Someday we'll wave hello
Someday we will meet again, after some time has passed and we've moved on with our lives.
And wish we'd never waved goodbye
We'll regret saying goodbye to each other, and wish that we had done things differently.
To this romance
To this brief period of time when we were in love and shared intimate moments together.
We'll drink up every line
We'll savor every last word spoken, and reminisce about the good times we shared together.
And shoot up every word
We'll cling to every memory and emotion related to our relationship, whether good or bad.
Till there's no more
Until the last drop of nostalgia, regret, or longing has been consumed, and we can finally move on.
So cry these tears
Let yourself grieve and express your emotions, it's a natural part of healing and moving on.
We'll cry as all
We'll cry together, as though we shared the same pain and loss, even though we may not be together anymore.
We've held so long to fall apart
Despite our best efforts to remain together, we've ended up falling apart and drifting away from each other.
As the curtain falls
As this chapter of our lives comes to an end, and we prepare for the next one to begin.
We bid you all goodnight
We say goodbye to our past selves, and look forward to the new opportunities and experiences that await us.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind