Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. In 1996, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis, prior to which performance, so the legend goes, Third Eye Blind was warned that the crowd might throw food at them. As it turned out, however, they were invited out for an encore, even after Oasis had already played, bringing Liam Gallagher to tears and sparking the friendly rivalry that would form between the two bands. The band was paid double what they were promised for the gig. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, in which they settled on Elektra because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom. Stephan Jenkins' outspoken behavior after signing the deal earned him the title of "the biggest mouth in music" by many critics. Jenkins has spoken out many times against several different artists, including a heated feud with Rob Thomas of the band Matchbox Twenty.
A fourth album, tentatively titled Ursa Major, was released August 2009. Shortly after the band has slated the release of a follow-up album, Ursa Minor. Only Jenkins' lyrics and vocals are left to be finished; all instrumental work is reportedly complete. Recent live performances have revealed a majority of the new tracks being worked on, including "Don't Believe a Word," "Lay Back (and the Water Will Hold You)," "In the Skin," "Summer Town," "Second Born," "(You Really) Don't Like Me Now" aka "Campfire," "Monotov's Private Opera," "Break Me," "Stevie Ray Vaughan," "Red Star," and "Standing Up For You." Other tracks mentioned for the album by Fredianelli are "Away," "A Sharp Knife," "Captain of Emo," "Swimming," and "Jesse 2k." He also confirmed that "Lay Back" was scrapped. A number of previously unreleased recordings were made available, including "Persephone," "Carnival Barker" (an instrumental), and numerous instrumental sessions declined by Jenkins for inclusion on the fourth album.
An Ode to Maybe
Third Eye Blind Lyrics
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And I'm staring at you pulling clothes from a dryer
And I'm wondering how I got here
But it seems some how I keep getting stuck in the mire
I needed this more than you I knew
And I let you down and I said I'm sorry
But the light that falls on my castle walls
And my basketballs pelt me with bricks in my dreams
Oh, maybe
What you need I hope it finds you
Oh, I might
I might be
Well, maybe
Maybe someday you'll get it right
If I could bottle my hopes in a store bought scent
They'd be nutmeg peach and they'd pay the rent
And I'd ride a horse, and I'd teach a course
On how I got to be a star crossed pimp
Tonight
Oh, maybe
What you need I hope it finds you
Oh, I might
I might be
Well, maybe
Maybe someday you'll get it right
The lyrics of An Ode to Maybe by Third Eye Blind tells the story of a man who is lost in life, wondering how he ended up at a laundry mat and admiring a woman who is also there. He admits that he needs something more than she does and regrets letting her down, apologizing for his actions. The following lines describe the light falling on his castle walls and basketballs pelting him with bricks in his dreams, which represent the obstacles in his life. The chorus repeats the word "maybe," suggesting uncertainty about the future and the possibility of finding what is needed in life.
In the second verse, the lyrics take a strange turn as the singer talks about bottling his hopes into a store-bought scent. He imagines the scent to be nutmeg and peach and that it would pay the rent. He then talks about teaching a course on becoming a star-crossed pimp and riding a horse, which seem like aspects of a perfect life. However, the singer's tone implies that these thoughts are just elaborate fantasies and that he is unsure of where he is headed in life.
The lyrics of An Ode to Maybe explore themes of uncertainty, disappointment, and hope. The song's repetitive use of the word "maybe" reinforces the idea that the singer is unsure of what is to come. The laundry mat setting symbolizes the singer's mundane life, which he wants to escape from. The lyrics suggest that he longs for something more but is not entirely sure what that is.
Line by Line Meaning
Lead in night at the laundry mat
The singer is setting the stage for the story by providing the location and time.
And I'm staring at you pulling clothes from a dryer
The singer is watching someone else doing laundry.
And I'm wondering how I got here
The singer is reflecting on how they ended up in this situation.
But it seems some how I keep getting stuck in the mire
The artist feels stuck in a difficult or unpleasant situation.
I needed this more than you I knew
The artist wanted or needed this experience more than the other person involved.
And I let you down and I said I'm sorry
The singer feels guilty for disappointing someone else and has apologized for it.
But the light that falls on my castle walls
The singer has a metaphorical 'castle' where they feel safe or happy, but an outside influence is making that less enjoyable.
And my basketballs pelt me with bricks in my dreams
The artist is haunted by something negative that happened to them, represented by the metaphor of basketballs hitting them with bricks.
Tonight
The events of the song are taking place in the present night.
Oh, maybe
The artist is expressing uncertainty or hesitation about something.
What you need I hope it finds you
The singer wishes the other person well and hopes something good happens for them.
Oh, I might
The artist is suggesting that they are a potential solution to something, but not certain if they are the right one.
I might be
The singer is still unsure of something but thinks they could be what the situation needs.
Well, maybe
The singer is still expressing uncertainty or hesitation about something.
Maybe someday you'll get it right
The singer is encouraging the other person to keep trying and believes they will eventually succeed.
If I could bottle my hopes in a store bought scent
The artist is using a metaphor to express the desire to monetize or package their hopes and dreams in a way that is tangible or sellable.
They'd be nutmeg peach and they'd pay the rent
The specific scents are arbitrary, but the artist is explaining that these hopes would be lucrative and help them afford their living expenses.
And I'd ride a horse, and I'd teach a course
The singer is imagining a future where they have enough financial stability to pursue hobbies or other pursuits they may not have the means for now.
On how I got to be a star crossed pimp
The singer is using a provocative phrase to describe themselves, but seems to be saying they are someone who has a certain type of charm or charisma that has led to some success.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ARION SALAZAR, BRAD HARGREAVES, KEVIN CADOGAN, STEPHAN JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind