Along with Let's Active, The dB's defined the Southern power pop/jangle pop… Read Full Bio ↴Along with Let's Active, The dB's defined the Southern power pop/jangle pop movement of the early to mid-80s. The band's music was a quirky blend of smart pop and psychedelia crossed with the more experimental side of new wave. Though they've never received widespread recognition outside of critical acclaim, they provided a key link between Big Star and 80s alternative acts such as R.E.M.. Their latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise.

Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey's legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB's released their debut single, "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know," b/w "If and When" for Stamey's Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early '70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band's early years.

The dB's were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings. Bearsville's internal problems doomed the album despite its obvious hit potential. They eventually left to sign with I.R.S. Records in 1987, where they released The Sound of Music. The album managed to break the Top 200 and college radio support was strong. The dB's received some crucial exposure when they opened for R.E.M. on their Document tour in the end of 1987, but by the end of 1988, the band decided to break up. In 1994, Paris Avenue, a collection of demos for the band's never-recorded fifth album, was released on Monkey Hill.

Holsapple and Stamey reunited in 1991 for a duo project, releasing Mavericks later that year. Mavericks was the only album the duo ever released (although they have been working sporadically on a followup in recent years). Following its release, Stamey continued with solo projects; he also continued to contribute to the Golden Palominos, work as a sideman for Bob Mould, and become an acclaimed producer for bands like Whiskeytown and Le Tigre and artists like Caitlin Cary. Holder went on to join the Wygals and worked as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Will Rigby released one solo album, Sidekick Phenomenon, in 1985, and a second, Paradoxaholic, in 2002. He also joined Steve Earle's band as drummer. Holsapple joined R.E.M. as an occasional touring member in 1991 and formed his own band, the Continental Drifters, with then-wife Susan Cowsill. He went on to serve as a sideman to Hootie and the Blowfish.

In late 2004, the original lineup of the dB's reformed. They have been playing occasional shows while working on a new album, and have released a couple of new songs through their web site, www.thedbs.com.

The band's latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise. For example, 'The Chicago Tribune' ran an article stating that he release "sounds like the work of a band still very much at the top of its game." 'Falling Off the Sky' was created by the group's classic line-up of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, and Will Rigby,

Happenstance
The dB's Lyrics

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Run back to your mother, tell her all the cruel things that I did
Comes as no surprise to her, I was never smooth enough for her kid
A mother knows what's best she said
A mother knows what's good
So run back to your mother, she always said you would

Happenstance we fell into an off-the-cuff vitriolic remark
All I ever wanted was to make you so damn happy

But the mother knows what's best she said
A mother knows what's right
So run back to your mother, out of mind out of sight

Think for yourself
Think it through
Don't let her live for you
Think for yourself
Think of me
Think of what I'm saying
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
And come back to me

When it happened, as it happened, it was the worst thing I've ever felt
Someday in your cul-de-sac you'll realize what it meant
A mother knows what's best she said
Your ballerina curls
So run back to your mother like a good little girl

Think for yourself
Think it through
Don't let her live for you
Think for yourself
Think of me
Think of what I'm saying
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
You'll come back to me

She walks into the room so late at night
Shuts the window, Luna bright
She brushes your arm and tucks you in
And plants a kiss
And wonders where in the where in the world you've been

Your mother knows what's best she said
A mother knows what's good
So run back to your mother, she always said you would
She always said you would

Think for yourself
Think it through
Don't let her live for you
Think for yourself
Think of me
We could be so happy
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
Think for yourself
You'll come back to me
You'll come back to me

You'll come right back to me
Forget your mother

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The dB's's song Happenstance tell a story of a failed relationship between two people, and the interference of one's mother in the relationship. The first stanza addresses the listener, telling them to go back to their mother and tell her about all the bad things the singer has done. It's clear that the mother has never approved of the singer and was never satisfied with their suitability as a partner for her child. The singer seems to accept this fact, saying that a mother always knows what's best and that the listener will inevitably go back to her.

The second stanza talks about the incident that led to the breakup - a vitriolic remark made in the heat of the moment. The singer expresses their desire to make the listener happy, but the mother's influence has won out once again. The third stanza pleads with the listener to think for themselves, to not let their mother live their lives for them. The singer wants the listener to come back to them, and emphasizes that they could be happy together if the listener just listens to their own thoughts.

The final stanza paints a picture of the listener's nightly routine with their mother. The mother tucks the listener in and wonders where they've been. The mother always said that the listener would come back to her, and despite the singer's efforts to appeal to the listener's own thoughts and feelings, the song ends with a defeated tone as the singer concedes to the mother's influence.

Overall, the song is a warning about the dangers of allowing a parent to control one's romantic life, and a plea for individuals to think for themselves rather than just do what their parents expect of them.

Line by Line Meaning

Run back to your mother, tell her all the cruel things that I did
Go back to your mother and complain about me, but it won't come as a surprise to her since I was never good enough for her child

Comes as no surprise to her, I was never smooth enough for her kid
Your mother knows that I was never good enough to be with you, and it's expected that I did something cruel

A mother knows what's best she said
Your mother believes that she always knows what's right for you

A mother knows what's good
Your mother has a good understanding of what's beneficial for you

So run back to your mother, she always said you would
Your mother always knew that you would come back to her, so go ahead and do it

Happenstance we fell into an off-the-cuff vitriolic remark
We said something cruel to each other without really meaning it

All I ever wanted was to make you so damn happy
I always wanted to make you happy, but it didn't work out

Think for yourself
You need to use your own judgement to make decisions that are right for you

Think it through
Take time to carefully consider your choices and their consequences

Don't let her live for you
Don't let your mother control your life to a point where you're not living for yourself

Think of me
Consider my words and thoughts

Think for yourself and come back to me
Think for yourself and decide to come back to me

When it happened, as it happened, it was the worst thing I've ever felt
The hurtful remark we made was the most painful thing I've ever experienced

Someday in your cul-de-sac you'll realize what it meant
You'll understand the meaning behind the hurtful remark someday

Your ballerina curls
A reference to your appearance as a child, and how your mother always valued your appearance over your feelings

She walks into the room so late at night / Shuts the window, Luna bright / She brushes your arm and tucks you in / And plants a kiss / And wonders where in the where in the world you've been
Your mother still acts like you're a child and cares for you, but she's also curious about your life now that you're grown up

You'll come back to me
Even if you go back to your mother, you'll eventually come back to me

We could be so happy
We have potential to be happy together if you make choices based on your own judgement

You'll come right back to me
You'll definitely come back to me as long as you think for yourself and don't let your mother control your life

Forget your mother
Stop letting your mother control your life and make decisions for you

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CHARLES STAMEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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