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.
Counted on Sweetness
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lived to 35 but died at 17
It took an hour or so to reach the border as planned
A few miles from here i would never know
I'll confess what i've done in time
Lived through worse and never cared for anyone
They never seemed to mind for me
I left before they ever knew that i was gone
Tied up in foolish news waiting for a view
All the time i've been waiting by them
Look at them they can't find me
In walked the left to lose / chained down to please a few
I wonder who they'll choose / i wonder who
In whispered to my ear, "what will you do until then"
Dream all you want me dear it's a fitting an end.
The Wrens's song "Counted on Sweetness" is a melancholic reflection on life, death and missed opportunities. The opening lines, "i was born too soon" is how my grave will read / Lived to 35 but died at 17" presents an unsettling paradox that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer seems to have lived his life in a hurry, cutting it short in the prime of his youth. The next line, "It took an hour or so to reach the border as planned / A few miles from here i would never know" implies that he may have taken his own life, planning his exit and avoiding detection.
The chorus, "It's the facts blood knows laid out in front of you / Tied up in foolish news waiting for a view / All the time i've been waiting by them / Look at them they can't find me" suggests that the singer had a complicated relationship with his family and/or the media. He feels boxed in by their expectations and wants to escape their scrutiny. However, he also seems to want to be recognized and appreciated for who he is. This duality is observed in the lines, "I'll confess what i've done in time / Lived through worse and never cared for anyone / They never seemed to mind for me / I left before they ever knew that i was gone". The singer wants to be remembered, but on his own terms.
The final verse is poignant in its simplicity. "In walked the left to lose / chained down to please a few / I wonder who they'll choose / i wonder who" hints at the singer's regret at not being able to do more with his life. The line "In whispered to my ear, 'what will you do until then' / Dream all you want me dear it's a fitting an end" is a haunting reminder that we are all mortal and that death is inevitable. The singer's life may have been cut short, but his dreams are still alive.
Line by Line Meaning
i was born too soon
My grave will read that I died young, before I could fully experience life
Lived to 35 but died at 17
I may have lived to 35, but my soul died at the age of 17
It took an hour or so to reach the border as planned
I had a plan to leave and it took me about an hour to execute it
A few miles from here i would never know
Once I leave this place, I'll never know what will happen to it or the people in it
I'll confess what i've done in time
I will eventually come clean about my wrongdoings
Lived through worse and never cared for anyone
I've endured difficult situations before, and have never been concerned with anyone else's well-being
They never seemed to mind for me
Nobody ever showed any genuine concern for me
I left before they ever knew that i was gone
I left without anyone noticing or caring that I was gone
It's the facts blood knows laid out in front of you
The truth is apparent and undeniable, as it is ingrained in our blood and DNA
Tied up in foolish news waiting for a view
I'm being held back by meaningless distractions and waiting for a new perspective
All the time i've been waiting by them
I've been waiting for a significant amount of time with no progress or change occurring
Look at them they can't find me
Despite being physically present, those around me are emotionally distant and oblivious to my struggles
In walked the left to lose / chained down to please a few
The people who are left behind are sacrificing their freedom to satisfy the desires of a select few
I wonder who they'll choose / i wonder who
I'm curious as to who will be chosen or left behind
In whispered to my ear, "what will you do until then"
Someone whispered to me, asking what I will do in the meantime
Dream all you want me dear it's a fitting an end.
You can dream all you want, but death is a logical and fitting end to life
Contributed by Avery F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.