Despite the similarity in name to the British band The Verve, there is no relation between the two.
In 1992, working with producer/engineer Jon Frazer, they released their first album, I've Suffered a Head Injury, which featured an acoustic version of the band's calling-card hit, "The Freshmen." The original 10-song version of the CD is no longer available. A 7-song version, without the original recording of "The Freshmen" and two songs written by Stout, was later released as an EP.
The band, known for its energetic live performances, built strong followings during its early years, especially in the college towns of Kalamazoo and East Lansing.
In the fall of 1993, the band released a second album, Pop Smear again working with Frazer that helped them gain a devoted following in their native state of Michigan and their eventual signing with RCA Records in 1995. AJ Dunning replaced Stout on guitar for the recording of Pop Smear and remained in the band for their three RCA records. This album featured the popular tracks "Spoonful of Sugar" and "Victoria" among others. While Doug Corolla played on Pop Smear, he was not a full member of the band until 1994.
Their first major label release was 1996's Villains, which was a minor hit and launched two respectably-selling singles, first Photograph then the #1 hit The Freshmen. They came back with The Verve Pipe in 1999, with such tracks as "Supergig," "Generations" and "She Has Faces." The album, however, failed to contain the commercial appeal of its predecessor.
The band's final release for RCA Records was 2001's Underneath. The song "Colorful," from Underneath, was featured on the soundtrack of Rock Star. Underneath's release unfortunately coincided with the September 11th terroist attacks which contributed to the album's poor sales which led to the band being dropped from RCA.
On September 15, 2009, Brian Vander Ark announced on his Web site that the band would be releasing a new album called A Family Album in October, 2009. The band had been approached to contribute a song for an album called "Calling All Kids" which led to them creating an entire album of family friendly songs.
Lead singer Brian Vander Ark has also released four solo albums: 2003's Resurrection, 2006's Angel, Put Your Face On, 2008's self-titled release Brian Vander Ark and 2011's Magazine.
Since the release of Underneath, the band's line up has changed frequently with former members including Joel Ferguson, Dan Matheny and John Conners. The current line up is as follows:
* Brian Vander Ark – lead vocals, guitars
* Donny Brown – drums, background vocals
* Andy Reed – bass, background vocals
* Randy Sly – keyboards, background vocals
* Lou Musa - guitars, background vocals
* Craig Griffith - harmonica, background vocals
Cup of Tea
The Verve Pipe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ground's a little weathered where I stood
Right field in my neighborhood
I was mostly last, always least
Dig it
At graduation everyone
Will throw their hats into the sun
This is not my cup of tea
And Valerie
The winter won't be keeping her around
I'm nailing leaves to the ground
But it feels like sand underneath
Dig it
She's never letting me forget
I've always been an idiot
And at times like this I agree
This is not my cup of tea
Crash
In a wrinkle of steel we are gone
Will my last breath be a yawn?
Watching them sorting debris
This is not my cup of tea
The Verve Pipe's song "Cup Of Tea" is a reflection on the singer's feelings of being an outsider and not fitting in with those around him. The song opens with the singer visiting his old neighborhood and noticing how the ground has become weathered since he last stood in right field, where he was always the last and least chosen. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with a sense of disconnect and unease.
As the song progresses, the singer imagines a future where he has to participate in the ritual of throwing his hat into the sun at graduation, only to watch his peers "drop like flies to the sea." This metaphorical image suggests a loss of individuality and the pressures of conforming to societal norms. The singer then turns his attention to his relationship with Valerie, who reminds him that he has always been an idiot. Despite nailing leaves to the ground to try to control his environment, it feels like sand underneath, reinforcing the idea that he is unable to find a solid footing in the world around him.
The song ends with the singer contemplating his mortality, wondering if his last breath will be a yawn as he watches others sift through the debris of his life. The phrase "this is not my cup of tea" appears twice in the song, acting as a refrain that encapsulates the singer's sense of distance from the experiences of those around him.
Overall, "Cup Of Tea" is a melancholy exploration of the human condition and the struggle to find a sense of place and purpose in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm visiting
I am currently in a different place than I normally reside
The ground's a little weathered where I stood
The area I used to hang out in has changed since I was last there
Right field in my neighborhood
I used to play baseball in my local community in the position of right fielder
I was mostly last, always least
When playing sports, I was typically the worst player on the team
Dig it
I appreciate and identify with these memories
At graduation everyone
When I finish school, everyone will be celebrating
Will throw their hats into the sun
Traditionally, graduates throw their hats in the air as a sign of joy and accomplishment
Then they'll drop like flies to the sea
However, soon after the celebration, everyone will disperse and go their separate ways
This is not my cup of tea
I do not enjoy the idea of such a fleeting celebration and separation of friends
And Valerie
I am currently thinking about a woman named Valerie
The winter won't be keeping her around
Valerie is not planning on staying in our current location for the winter
I'm nailing leaves to the ground
I am trying to create a fall-like atmosphere by nailing leaves to the ground
But it feels like sand underneath
However, the ground is not suitable for holding the leaves in place
She's never letting me forget
Valerie constantly reminds me of all the times I have made mistakes
I've always been an idiot
I feel like I have consistently made poor decisions in my life
And at times like this I agree
In moments of introspection, I agree with Valerie's assessment of my character
This is not my cup of tea
I am not content with the state of my life and my relationships
Crash
There has been a sudden, violent impact
In a wrinkle of steel we are gone
In a car accident, we have been crushed by metal and left the scene
Will my last breath be a yawn?
I wonder if my death will be peaceful or painful
Watching them sorting debris
I am observing the aftermath of the car accident from a distance
This is not my cup of tea
The traumatic event of the car crash is not something that I find enjoyable or desirable
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: A.J. DUNNING, BRAD VANDER ARK, BRIAN VANDER ARK, DONNY BROWN, DOUG CORELLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@travismcneal6482
I'm visiting
The ground's a little weathered where I stood
Right field in my neighborhood
I was mostly last, always least
Dig it
At graduation everyone
Will throw their hats into the sun
Then they'll drop like flies to the sea
This is not my cup of tea
And Valerie
The winter won't be keeping her around
I'm nailing leaves to the ground
But it feels like sand underneath
Dig it
She's never letting me forget
I've always been an idiot
And at times like this I agree
This is not my cup of tea
Crash
In a wrinkle of steel we are gone
Will my last breath be a yawn?
Watching them sorting debris
This is not my cup of tea
@jacobmartinelli7496
...they make people worry about regards to make them bother for situations to haggle endurances to overwhelm with regarding concerns instead of considerations to be thrilled about haggling endurances to be more enabled about considerations or just to misunderstand...
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remember then remember not so involvedly then shift your focus of awareness to the present and figure what you'd figure about it (what you liked, what you shouldn't have stayed for, what you lacked or made you different than your hoped for ideal) for having learned to experience and understand similar situations differently.
like i didn't have an authentic sense of self in my involvements.
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whenever they don't listen and misunderstand, thrilledly enacting not enduring being like (you) or regarded like (you) or not, it means, "go away" (or "go away from," as though, "don't taint the idea of experiencing regarding" to not demotivate the activity or involvement, in extreme cases anyway,) because they don't want to be reminded of or reminded by you.
learn to not remind them without missing out on living and enjoying your own life and someday you won't seem like a nervous urge to bother for compromising.
"
learn to listen to the way you make people feel or remind them of feeling like.
"concern(ed) about because consider(ed) like(?)"
"
expressions of (or for) how they are, expressions of what they'd like to think about you and expressions of what they feel like.
@jacobmartinelli7496
they urge people by implying overwhelming them with and about bothersome regards that they'd (all, apparently,[ or all and apparently]) still be learning from to cause them to be involved with them as their persisting to misunderstand and impose would dictate to urge and settle as though like to elaborate an involvement that they were unsettled about.
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worried way into bothering for it instead of realizing being nervous about it (enough to find settle about it instead of potentially being helpless for it and change) to not elaborate being overwhelmed for and about enduring it as though being like.
if there's a lesson we can learn because of (or caused by) our reactions because of (or caused by) our actions (which effect or have effects,) we'd be trying to tell ourselves something (to not endure it or gain perspective to notice more to be open to. [if anything, that's the point of talking to people.])
i've been low, i got past both or all extremes before - it's advice.
