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.
I Married Sonja
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this very treatment's beaten / this very world way's bush whacked
most bachelor uncles into marrying men
labor day 1930 / they darken dane pavilion
pushing reluctant millions / from innocents to tangle men
i shrine the good past / to polished perfect locket
i carry and stare into / wallow around in
while soon to be ghosts / and pretty tributes look in
back flast with thoughts of woman a trip sleep prayer for winning
don't look at me son / with my doings undone and my bushes bending
The Wrens's song "I Married Sonja" is a poignant meditation on the experience of growing older, and how our memories of the past can both comfort and haunt us as we approach the end of our lives. The opening lines of the song paint a vivid picture of the singer's world-weariness, as he describes himself as being "whipped down" and "whipped good" by the relentless march of time. He suggests that the world itself has become "bush-whacked," a reflection of the many challenges and hardships that he has seen over the years.
As the song progresses, the singer muses on the choices that he has made in life, and the ways in which he has been shaped by his upbringing and cultural background. He notes that many of his "bachelor uncles" were pushed into marriage by societal expectations and pressures, and suggests that he too may have felt compelled to follow a certain path in life. Yet despite this, the singer still cherishes the past, and carries with him a "polished perfect locket" of memories that he can't help but return to time and time again.
The final lines of the song are perhaps the most poignant, as the singer acknowledges the reality of his own mortality and the fact that he may soon be forgotten. He tells his son not to judge him too harshly for his mistakes and failings, reminding him that we are all flawed and imperfect in our own ways. Overall, "I Married Sonja" is a deeply moving meditation on the complex experiences of aging, memory, and mortality, and a powerful meditation on the human condition itself.
Line by Line Meaning
a rain of fast years and times whipped done me whipped good
I have endured many hardships and challenges throughout my life, which have shaped me into the person I am today.
this very treatment's beaten / this very world way's bush whacked
The harsh realities of life have taken a toll on me, leaving me feeling weary and beaten down.
most bachelor uncles into marrying men
Even those who have sworn off marriage and commitment can be persuaded or forced into it under the right circumstances.
labor day 1930 / they darken dane pavilion
I have vivid memories of a particular event in my past when the world around me seemed to change and become darker and more ominous.
pushing reluctant millions / from innocents to tangle men
The world can be a confusing and overwhelming place, and it can be easy to lose one's innocence and become entangled in its complexities.
i shrine the good past / to polished perfect locket
I hold onto memories of happier times, cherishing them like a precious keepsake that I can always turn to for comfort.
i carry and stare into / wallow around in
My memories are so vivid and powerful that I often find myself lost in them, reliving past experiences and emotions.
while soon to be ghosts / and pretty tributes look in
As I reflect on my past, I am aware of how much has been lost to time, and I am haunted by the memories of those who are no longer with me.
their wasted time turned
The passage of time can be both beautiful and tragic, as it inevitably leads to loss and change.
back flast with thoughts of woman a trip sleep prayer for winning
My past experiences with love and romance continue to shape my thoughts and emotions, and I often yearn for the type of connection and intimacy that only a special someone can provide.
don't look at me son / with my doings undone and my bushes bending
I feel as though I am not living up to my own expectations, and I am ashamed of the mistakes and shortcomings that I have accumulated over the years.
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.