“It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if Cunningham and Co. danced down the same career path as Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson.” Philly EDGE
“This group will soon become a favorite on the college circuit.” The Buffalo Art Voice
BIO
Thomas Cunningham's 2004 debut “The Bottle of Wine EP” made an impressive and head-turning introduction for the 20 year old singer/songwriter. Thomas, hailing from Northern California, received an enthusiastic response to this CD from the top 200 CMJ reporting radio stations, generating significant attention at 185 of them.
With his second release, simply titled “Swell”, Thomas has teamed up with other local hot-shot musicians to form the “locofocos.” Thomas Cunningham have generated a completely fresh look/listen to acoustic rock sounds with nods to Nick Drake, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper by fusing them with a lyrical pattern influenced by Digable Planets and The Roots. Thomas adds to this by explaining, “I'm a really big fan of the way bands like Digable Planets have been able to weave cool hip-hop influenced lyrics with an instrument based band, so the new songs are our own blend of acoustic rock with a lyrical twist!” The album also offers up small doses of soulful pop melody found in No You Can't, and for rattlesnake country guitar riffs, check out Harvest.
“Swell” charted at #19 on the CMJ Top 200 Adds chart, June 21, 2005. Tower Records featured “Swell” in the listening stations of all 89 U.S. stores, July/August, 2005. Thomas Cunningham are actively touring the club/college market, 2005/2006.
Swell
Thomas Cunningham Lyrics
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Leave it at best
I don't believe in no coincidences
She talks so quiet, can't even tell
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell with love
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell
Oh hell, with love
Supposed centre of intellectualism
If one can call it that
I'm sure it isn't
Quiet spread across the grounds
Death dirties the pulpit now
Side with right
Wrong we'll be
Take a knife and please
Take a seat I'd say
Take it or leave it, she said
Leave it at best
I don't believe in no coincidences
She talks so quiet, can't even tell
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell with love
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell
With love, with love
Take that all from me, oh and
Try to call me free oh and
Strip me all I know and
Then turn to let me go
False ripples in all the intellectual pools
Fathom the facts that turn talking heads on their stools
Schools corrupt the mind
And waste my precious time, oh
Where's the value, value when you just don't need that kind
I'd say
Where's the value, value when you just don't need that kind?
Take it or leave it, she said
Leave it at best
I don't believe in no coincidences
She talks so quiet, can't even tell
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell with love
She moves those hips, those lips,
It makes me swell
With love, with love
Carry my kindness, everywhere
Carry my strength in its success we'll share
Bode to carry only one son
Sworn to follow
And his will be done
Amen, amen, amen
He said all men
The lyrics to Thomas Cunningham's song "Swell" offer an exploration of the complexities of love and the individual's place in society. The song's opening lines, "Take it or leave it, she said / Leave it at best / I don't believe in no coincidences," suggest a sense of detachment or ambivalence towards the romantic relationship that the singer is describing. Despite this, he is deeply affected by the object of his affection, describing how "She moves those hips, those lips, / It makes me swell with love." This juxtaposition of emotional distance and physical longing creates a paradoxical tension that runs throughout the song.
Against this backdrop of personal emotion, the song also touches on larger societal themes. The lines "Supposed centre of intellectualism / If one can call it that / I'm sure it isn't / Quiet spread across the grounds / Death dirties the pulpit now" suggest a sense of disillusionment with academic or religious institutions. This skepticism extends to a critique of societal values more broadly, as the singer notes that "Schools corrupt the mind / And waste my precious time." Ultimately, the song suggests that navigating the complexities of love and the challenges of society require a deep sense of personal conviction and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it or leave it, she said
She presented me with a choice, but I am welcome to decline if I want to.
Leave it at best
I should just forget about it if I choose to leave it.
I don't believe in no coincidences
I don't think that things happen randomly, everything happens for a reason.
She talks so quiet, can't even tell
She speaks in a low tone, it's hard to hear what she's saying.
She moves those hips, those lips, It makes me swell with love
Her movements and words fill me with love.
With love, with love, Oh hell, with love
I am filled with love and it's overwhelming.
Supposed centre of intellectualism
The place where intelligent people are usually found.
If one can call it that
It's not really a center of intellectualism or anything that great.
Quiet spread across the grounds
Silence spread all over the place.
Death dirties the pulpit now
Death has desecrated a sacred place.
Side with right, Wrong we'll be
Choose to do the right thing and we won't be wrong.
Take a knife and please
Consider taking drastic measures.
Take a seat I'd say
Please take a seat.
Take that all from me, oh and, Try to call me free oh and
They try to take everything I have and claim that I'm free.
Strip me all I know and, Then turn to let me go
They take all I know and then abandon me.
False ripples in all the intellectual pools
Misinformation spreads in places where intelligent people usually gather.
Fathom the facts that turn talking heads on their stools
Consider the facts that can change people's opinions.
Schools corrupt the mind, And waste my precious time, oh
Schools ruin our minds and waste our precious time.
Where's the value, value when you just don't need that kind?
What's the point of something you don't even need?
Carry my kindness, everywhere
Be kind everywhere you go.
Carry my strength in its success we'll share
Share my success when you use my strength.
Bode to carry only one son, Sworn to follow, And his will be done, Amen, amen, amen, He said all men
Devoted to having only one son, committed to following through with his will, ending with 'amen' which means 'so be it' and literally translates to 'let it be'.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES STROUSE, RICHARD MALTBY, RICHARD E. MALTBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind