The Wrens are known for their explosive stage presence, despite each member being well past 35, and are steadily gaining a fanbase across the world. Their debut album, "Silver", was released in 1994 to a moderate degree of critical acclaim. However, it was their second LP, "Secaucus" (named in reference to the town in New Jersey where they resided), that established them as one of the top bands on the indie rock scene. Both of these albums were released on the now defunct Grass Records label.
After the release of "Secaucus", Grass Records came under new ownership, who decided to make The Wrens the flagship band of the label. After the band turned down a million-dollar contract stipulating that the band record more "radio friendly" songs, The Wrens were dropped by Grass Records. "Silver" and "Secaucus" were only recently reissued in 2006 after years out of circulation because of this.
Hindered by their label issues through much of the 1990s, the Wrens managed only to release one EP, "Abbott 1135", in 1997 under the label Ten23 Records. The band's third full-length album, "The Meadowlands", finally surfaced in late 2003 (seven years after the release of "Secaucus") under Absolutely Kosher Records to enormous critical acclaim, topping critics' polls for the following two years and suddenly jump-starting an otherwise plateauing career.
The Wrens are currently being filmed for a documentary by the production company Little Quill, and are working on another LP and a re-recording of Abbott 1135.
There are other artists with the same name:
2) The Wrens were a doo-wop and R&B band from the Morrisania section of the Bronx in New York City. They are best-known for their song "Come Back My Love."
The Wrens first started singing together in 1954 and were comprised of lead singer Bobby Mansfield, George Magnezid (tenor), Francis "Frenchie" Concepcion (tenor), and James "Archie" Archer (bass). They admired the artists such as the Clovers, the Ravens, the Orioles, the Mills Brothers, Nat King Cole and Louis Jordan.
The Wrens were known best for their smooth, elegant harmony singing, and had a somewhat harder R&B edge than many similar groups at the time. Unfortunately, only six singles were offically released before Bobby Mansfield left the group in 1956 for a solo career. The Wrens were inducted into the United Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame in 1998.
3) The Wrens are also a french indie folk band.
4.) The Wrens are also a family of birds, which may be scrobbled by those listening to recordings of bird songs.
Adanoi
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That everyone is asleep inside a church
It's a social setting let it erase
Stick it to the skin take a spike
Here's an eye hole through the wrists
"melech halom ba ray pre ha goffen adanoi"
Take all the doubts wear the ideas
Call it a faith and it's the finest sunken show you're in
I'll take you where you want to be my son
Murray passed out five miles from the border
The lyrics of "Adanoi" by The Wrens present a complex mixture of themes that require a bit of analysis to understand. The song starts by stating that "everyone is asleep inside a church," which could be interpreted metaphorically to suggest that people are complacent regarding their faith and beliefs. The following lines then describe a person who is trying to escape this dull state of mind by using different tactics, such as erasing his/ her past, getting tattoos ("stick it to the skin, take a spike"), and seeking a spiritual connection ("melech halom ba ray pre ha goffen adanoi").
The lyrics then turn introspective, with the singer acknowledging his/her own doubts but also recognizing that wearing ideas like a garment ("take all the doubts, wear the ideas") can be a form of faith. The song's final lines reveal a shift in perspective, with the singer asserting himself/herself as a leader ("I'll head the concept so kiss my behind") and offering guidance to someone else ("I'll take you where you want to be my son"). The final line ("Murray passed out five miles from the border") adds an odd, almost surreal touch to the song, as if to suggest that the journey described in the song had a dark or unexpected ending.
Overall, "Adanoi" presents a thematic arc that moves from trying to escape conformity and boredom to embracing a more individualistic worldview. It highlights the tension between conformity and faith, the search for meaning and spirituality, and the need to find one's own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You ought to know
Listen carefully and pay attention
That everyone is asleep inside a church
People are blindly conforming to societal norms and not thinking for themselves
It's a social setting let it erase
The church is just another social construct that people follow without thinking
Stick it to the skin take a spike
Question authority and challenge the established norms
Here's an eye hole through the wrists
A symbolic reference to the crucifixion of Jesus and the need to question the religious narrative
"melech halom ba ray pre ha goffen adanoi"
A Hebrew phrase that means 'the king is coming, the fruit of the vine belongs to my lord', implying a sense of false prophecy and misplaced faith
Take all the doubts wear the ideas
Believe in your own ideas and don't let anyone else convince you otherwise
Call it a faith and it's the finest sunken show you're in
Religion is just a show and people are blindly participating in it
I'll head the concept so kiss my behind
I will lead the way and you can either follow or get out of the way
I'll take you where you want to be my son
I will guide and support you in your own journey of self-discovery
Murray passed out five miles from the border
An unrelated and random statement, possibly to emphasize the disconnected and meaningless nature of life
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.