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
Kiss Me Idle
The Verve Pipe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
once a gift good-bye but now remind me to replace
hardened petals bang the dresser when they fall away
kiss me idle
kiss me without make-up, leave no marks upon my chest
kiss me for no other reason then to give your eyes a rest
kiss me slow and leave me lifeless, let this all digest
slowly, slowly, the longer it takes the better mistakes we end up stumbling on
i wouldn't want to leave upon your tongue a sour taste
leave it foiled and disappointed, wanting to be chased
a mouth that's open wide and speechless seems like such a waste
kiss me idle
one time lazy, another time dear, despite all your fears of outlasting my love
i can't afford the stubborn sleep on photographs of birthdays past
so close your eyes and catch your breath and i will wait right here
i tied my fingers to remind me to leave you every day
while my hair is growing white, the strings are turning gray
one by one they come undone until they fall away
kiss me idle kiss me idle
In The Verve Pipe's song Kiss Me Idle, the lyrics describe a wilted bouquet of roses in a dirty vase, reminding the singer of a past gift that has lost its significance. The hardened petals of the roses hit the dresser when they fall apart, adding to the sense of decay and neglect. Despite this bleak imagery, the chorus contains a plea from the singer to be kissed "idle," suggesting a desire for a moment of stillness and tranquility. The singer requests to be kissed without makeup, and for no other reason than to give their partner's eyes a break. The kissing should be slow and leave them feeling "lifeless," perhaps indicating a need to escape the pressures of everyday life.
The second verse talks about how mistakes are better when they happen slowly, implying that the singer would rather savor a moment of stillness and intimacy than rush through it. They want to be kissed in a way that won't leave a sour taste, but instead leave their partner wanting to be chased. The final verse talks about the reminder they've tied around their fingers to leave their partner every day, but they hesitate because they can't bear the thought of missing out on precious moments. The decay of the reminder string and the roses in the vase reflect the fleeting nature of time and the desire to hold onto moments of peace.
Overall, the song portrays a desire for stillness and intimacy amid the chaos and impermanence of life. The image of the wilted bouquet and the reminder string serve as powerful symbols for the fleeting nature of experience and the difficulty of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
roses dead in dirty water held up by the vase
The withered flowers in the vase represent a failed relationship kept alive by artificial means.
once a gift good-bye but now remind me to replace
The gift of the roses, given and received with love, is now a sad reminder of the past and the need to move on.
hardened petals bang the dresser when they fall away
The dried petals falling from the flowers make a noise when they hit the dresser, symbolizing the pain and trauma caused by a broken relationship.
kiss me idle
Despite the sadness, the singer wants to be kissed, even if it's just to pass time and take his mind off things.
kiss me without make-up, leave no marks upon my chest
The singer wants a pure and simple kiss, free of any ulterior motives or future expectations.
kiss me for no other reason then to give your eyes a rest
The kiss is a momentary escape from the troubles of reality, a way to find peace and comfort in each other's arms.
kiss me slow and leave me lifeless, let this all digest
The singer wants a slow, passionate kiss that takes his breath away, leaving him in a state of temporary bliss and forgetfulness.
slowly, slowly, the longer it takes the better mistakes we end up stumbling on
The slower the kiss, the deeper the connection, and the more the mistakes of the past can be forgotten and forgiven.
i wouldn't want to leave upon your tongue a sour taste
The singer wants the kiss to be sweet and pleasurable, not bitter or regretful.
leave it foiled and disappointed, wanting to be chased
If the kiss is bad, let it be a reminder that there is still more to be desired and achieved in the relationship, a reason to keep trying and pursuing each other.
a mouth that's open wide and speechless seems like such a waste
The singer wants the kiss to not only be physical but also emotional and meaningful, with words left unsaid.
one time lazy, another time dear, despite all your fears of outlasting my love
The singer is willing to adjust the intensity and frequency of the kiss to accommodate the partner's needs and concerns.
i can't afford the stubborn sleep on photographs of birthdays past
The singer doesn't want to dwell on the memories of the past and risk losing the opportunities of the present and future.
so close your eyes and catch your breath and i will wait right here
The singer is patient and understanding, willing to let the partner take a moment to compose himself/herself before continuing with the kiss.
i tied my fingers to remind me to leave you every day
The singer is struggling with the decision to let go of the relationship but is determined to do so for his own sake and that of his partner.
while my hair is growing white, the strings are turning gray
Time is passing, and the singer is growing old, but the strings around his fingers are a constant reminder of his commitment to moving on.
one by one they come undone until they fall away
The strings will eventually unravel, and the singer will finally be free from the burden of the past relationship and ready for a new one.
kiss me idle kiss me idle
The singer repeats his request for a kiss, emphasizing the importance of being idle and living in the moment, without worrying about the consequences or the future.
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