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.
Everyone Choose Sides
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a year in the meadowlands
bored and rural-poor, lord, at 35, right?
I'm the best 17 year old ever
worked these sands
I won't go back again
quitter quitter one boy bitter - rough luck
we're losing sand!
a wrens' ditch battle plan
record after record black and deckered tack! tack!
definition: hell and high water
fatty come a courtin' lord the money!
everyone choose sides
the whole to-do of what to do for money
everyone choose sides
poorer or not this year and hell's the difference
everyone sell lies
everyone choose sides
let's talk plans
and luck said, 'double damned'
were you give women worth winning or what?
a wasted share of shots at high-tide heaven'
greener grasses fade from where you wind up
everyone choose sides
I'm back! I'm back! So sing to raise the blind up
I've walked away from more than you imagine and I sleep just fine
we fought and brought up more - the shovels high up
on the 10-ton line
The lyrics to The Wrens's song Everyone Choose Sides are packed full of imagery and cleverly crafted phrases that hint at feelings of frustration, resentment, and loneliness. The opening lines suggest a sense of dissatisfaction with one's station in life - someone stuck making a mere 13 grand a year in the rural Meadowlands area, feeling "bored and rural-poor" at the age of 35. However, there's a twist to this story: the singer believes they are "the best 17 year old ever," indicating that they may have peaked early or feel that life has passed them by. The mention of "quitter quitter" and "one boy bitter" suggests that the singer may have been forced to give up on their dreams or abandon some important goal.
The song shifts gears with the line "we're losing sand," which could be a metaphor for losing one's grip on life, one's sense of identity, or the steady ground beneath one's feet. The phrase "wrens' ditch battle plan" could refer to the band's struggles to be noticed and taken seriously in the music industry, while "black and deckered tack! tack!" may allude to the sense of futility or repetition of trying to make it in a tough business. The chorus repeats the phrase "everyone choose sides" multiple times, highlighting the idea that life is a series of choices between good and bad, rich and poor, success and failure. The final stanza contains some defiant lines about walking away from more than anyone could imagine and fighting hard ("the shovels high up on the 10-ton line") to achieve some kind of victory, despite the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
13 grand
Only earning 13 thousand dollars a year
a year in the meadowlands
Living in a rural, unexciting area
bored and rural-poor, lord, at 35, right?
Feeling unfulfilled and financially unstable at an older age
I'm the best 17 year old ever
Feeling confident in one's youth and potential
worked these sands
Put in hard work and effort
I won't go back again
Refusing to return to a place or situation
quitter quitter one boy bitter - rough luck
Being labeled a quitter and feeling bitter about misfortune
man to man hand to hand fight 40
A tough fight or struggle
we're losing sand!
Facing defeat or loss
a wrens' ditch battle plan
Using creative thinking and unconventional methods to win
record after record black and deckered tack! tack!
Working tirelessly to produce music, even in difficult circumstances
definition: hell and high water
A difficult or challenging situation
fatty come a courtin' lord the money!
Pursuing a sense of security and financial stability
everyone choose sides
Forcing a decision or choice to be made
the whole to-do of what to do for money
The struggle of trying to find ways to earn a living
poorer or not this year and hell's the difference
The small difference between being poor and not, and the struggle that comes with it
everyone sell lies
People telling falsehoods to get what they want
let's talk plans
Discussing strategies and ideas
and luck said, 'double damned'
Feeling as though luck has been against you
were you give women worth winning or what?
Questioning one's value as a partner
a wasted share of shots at high-tide heaven'
Feeling as though success has been elusive
greener grasses fade from where you wind up
The things you thought would be better turn out to be disappointing
I'm back! I'm back! So sing to raise the blind up
Returning and feeling triumphant and empowered
I've walked away from more than you imagine and I sleep just fine
Having put many things behind you and being content with your choices
we fought and brought up more - the shovels high up on the 10-ton line
Working hard and persevering through challenges to achieve success
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Claire Mikaelson
Thirteen grand
A year in the Meadowlands
Bored and rural-poor, Lord, at 35, right?
I am the best seventeen-year-old ever
I've worked these sands
I won't go back again
Quitter, quitter, one boy bitter - rough luck
Man to man, hand to hand, fight forty
We're losing sand!
A Wrens' ditch battle plan
Record after record, Black and Decker-ed, tack, tack!
Definition: hell and high water
Fatty come a courting, Lord, the money!
Everyone choose sides
The whole to-do of what to do for money
Everyone choose sides
Poorer or not this year and hell's the difference
End of ropes and lines
Everyone choose sides
From a house damned
To divorce and back again
Split my off days and holidays and days done
With a card to Dad and calls to "Hi, Momma"
Let's talk plans
And luck said, "Double damned
Were you give the women worth winning or what?
A wasted share of shots at high-tide heaven"
Greener grasses fade from where you wind up
Everyone choose sides
I'm back! I'm back! So sing to raise the blind up
Everyone choose sides
I've walked away from more than you imagine
And I sleep just fine
We fought and brought up more
The shovel's high up on the ten-ton line
Everyone choose sides
MushroomKingdom Guitar
12 year old me would have found this song 'catchy, but not hard enough'. 14 year old would say that this isn't as 'deep' as Radiohead, or as 'hard to play' as a Pink Floyd song. 17 year old me would have said it was slightly generic, and wasn't doing anything 'new'. But I've never been more sure in my life. The Wrens are the band I have been looking for. They are that perfect blend of MUSIC. Not pretentious, and not excluding. Cont.
Crocuta Speckly
Che?
eggsngrits
The Wrens are very underrated, yes. This record may be one of the best ever, yet no one knows about it. How can this stay so far under the radar? It baffles me.
M Neugent
I do. I did then and I still believe it!
Joshua Jones
Because right when they should've blown up, it seemed at least to me that they actually DID have to choose a side and then they all went and focused on jobs so they didn't drown in debt. They just didn't blow up in time and had to make a decision that music couldn't be the main focus in their lives or at least that's what it seemed like to me from a fan's perspective.
Knead Music
Because they're singing in a submarine!
MushroomKingdom Guitar
The Wrens are the greatest band of all time. This is my conclusion after many, many, many bands, and many phases, including Classic Rock, Heavy Metal, Nu-Rock, Prog Rock, Jazz and Blues, Any new emo/screamo stuff coming out, Alt Rock, Pop Rock, 'New Age' Rock, and everything that has been categorized. It's not just about crazy guitar solos, or fast 'emotional' guitar solos, or hitting the highest notes, or being 'different' or 'unique' and 'paving new ground'. Cont.
tannerin
These guys and Built to Spill were my gateway drug into indie rock from pop punk
Jim Williams
this band rules.
MushroomKingdom Guitar
Not too much hardcore stuff, and no overemphasis on a crazy singer, or an unreal drummer, or a guitarist that you just HAVE TO SEE. As a band, they are simply that catchy, energetic, 'more under the surface', powerful, and accessible musical release that every band should be. Every song is different, but they all hit those highs. I'm trying to take their songs in one by one, because the next one keeps blowing me away. There's no 'one hit' that defines these guys. This is music.