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.
X.Y.U.
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She couldn't run away 'cause she was crazy
She gave it all away, she saw her baby break
And in the air it hung that she was dull razors
And I said, I wanna fill you up, I wanna break you, I wanna give you up
From one another, another one should come to one another
No one should come between us
Still I was lonely, and she was by my side, my one and only
I couldn't feel her, and it was just a game
'Cause I was lonely and she was crazy
Rat-tat-tat, ka boom boom, now take that, and just a bit of this
'Cause I'm a watcher, and I'm a doer of none
Come to save you, 'cause you're all mine
I hurt where I can't feel, I feel where I can't hurt
I know where I can't know, I bleed for me and mine
Ka-boom, a rat-tat-tat, and some good ole bliss
'Cause I'm a sister, and I'm a motherfuck
I am made of shamrocks, I am made of stern stuff
I am never enough, I am the forgotten child
And I said I wanna fill you up, I wanna break you, I wanna give you up
From one another, no one should ever come
In between us, between us and our love
Mary had a little lamb, her face was white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went I was sure to go
Now Mary's got a problem, and Mary's not a stupid girl
Mary's got some deep shit, and Mary does not forget
And this is how Mary's garden grows, and this is how Mary has her ghosts
And into the eyes of the jackal I say ka-boom
Now we begin descent, to where we've never been
There is no going back, this wasn't meant to last
This is a hell on earth, we are meant to serve
And she will never learn
She will never learn
Bye bye, baby goodbye, bye, bye
The lyrics to The Smashing Pumpkins's X.Y.U. touch on themes of love, loneliness, and mental illness. The song tells the story of a woman who is struggling with her mental health and her relationship with the singer. She is unable to escape her situation and gives everything she has away, watching as her baby in the metaphorical sense breaks. The air is heavy with dull razors, suggesting feelings of sadness and desperation.
The singer, who wants to fill her up and give her everything, still feels lonely despite having her by his side. He acknowledges that their relationship is a game because she is crazy and he is lonely. The song then takes a violent and explosive turn with mentions of rat-tat-tats and ka-booms, suggesting that the singer is trying to save himself and his love from the negative emotions they are feeling.
The lyrics then shift to the singer's own personal struggles, stating that he hurts where he can't feel and feels where he can't hurt. He is made of shamrocks and is never enough, emphasizing his own feelings of inadequacy. The song concludes with a reference to Mary and her little lamb, with the singer and Mary descending into the unknown. The ending is bittersweet as they say goodbye to what was never meant to last.
Line by Line Meaning
She didn't wanna be, she didn't wanna know
She did not want to exist or understand the world around her.
She couldn't run away 'cause she was crazy
Her mental instability prevented her from escaping her problems.
She gave it all away, she saw her baby break
She sacrificed everything she had for someone she loved, only to watch them suffer.
And in the air it hung that she was dull razors
There was a sense of danger and pain surrounding her.
And I said, I wanna fill you up, I wanna break you, I wanna give you up
The artist desires to dominate and destroy the object of their affections.
From one another, another one should come to one another
The idea of replacement and cyclical relationships is introduced.
No one should come between us
The singer is possessive of their desired partner and dislikes any interference.
Still I was lonely, and she was by my side, my one and only
Despite being in a relationship, the artist still feels isolated and disconnected from their partner.
Knows that she could never hide
The artist believes they can see through their partner's façade and truly understand them.
I couldn't feel her, and it was just a game
The artist cannot truly connect with their partner and views their relationship as nothing more than a competition.
'Cause I was lonely and she was crazy
Both parties in the relationship have their own issues that prevent them from truly connecting with one another.
Rat-tat-tat, ka boom boom, now take that, and just a bit of this
The artist is ready to inflict pain and dominance over their partner.
'Cause I'm a watcher, and I'm a doer of none
The singer describes themselves as a passive observer who takes no action in their life.
Come to save you, 'cause you're all mine
The singer sees themselves as the savior of their partner and views them as their possession.
I hurt where I can't feel, I feel where I can't hurt
The singer is numb to emotional pain, but feels physical pain intensely.
I know where I can't know, I bleed for me and mine
The artist is aware of their limitations in knowledge but is fiercely protective of themselves and their loved ones.
Ka-boom, a rat-tat-tat, and some good ole bliss
The artist describes the violent and destructive nature of their desires.
'Cause I'm a sister, and I'm a motherfuck
The singer identifies themselves as both nurturing and vulgar.
I am made of shamrocks, I am made of stern stuff
The singer sees themselves as resilient and tough, even though they may seem delicate on the surface.
I am never enough, I am the forgotten child
The artist feels inadequate and neglected, as if they don't matter to the people around them.
And this is how Mary's garden grows, and this is how Mary has her ghosts
The artist references a nursery rhyme to suggest that Mary's problems are self-inflicted and haunt her.
And into the eyes of the jackal I say ka-boom
The artist is ready to face their enemies with violence and aggression.
Now we begin descent, to where we've never been
The singer and their partner are entering unknown and dangerous territory.
There is no going back, this wasn't meant to last
The artist is resigned to the fact that the relationship is doomed and cannot be salvaged.
This is a hell on earth, we are meant to serve
The singer believes that life is a test of endurance and suffering.
And she will never learn
The singer is frustrated that their partner will never truly understand them.
Bye bye, baby goodbye, bye, bye
The singer finally says goodbye to their partner, ending the dysfunctional relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind