For each Swirling Eddies release, band members adopted pseudonyms for the liner notes; "Camarillo Eddy" (Terry Scott Taylor), "Berger Roy Al" (Tim Chandler), "Gene Pool" (Greg Flesch), "Arthur Fhardy" (Rob Watson), "Spot" (Jerry Chamberlain), "Hort Elvison" (David Raven) and, on later albums, "Prickly Disco" (Gene Eugene). These pseudonyms were dropped for their third album, Zoom Daddy.
The band released its debut album on Alarma Records in 1988 entitled Let's Spin!. 1989's Outdoor Elvis featured the band's first two radio hits, "Driving in England" and "Hide the Beer the Pastor's Here!". The title track included classic lines such as: "It's said he croons when the moon's above, singing tenderly 'Hunk of Burning Love.'" The band's documentary video, Spittle and Phlegm was released the following year.
The band's stage shows are rare and unusual, to say the least. Since the band was formed in the late 1980s, they have only performed about six or seven live concerts. In 1990, the band performed at The Cornerstone Festival in drag, belting out covers like "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar", The Animals' "We've Got To Get Out Of This Place", The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand", and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".
In 2004, the band began to work on their first album of original, new material in ten years entitled The midget, the speck and the molecule. The first new song to surface, a rough mix of "Giants in the Land," was made available in March of 2007 exclusively to people that preordered the album before it was finished. The recording sessions ended in May of 2007 and the album was released on July 23, 2007
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All The Way To Heaven
The Swirling Eddies Lyrics
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If you could get the girl to dance, she'll follow you all the way to heaven
And grab your heart through your sweaty chest
Clutch it to her longing breast
She'll go with you all the way to heaven
She's crying now, but tell me what she's crying for
She'll follow, too, but tell me who she's following
She thinks of your image as a stained-glass window
The lyrics to The Swirling Eddies's song All The Way To Heaven capture the absurdity of some religious ideologies that focus on external appearances and actions rather than internal values and beliefs. The opening line "Bibles dressed in spandex pants" paints a picture of religious zealots who focus on outward appearances rather than spiritual substance. The lyrics point out that some people are willing to do anything to gain the approval of others, including pretending to be someone they're not or engaging in behaviors that are contrary to their beliefs. The reference to a girl who will follow you all the way to heaven if you could get her to dance highlights the idea that some religious people are more concerned about being seen as righteous than actually practicing righteousness.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of leaders taking advantage of vulnerable individuals by manipulating their emotions and beliefs. The image of a girl crying and longing could be interpreted as someone who is lost and looking for guidance. However, the lyrics question who she is following and what she is longing for, suggesting that the person in question may be following the wrong leader or seeking fulfillment in the wrong places. The reference to an image as a stained-glass window suggests that some people have a distorted view of reality and are more concerned about appearances than substance.
Overall, the lyrics to All The Way To Heaven are a commentary on the dangers of focusing on external appearances and actions rather than internal values and beliefs. The song highlights the importance of being true to oneself and not allowing others to manipulate or take advantage of one's vulnerabilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Bibles dressed in spandex pants
The religious teachings have been transformed into something more flashy and provocative.
If you could get the girl to dance, she'll follow you all the way to heaven
If you can charm someone, they will do anything you want, even if it means following you blindly to the afterlife.
And grab your heart through your sweaty chest
She will take hold of your heart, even if it means reaching into your innermost being through physical exertion.
Clutch it to her longing breast
She will hold your heart close to her own, expressing a deep-seated desire for you and what you stand for.
She'll go with you all the way to heaven
She is willing to follow you until the very end of your journey, even if it leads to the great beyond.
She's crying now, but tell me what she's crying for
Despite her emotional display, it is unclear what is the cause of her tears.
She'll follow, too, but tell me who she's following
She is eager to follow someone, but it is unknown who that person or ideal may be.
She's longing, but tell me who she's longing for
She yearns for something or someone, but it is uncertain what or who it may be.
She thinks of your image as a stained-glass window
She views your image, persona, or ideology in a highly romanticized and idealized manner, as if it were a religious icon.
Contributed by Logan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.