Forming in the wake of the early-'60s success of local favorites the Kingsmen and the Wailers (whose Etiquette label they recorded for), the Sonics combined classic Northwest-area teen band raunch with early English band grit (particularly influenced by the Kinks), relentless rhythmic drive, and unabashed '50s-style blues shouting for a combination that still makes their brand of rock & roll perhaps the raunchiest ever captured on wax.
Lead singer Gerry Roslie was no less than a white Little Richard, whose harrowing soul-screams were startling even to the Northwest teen audience, who liked their music powerful and driving with little regard to commercial subtleties. With hit after hit on the local charts (and influencing every local band that ever took the stage), the band inexplicably was never able to break out nationally, leaving its sound largely undiluted for mass consumption. Breaking up between 1966 and 1968 (after one ill-fated album attempt to water down their style for national attention), the Sonics continue today to be revered by '60s collectors the world over for their unique brand of rock & roll raunch.
In 2007, The Sonics reunited again, this time for the Cavestomp garage rock festival in Brooklyn (November 2-4, 2007). The line up featured original members Gerry Roslie on vocals/keyboards, Larry Parypa on guitar and Rob Lind on tenor sax; with Ricky Lynn Johnson (of The Wailers) on drums and Don Wilhelm (of The Daily Flash) on bass and vocals.
In 2008, The Sonics recorded a live session for Mark Lamarr's BBC Radio 2 show God's Jukebox on March 22. They played their first ever shows in London on Friday March 21 and Sunday March 23.
Since then, they have played the Primavera Festival in Barcelona, followed by Bilbao, then Belgium, Norway, and the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria in the Basque Country.
Their first show in their home region since their last Seattle reunion in 1972 was on Halloween 31 October 2008 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, where they were introduced and joined onstage for a couple numbers by Steven Van Zandt. Kent Morrill (front man of the Wailers) made a surprise appearance to help sing his signature song "Dirty Robber". Bob Bennett was also present to sit in on drums albeit only for a few songs and only while Ricky Lynn Johnson played in unison.
Cinderella
The Sonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would give you a kick
You'd rather have a dollar
Than a hug from your sis
You really fucked up this time
Your lady's really pissed
She's not just laughing
If you could give me anything
Would you consider a fist?
Don't give me yourr soul
It's caught in this abyss
Here's a pack of ciggies
Fresh from the wonderlust
A dream, a wish, a heart's desires
Cinderella is a kiss
A cold is gonna take you
And freeze away your tears
Hold me closer honey
You can be so near
Mind your heart aside you
Really got no sense of time
Ninety-nine inside you
That I'm scared if you were cryin'
If I could give you anything
I would give you a kick
You'd rather have a dollar
Than a hug from your sis
A cold is gonna take you
And freeze away your tears
Come a little closer honey
We can be so near
The Sonics's song Cinderella is a gritty and raw piece that explores the complexities of relationships and the struggles of life. The lyrics deal with themes of anger, disappointment, and the tension that can arise between people. The opening lines "If I could give you anything, I would give you a kick" sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's a violent image, but it's not meant to be taken literally. Instead, it's a reflection of anger and frustration. The singer is angry with someone and wishes he could do something to express that anger.
The second verse is equally intense. The line "Your lady's really pissed, she's not just laughing, she's polishing her fist" is an excellent example of the song's imagery. It paints a vivid picture of a woman who is both angry and ready to fight. The chorus then flips the script, with the singer asking what he would be given if he could have anything. He's told, "Don't give me your soul, it's caught in this abyss." The lyrics suggest that the person he's angry with doesn't have anything to offer him.
The final verse sees the singer offering a pack of cigarettes and a kiss as potential gifts. The line "A cold is gonna take you, and freeze away your tears" is a poignant one that speaks to the inevitability of sadness in life. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer and his subject coming together in a moment of closeness.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could give you anything
If I had the power to give you any present
I would give you a kick
I would be tempted to harm you
You'd rather have a dollar
You value money more than human interaction or emotion
Than a hug from your sis
Even a gesture of familial love and affection is not as desirable to you as monetary gain
You really fucked up this time
You have made a serious mistake
Your lady's really pissed
The woman in your life is truly angry
She's not just laughing
Her reaction is not simply amusement
She's polishing her fist
She is preparing to physically harm you
If you could give me anything
If you had a gift to give me
Would you consider a fist?
Are you suggesting violence as a present?
Don't give me your soul
Do not offer me your innermost being
It's caught in this abyss
It is trapped in a dark and inaccessible place
Here's a pack of ciggies
I offer you a pack of cigarettes
Fresh from the wonderlust
New and able to provide a sense of escape
A dream, a wish, a heart's desires
Something that fulfills one's deepest longings
Cinderella is a kiss
A kiss has the power to change one's life, as it did for Cinderella in the fairy tale
A cold is gonna take you
You are going to fall ill with a cold
And freeze away your tears
The cold will cause you to produce tears that will then freeze
Hold me closer honey
Draw nearer to me, my sweet
You can be so near
We can experience closeness and intimacy
Mind your heart aside you
Remove your emotional attachment from the situation
Really got no sense of time
Are not aware of the importance of time
Ninety-nine inside you
You are filled with anxiety or negative feelings
That I'm scared if you were cryin'
I am fearful of how you will react if you start crying
Come a little closer honey
Move nearer to me, my sweet
We can be so near
We have the potential to experience closeness and intimacy
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KIM GORDON, LEE M. RANALDO, STEVEN JAY SHELLEY, THURSTON JOSEPH MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JustAFocus
This stuff is like a billion times better than anything that's on the charts these days.
Cav
I like today's music mostly only because of the beat. But I feel more happy and I feel like dancing with old music.
Puzzy Lipz
True the mainstream is shit, thank fuck garage music like this is making a comeback
CYCOlogist
Puzzy Lipz, Luckily there's a lot of good stuff out there that Is NOT mainstream and many avenues to discover it.
CYCOlogist
Real music fans don't pay attention to the "charts" anyway. There is a lot of good under the radar stuff out there. Also, The Sonics as great as they were/still are were not really know outside of where they were from.
Garluth
Welcome to the Club...
Malika Régis
What a shock! Such a punk energy in the 60's.Amazing tune!
moparmissile
+Malika Régis Yeah they call it garage punk.
SaveTheWorldRadio
moparmissile no they don’t
SS PP
DiamondJoe Or go listen to Vivaldi or Stravinsky, who were somewhat “wild” in their times too.