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like they all say the same shit for the same damn reasons ("the things they say of") which is their way of saying what they're going to do to people or make people feel like because of being treated as though like.
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it took losing money to learn it.
investing:
if the price goes higher than the previous high during a phase of increased activity, buy, unless (because of not as frequent activity) you want to wait to buy at the next low, as long as the next low is remarkably (more than noticeably[?]) higher than the previous low, to buy with the buyers who also buy (to consider buying right when the price goes higher than the previous high as an alternative to just buying at the low [with the hopes that the buying activity will increase.])(buy at the low if activity isn't increasing [while not stagnant] to make money from the subsequently deescalating highs.)
sell when they start selling too much which consequently affects the amount and frequency that they'd buy.
↑
*also, does the trends equal persistence to keep the prices higher (or is it persisting to keep the hope unfulfillingly[?])?
↑
*if they've got the most sway (and the value should go up,) follow their lead. watch and wait.
↑if anything, it's something you can pick up on from there.
google "most active stocks." at least the 50¢-$1 range, though, as the less than a penny range is usually kicking the bucket.
@jacobmartinelli7496
2 variables of involving elaborations of regarding like - figuring being uncomfortable/insecure and being bothered
insecurity causing failure of achievements or accomplishments for the independant ego to thrive (by not justifying the letdown in ironic ways because of elaborating to regard it botheredly,) thrill about (comprehending or comprehension for) uninvolvement or not (enduring being burdened by pointlessness of compelling circumstances to endure being burdened by situations to comparably elaborate) being involved like (elaborating or elaboratingly because of regarding enablement for expressiveness of or about being bothered [by burdens of endurances,]) overwhelmed (bothered expressiveness because of or) by persistence for elaborating about, unsure about and because of heeding burdensomely overwhelming regards, (because of wanting circumstances to change to be more settling of, for and about enablement or learning to enable openness beyond dilemmas unless having endured for prolonged periods of time causing persisting [because of encouragements or persuasiveness of options of, for or about elaborating involvements like {interactively} regarding about interactive regards figured being overwhelmed by imposers imposing regards or regarding like to impose elaborating involvement like about] to endure or be burdened for instead of learning to change [because of {interactively learned and} figured availability of options that can compare to elaborate like regards regarded concurring elaborations of, for and about elaborating instead,] which would be discouraged by enduring endeavors to learn enablement for making those changes to be and experience and be involved differently)(which they'd misunderstand accordingly if their own elaborations figured don't, can't or are too burdened about other involvements or interactions to compare.)(or uninvolvedly comprehend and figure like and figure the elaborations with comparisons of elaborations about regarding to figure expressiveness and contentment to figure elaborations for fulfillment and compare elaborations to figure enablement which would enable outcomes of satisfaction accordingly unless expressiveness about and figureable persistence, causing enduring burdensome elaborations for regarding [or elaborating {besides expressiveness about bothersome endurances <though/?\,> also figure distortions <because> of overwhelming imposing<s> of bothers to endure being burdened instead of expressive about feeling bothered to an expressive extent while feeling burdened by enduring bothers}] accordingly [figuring insanity's vicious cycles and the enablement for tolerance enough to be open to regards that can compare to elaborate comparable changes.])
"...to find thrill of differing involvement('s elaborating circumstances because of typical reactions and associations that regard regards to enable like to find enablement from and beyond regards of involvements or interactions to find and figure involvement and involvements) that, and to, differ from enduring when regarding about..."
figure uninvolvement about when expressively regarding elaborations of regards that compare with bothersome regards that remind of expressing about burdensome imposings that urge to reenact to the extent of exhaustion of or about efforts to heed for being overwhelmed for involvements to reenact enduring elaborating enduring regarding discontenting regards because of elaborating (involvedly because of the out of place hopes) to find appreciation of or from contentment about (burdened) efforts to instead find settle about it to be able to figure it like or as though like something similar to an involvement or circumstance of interactive situations, uninvolvingly, to have an easier time (comparing figurable regards with elaborations of regards that cause appreciateable or enjoyable contentment to differ from elaborating regards that are bothersome because of enduring burdensome circumstances and that we'd be thrilled to differ from endeavoring for, instead allowing openness and enabling gratifying fulfillment to feel thrilled by appreciating contentment because of) making better choices.
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"...either you or them because i'm not taking 'no' for an answer about expressiveness for reenacting involvements like to feel different than (as though having made changes that could be mutually enjoyable [and can be thrilling to have figured and relateable about having been bothered for enduring the efforts to make changes])""i guess that would make you crazy, then."
@jacobmartinelli7496
simplified crazy notes:
like i worry my way into being bothered and get frustrated, if not overwhelmed, by my lack of choice and (causing expressiveness of or about endured regards/concurring because of persistence of elaborations of enduring) exhausted by inadequacy (because of not realizing uninvolvement enough to contrast comparisons that are associated with and associatable with concurring uninvolvement about elaborations of, for and, or just or, about enduring and because of the seemed potential for enduring involvements similarly [to instead elaborate concurrable enablements for potential concurrences that aren't overwhelmed by enduring]) for gratifying change.
like i worry my way into being bothered and get frustrated, if not overwhelmed, by my lack of choice and (causing expressiveness of or about endured regards/concurring because of persistence of elaborations of enduring) exhausted by inadequacy (because of not realizing uninvolvement enough to contrast comparisons that are associated with and associatable with concurring uninvolvement about elaborations of, for and, or just or, about enduring and because of the seemed potential for enduring involvements similarly) for gratifying change.
like i worry my way into being bothered and get frustrated, if not overwhelmed, by my lack of choice and exhausted by inadequacy for gratifying change.
and people seem to love haggling endurances about it. and they'd be thrilled about being more enabled than enduring.
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obviously don't bother people by being a reminder that seems to be as persistent as though like. don't justify it, neither. don't practically express the bad joke of having endured dissatisfaction because ("if," though - because of the misunderstanding about the scale of criticisms [and displacing or conveying self criticisms][so, self defeatism and criticisms]) of it seeming like they'd seem like they'd tolerate it.
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"what they figure about other people because what they figure about themselves or because of what they figure they'd do, themselves ('for some reason.')"
"what they figure about other people because what they figure about themselves or because of what they figure they'd do, themselves (for some reason.)"
commented on a youtube video "psychological mindtricks:"
letting them talk and listening for you both to understand what they don't want to feel like and what they do want to seem or feel like.
(all "comments on youtube" reference my own comments - i just didn't want to waste the flow of it and didn't want to retype it.)
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(meditation to get in touch with one'sself to understand and realize [because of contrasts between comparisons of encouragements while learning from endeavors endured.])
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"haggling endurances of the mind because of reminders of, or as though, (for figuring) 'who's enduring?' (to no avail because of changes not having been gratified enough to figure involvement differently.)"
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investing notes simplified:
buy when they can't sell no more and sell when they can't buy no more, based on the pace (of persistence or persisting [not "either way."])
if they weren't (or shouldn't have been) expecting much, they wouldn't have bought.
if the price is holding support for the highs and the lows aren't getting lower, the price shouldn't just suddenly drop.
if there's no reasonably assumed expectations for more buying don't buy, just sell. though, don't wait to buy if you are riding a trend up.
concurred lows and concurred highs means the highs won't go as high if the lows go as low, as though "the price will go lower." unless the price just can't go any lower, which could be different than the price just won't go any higher.
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don't "stalker on a stick" me, please.
@jacobmartinelli7496
i'll make realizing it painless:
""they urged being bothered about nervously heeding (imposings) to persist to overwhelm to reenact (being unsettled enough to want to change [and by elaborating expressive settle about circumstances of having endured being burdened about or by them and about concerning regards] instead of being bothered about enduring [being burdened to bother for persistant regards, retardingly.])"
(maybe don't follow them down their rabbit hole. they're bothered about or because of something and they'd figure you like some involvement contradicting efforts for enabling satisfaction about something enough to find expressive settle about it to change and make changes easier instead of being burdened by being bothered to the extent of being too overwhelmed to gratify fulfilling changes originally planned.)
