The band received some media criticism for Jeff Martin's Jim Morisson-like stage persona in some of its videos and their Led Zeppelin-esq riffs, although he seemed determined to be striving to create his own image and sound. His looks certainly do draw some comparison, however, to The Doors' late front man.
Their sound is hard to categorize as each album possessed different themes and influences. Splendor Solis (1993) was a more acoustic, blues-based record, while Edges of Twilight (1995) was much darker with strong Middle Eastern influences on several tracks. Transmission (1997) saw a dramatic change to a darker, more industrial-tinged sound, and it was distributed in the USA by Atlantic Records. The last three albums by the band featured various efforts to attract a wider commercial audience, with the single "Heaven Coming Down" reaching No.1 on the Canadian mainstream charts in 1999.
In 2000, Capitol Records finally released a retrospective compilation in the USA of their Canadian singles entitled Tangents after only releasing their first two albums south of the border.
The Tea Party released The Interzone Mantras in 2001, but it did not possess the singles of its predecessors.
In October 2005, a year after their final album Seven Circles was released, Jeff Martin left the band and embarked on a solo career, releasing an album in early 2006. Jeff Burrows (drummer) and Stuart Chatwood (bass/synthesiser) have also had post-Tea Party successes, the former in several projects and the latter in soundtrack composition. Burrows and Chatwood worked together on a new project called The Art Decay before Burrows joined Crash Karma in 2008.
On April 12th 2011, an official Facebook page was launched with a biography section that closed with "The band is scheduled to play a select number of dates in 2011. No other info was available at this time." The following day, the local radio station K106.3 announced the Sarnia Bayfest lineup including The Tea Party, which was later confirmed by drummer Jeff Burrows on his radio show on April 13th. Burrows further stated that a Canadian tour was also in the works.
The Tea Party performed at the Cisco Systems Bluesfest in Ottawa, Ontario on July 14th, 2011, and the band will be playing a Canadian tour commencing on November 15th, 2011 in Vancouver. The band's website and tour is called "THE TEA PARTY - No Politics... Just Rock and Roll". In September 2011, the band was reportedly approached to sell its website URL for over a million dollars by the extremely popular American political movement bearing the same name: www.teaparty.com.
The River
The Tea Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without you my love, I want to return but then,
I see all my friends, they want me to join but then,
They all melt away, without you alone.
And the river's running through my veins.
Lately she don't seem the same.
And the blood keeps calling out my name.
I pass by the sins, left by a different man,
The tides brought them here, cast by a different hand.
And the wisps of the winds, blow with the Styx again.
Pushing me on, without you alone.
And the river's running through my veins.
Lately she don't seem the same.
And the blood keeps calling out my name.
And the river running down
And the river running down
And the river running down
And the river
My will must be strong, to rise with a different light.
My will must belong, I'm still pushing for different heights.
And the wisps of the winds blow with the Styx again.
The river runs red, and I'm left alone.
And the river's running through my veins.
Lately she don't seem the same.
And the blood keeps calling out my name.
And the river's running.
Help me baby
The Tea Party's "The River" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that speaks to the pain of loss and the struggle to find oneself after that loss. The lyrics describe a journey down the river Styx, a reference to Greek mythology and the belief that the river was the boundary between the living and the dead. The singer is journeying alone, without his love, and he sees his friends but they too fade away. The imagery of the Styx is powerful as it represents a journey into the underworld, a dark and ominous place that is not easy to navigate.
The river seems to be a metaphor for the pain of loss, with the singer feeling that the river is running through his veins. This is a powerful image that suggests a feeling of being overwhelmed by the pain of loss. The blood calling out his name is also a reminder of the pain he feels, a constant reminder of his loss. The sins left by a different man and the tides that brought them here suggest that others have also experienced loss and have left their own sins along the river. It is a reminder that the journey through grief is not an easy one and that there are many who have journeyed before.
The final verse suggests that the singer is determined to rise above his pain, to find a different light and push for different heights. This is a hopeful message, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a better future. The river running red is a powerful image, suggesting a river of blood, a reminder of the pain and suffering that has been endured.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing down, down the Styx again,
I am going through a difficult journey and facing obstacles once again.
Without you my love, I want to return but then,
I miss having support and love during this journey, but I cannot turn back now.
I see all my friends, they want me to join but then,
Others try to persuade me to take a different path, but I know I cannot follow them right now.
They all melt away, without you alone.
Those who try to influence me eventually give up and leave me to continue alone.
And the river's running through my veins.
The struggle and journey feel like a part of me and I cannot escape it.
Lately she don't seem the same.
Recently, the journey has felt different or harder than before.
And the blood keeps calling out my name.
The challenges keep reminding me of my identity, values, and goals.
I pass by the sins, left by a different man,
I see evidence of others' past mistakes or regrets in my surroundings.
The tides brought them here, cast by a different hand.
Factors beyond my control have played into the current situation.
And the wisps of the winds, blow with the Styx again.
I feel the powerful natural forces and dangers around me once more.
Pushing me on, without you alone.
I must keep moving through the challenges, despite the absence of support or comfort.
My will must be strong, to rise with a different light.
I need to summon inner strength and resilience to overcome the darkness and obstacles ahead.
My will must belong, I'm still pushing for different heights.
I must stick to my own goals and visions, even if they are unconventional or difficult to achieve.
The river runs red, and I'm left alone.
The journey is becoming more dangerous and intense, and I must face it without help.
And the river's running.
The struggle and journey continue without end.
Help me baby
This may be a plea for assistance or comfort, but ultimately the artist must rely on their own strength.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DARREN MULLIGAN, PATRICK MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wanderingstar9322
Born in '75, I grew up on my parents music which was mostly pop and rock from the 60's and 70's. At about 13 I started to gradually seek out my own music. Discovering The Tea Party came a few years later, they reminded me so much of my parents music while being cool and alternative in my generation. I was in awe of Jeff's musical ability. And I loved that I could share music with my Dad who later killed himself in 1996. So while most people remember their teen years fondly, they were extra special for me because they also take me back to when I still had my Dad to share my music with 🙂 ❤
@jewlchamp6844
Wow! What positivity during a heart felt time. Bless you and your father and may you be reunited when the time is right ❤️
@Shane-db5bc
God bless you
@brucetaylor8398
i was born in 75 too, i'm sorry about your big loss
@brucetaylor8398
my dad loved a lot of the music i played for him too, i the last 5 years of is life he lived with me, he was a guitar player that played lots of country music, but he seen and heard talent and gave it its credit we're credit is due, he passed away in october last year in 2020 at the age of 77. your story moved me brother
@tommyhoward7341
Amazing story may your dad Rest In Peace
@patterguitsit7124
2024! Still a rocker.
@davemader1707
Saw them in Halifax last Thursday probably for the 10th time. Absolutely stellar performance. Easily my favorite band. Psychopomp live is worth the ticket price alone!
@jimdomazetovski3335
I never forget watching the tea party at the St George sailing club in Sydney in 1998 when Jeff asked the whole crowd to sit on the floor for the show. It was like being at school
Also saw them in Sydney on there very first tour
What a band
@cindyshay7416
2023 here!!!