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
Underneath
The Verve Pipe Lyrics
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I surrender
CD cases broken in a desperate chance to find the perfect ballad
To move you
Fight with little purpose
Only meaning to scratch the surface
It's not pretty underneath
It's not pretty underneath
A bottle meant for two a glass that's full of legs but free of any fingerprints
From you
A neighbor one time pounding on the wall now lulled to sleep by lowered voices
Is waking
Fight with little purpose
Only meaning to scratch the surface
It's not pretty underneath
There among debris find casual in casualty
It's not pretty underneath
My eyes are on your hands I'm helpless when I'm looking at you
Be very very careful not to
Crack the seals of last year's arguments they don't hold a candle to the one
This year
A disagreement used to be a speed bump on a highway going eighty
Fight with little purpose...
The Verve Pipe’s song “Underneath” tells a story of desperation and emptiness that is covered up by a shallow veneer of contentment. The song begins with an image of crumpled tissues that fall like “soldiers dead determined” and the singer surrenders to the feeling of being overwhelmed. The need to find a perfect ballad, to move someone else, is demonstrated through the broken CD cases. The desperate actions are a way to cover up what is really happening underneath. The chorus emphasizes the idea that beneath the surface there is a lot of debris, and it’s not pretty. This is a metaphor for the emotional debris that accumulates when people hide their true feelings and don’t communicate honestly. The use of the phrase “casual in casualty” is meant to expose the idea that people can become accustomed to being hurt and it can become a routine.
Towards the end of the song, the narrative describes a bottle meant for two, an image that is supposed to evoke intimacy and connection, but it’s clear from the lack of fingerprints that it’s not being used. The only other sound in the room is a neighbor pounding on the wall, which may represent the sound of life passing by while the characters remain stuck in their rut. The chorus repeats the idea of the lack of purpose and how it’s not pretty underneath.
Overall, the song is a reminder that it’s easy to cover up one’s feelings and appear to be content on the surface, but it’s important to be honest and acknowledge the debris that accumulates underneath.
Line by Line Meaning
Among the crumpled tissues white like daisies fell like soldiers dead determined
The tissues scattered on the floor resemble fallen soldiers, indicating a desperate situation where the singer has given up
I surrender
The singer has given up and is now surrendering to the situation
CD cases broken in a desperate chance to find the perfect ballad
The singer is despairingly searching for a perfect song to convey their feelings, but they are breaking CDs in the process
To move you
The goal of the artist's search for a perfect song is to impress or resonate with someone else
Fight with little purpose
The artist is engaged in a conflict, but it lacks any meaningful reason or resolution
Only meaning to scratch the surface
The fight is superficial and serves only to cause surface-level damage
It's not pretty underneath
Beneath the surface, the situation or emotions are complex and ugly
There among debris find casual in casualty
Amidst the mess and damage, the artist finds acceptance in the idea of causality or inevitability
A bottle meant for two a glass that's full of legs but free of any fingerprints
The bottle meant for sharing is now being consumed alone, and the glass has traces of legs but no evidence of the other person's touch
From you
The absence of the other person is noted
A neighbor one time pounding on the wall now lulled to sleep by lowered voices
The singer's argument has become quieter, but it is still impacting those around them
Is waking
The neighbor has been stirred awake by the sound of the artist's conflict
My eyes are on your hands I'm helpless when I'm looking at you
The singer is deeply affected by the other person's actions or gestures, rendering them powerless
Be very very careful not to
The singer is giving a warning or instruction to the other person
Crack the seals of last year's arguments they don't hold a candle to the one
The singer is cautioning against opening old wounds and reminding the other person that their current conflict is more significant
This year
Emphasizing that the current conflict is very recent and therefore more pressing
A disagreement used to be a speed bump on a highway going eighty
The artist reflects on how minor disagreements were once inconsequential, but now they have become insurmountable obstacles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: A.J. DUNNING, BRIAN VANDER ARK, DONNY BROWN, DOUG CORELLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind