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.
Ruth / Learned In Space
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
these kisses at your throat
ask is Ruth in there
safe grade school winter warm
glue smell and tracing hands
make leaves and more leaves
there is an infinite of burns
finding David in the ferns
seamless in Spanish pants
just three years later
from underneath the sand
with roots and bugs in hand
she chews and listens
happens heck as into hell
and a sex that calls to Christ to help
It's an animal it's a god
she moves through the well dressed dancing couples
alone but not bothered by it
and totally involved with her fruit
no one asks her to dance even though it's supposed to be her party
and the boysies find her total and slowish
spinning past as the firsting finish last by done
1:30 and I'm hungry of noon and a luncheon of ruthie
1:50 as I'm dreaming a June and a garden of bursting
It's 1950 over again where is my fresh diner daisy?
I've got a second land wife she is my something to give to them
I'll bury her in the weeds it looks like a safe place to me
wonder where I put my wings this time I've left them around
It's breathing It's scratching It's my baby where am I going to
and stepping on the roof are the sexless and aged show girls
I find myself becoming aroused by white thigh girls with the know
alive for now with others to spare bless my head
a few days ago I had vertigo seizure they're taking my insides
I'm dying I may be calling out for the year
on an alien came a sign of what was
everything I've ever learnt I learned in space
The song "Ruth / Learned in Space" by The Wrens is a complex and fragmented narrative that includes multiple perspectives and experiences. The first verse describes a moment of intimacy between the singer and someone named Ruth; the second verse jumps, through associative leaps, to memories of a childhood classroom; the third verse introduces a character named David and a setting in Juarez, Mexico; the fourth verse shifts to a scene at a party where Ruth is struggling to connect with others; and the fifth verse concludes with surreal imagery of show girls and a sense of impending death.
The lyrics are rich in sensory details and emotional complexity, but resist easy interpretation or coherence. The song seems to be exploring themes of memory, identity, connection, and mortality, but leaves many questions and uncertainties for the listener to engage with. The recurring phrase "everything I've ever learned I learned in space" suggests a sense of dislocation or detachment from reality, as well as a desire for escape or transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
oh Ruth untie the boat
Addressing Ruth to untie the boat they are in, possibly in a dream-like state.
these kisses at your throat
Describing the intimacy between the singer and Ruth, with mention of her neck.
ask is Ruth in there
Questioning if the person they are speaking to is Ruth, unsure of their surroundings.
safe grade school winter warm
Recalling a memory of safety and warmth in the winter at grade school.
glue smell and tracing hands
Remembering the smell of glue and the feeling of tracing hands.
make leaves and more leaves
Describing the act of creating leaves and more leaves.
there is an infinite of burns
Noting the endless amount of burns.
finding David in the ferns
Recalling a memory of finding David in the ferns.
my stars it's juarez Mexico
Expressing surprise at being in Juarez, Mexico.
seamless in Spanish pants
Noting how comfortable and familiar the artist is in Spanish-style pants.
just three years later
Noting the passing of three years.
from underneath the sand
Describing the scene of someone emerging from underneath the sand.
with roots and bugs in hand
Noting the presence of roots and bugs in the person's hand as they emerge from the sand.
she chews and listens
Describing a woman chewing while listening to something.
happens heck as into hell
Describing a chaotic and unsettling situation, possibly involving the woman from the previous line.
and a sex that calls to Christ to help
Describing a sexual experience that may involve religious undertones.
It's an animal it's a god
Describing a being that seems to be both an animal and a god.
she moves through the well dressed dancing couples
Describing a woman moving past dancing couples, dressed elegantly.
alone but not bothered by it
Noting the woman is alone but content with her situation.
and totally involved with her fruit
Noting the woman is fully consumed by her fruit, possibly metaphorical.
no one asks her to dance even though it's supposed to be her party
Noting the irony of it being the woman's party but no one wanting to dance with her.
and the boysies find her total and slowish
Noting that boys seem to find the woman attractive, but still slow-moving.
spinning past as the firsting finish last by done
Describing a spinning motion as things come to an end.
1:30 and I'm hungry of noon and a luncheon of ruthie
Recalling a time of hunger and lunch with someone named Ruthie.
1:50 as I'm dreaming a June and a garden of bursting
Describing a dream of June and a garden full of life.
It's 1950 over again where is my fresh diner daisy?
Recalling a time in 1950 and questioning the whereabouts of someone named Daisy.
I've got a second land wife she is my something to give to them
Noting the existence of a second wife, perhaps symbolic.
I'll bury her in the weeds it looks like a safe place to me
Deciding to bury the second wife in the weeds, analyzing a safe location.
wonder where I put my wings this time I've left them around
Forgetting where the artist placed their wings, which may be symbolic.
It's breathing It's scratching It's my baby where am I going to
Noticing that something is breathing and scratching, possibly related to a child or offspring.
and stepping on the roof are the sexless and aged show girls
Describing the scene of sexless and aged show girls on the roof.
I find myself becoming aroused by white thigh girls with the know
Admitting to arousal from white thigh girls who seem knowledgeable.
alive for now with others to spare bless my head
Feeling alive and thankful, with others around to help.
a few days ago I had vertigo seizure they're taking my insides
Recalling a recent vertigo seizure and the feeling of being taken apart.
I'm dying I may be calling out for the year
Acknowledging the possibility of dying and calling out for a year.
on an alien came a sign of what was
Describing the appearance of an alien with a sign of something.
everything I've ever learnt I learned in space
Stating that everything the singer has learned has been from space.
Contributed by Brayden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.