"being urged to ([be overwhelmed to] nervously) heed to be bothered enough to reenact roles of regarding and choosing objectifying expressive settle accordingly ruined my authenticity of opinions and obviously intelligence (figuring comparisons of concerning elaborations about regarding choices objectifiably enough to contrast comparability of or about elaborating regarding and choosing similarly [which would be a satisfying thrill to not endure like.])"
they impose to redirect the shame because of being misunderstood and being bothered about inadequacy of being comprehended to feel more understood by them and not recognizing or comprehending feeling bothered by and about them.
stop nervously heeding things to reenact bothersome involvements/roles. notice and let change (to make and notice changes.)
(stop nervously heeding people because of being bothered about being imposed on to force compromises, by them overwhelming regarding considerations's elaborations for endeavors, according to their [expressive regards's] implications['s] elaborations for regarding accordingly to feel involved as though like to potentially be expressive about it because of undesirable changes in contrast to reenacting resemblable confidence from self enablement [for satisfaction which would or could be appreciatable to a settle about it as and since times change.])
(differentiate your memories from your routines [of heeding, being bothered about regarding etc] to see[/comprehend and elaborate about] how different things really are.)
they, i was like 5 back then, (specifics is 3 - when religion sent those vhs tapes to child predators) knew better than to be near kids and other people they were bothered about. if they didn't justify being angry about being bothered about circumstances maybe they would have realized to not even bother and been angry enough to be over it (, comprehend and or to be open enough to feel the hopelessness that they had imposed on others enough to be better than reenacting about the hopelessness they were imposing on themselves and others,) realize people and things changed enough to change right.
*i understand that people who had it better wouldn't understand because that's not something that they would have to figure out, however i also understand "don't bother me (or i'll keep figuring out how to tell you off)" which is like " listen -.""
humor:
overwhelmed by the (or an) elaboration's (expressively elaborating) persistence in a less coherent though relevantly expressed way/reenactingly because of expressively being overwhelmed/justifiedly(/"'it's that' - ...oh-' '-no-...""if 'that's' how they figure to make changes by disregarding potentially being nervous about heeding enduring being burdened about regarding regards like...- i'm not going to reenact with them, though") by or about regarding enduring being burdened about it enough to make changes imposedly to suppose like or not (, which would cause to feel sorry or nervous about.)
about as painless as finding your ego could be.
(that's it)
*they (them they) could keep eating the shit they keep eating for all i care.
@davekeiser4971
I turned my late brother on to Verve Pipe when he was in the hospital fighting cancer (the first time...wouldn't be the last). If you've ever been in the hospital for a long stretch, you know how boring it can be and how having some good music to lean into makes it go by easier. He became a huge Verve Pipe fan, as does anyone that gives them a listen (without having to associate them to The Freshmen and branding them a Pop band before they have listened). An amazing band that can rock your face off (think "Cup of Tea" or "The F Word" or deliver a heart-wrenching ballad (think "Half a Mind" or "Overboard"). My brother is no longer with us, but he lives in my heart, ears and memories whenever I listen to this band.
@Julie-ji3nj
Dave I adore this!
@kansascityonline
to our brothers! by blood or by spirit.. 'its the little things'.. ❣
@countreeUPMI
Death sucks.but,we are gonna be there at some time in life.the end.
Keep making memories,have fun!
@dquaidman
This whole album is a gift from the 90's. Just a great album from start to finish.
@DarkroomMedia007
I agree. My day at the office wasn't quite the same without blasting this song in my earbuds!
@mtnbk71
I still listen to it often, not a bad song on it
@charlesberndt8230
most folks too stupid to know what you just said 2 years ago lol
@patrickprafke4894
A. F***ing. Men.
@howardbianchi9371
Except "The Freshman"; terrible tune to have as a single. A true freshman or h.s. effort. Singer is Cobain before with-out the dissociative states (calm to insane and back...sometimes).
Grimaces should be kept to a minimum. cf. Jeff Buckley 3rd US w/ bandshow before departure for UK.