Throwing Muses is known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh's stark, candid writing style; Donelly's pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo's unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. Hallucinatory, febrile songs by Hersh occasionally touched on the subject of mental illness, more often drawing portraits of characters from daily life or addressing relationships.
Donelly left the band in 1991 and was a member of The Breeders and Belly, before starting to perform solo. She also contributed vocals to the Throwing Muses self-titled album in 2003. Hersh has also worked solo, and fronts the power trio 50 Foot Wave (which also includes Muses bassist Bernard Georges). Narcizo works in graphic design and has a musical project Lakuna.
In March 2003, Throwing Muses came back with their eighth album, Throwing Muses, which also saw the return of Tanya Donelly who provided backing vocals on the album. A greatest hits compilation titled Anthology was released in 2011. The band's ninth album, Purgatory / Paradise was released on October 29, 2013 in the UK and November 11 in the US. In early 2014, the band toured a few U.S. cities, with Donelly opening for the East Coast dates.
Drive
Throwing Muses Lyrics
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Through the kitchen cupboard door
Through the winter
Down to the floor
Drive your head
To the bathroom tile
Smile 'round the corner and your friends
They want to play
It's alright square your head
Your head is square
Go out with me
Come out
1 2 3, 1 2 3, I didn't care'
I wanted you to know I didn't care
I always loved your hair
I want to fight the clouds
With your head on a stick
Fight the bush with your water
And your leaves
And you leave so'
Fight with me
Run the grass
Run the road
The road house
Home with me In my head
In your heart
Under your ribs In my mind
Sleep your box I sleep in your mind
I don't care'
The lyrics to Throwing Muses's song Drive are cryptic and open to a variety of interpretations. One possible explanation is that the song is about breaking free from societal norms and expectations, as represented by the images of driving a car through a kitchen cupboard door and smiling around the corner at friends who want to play games. The singer seems to be urging the listener to embrace their quirks and differences, represented by the metaphorical squareness of their head. The lines "I always loved your hair" and "in your heart, under your ribs" suggest a deep emotional connection between the singer and listener, perhaps romantic or platonic. The final line, "I don't care," could be interpreted as a declaration of independence or a rejection of conformity.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is about mental illness or altered states of consciousness. The references to driving one's head and fighting clouds could be interpreted as surreal or hallucinatory experiences. The line "smile 'round the corner" could be read as a manic or delusional impulse. The repetition of "1 2 3" could suggest obsessive or compulsive behavior. The final line, "I don't care," could be interpreted as a nihilistic or apathetic statement, indicating a lack of concern for one's own well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Drive your car
Get into your car and start driving
Through the kitchen cupboard door
Drive your car into the kitchen cupboard door
Through the winter
Drive your car through the winter season
Down to the floor
Drive your car until it touches the ground
Drive your head
Push your head through something forcefully
To the bathroom tile
Push your head through the bathroom tile
Smile 'round the corner and your friends
Appear happy and friendly when you see your friends
They want to play
Your friends want to engage in activities with you
Do you want to play games?
Do you want to participate in recreational activities with your friends?
It's alright square your head
It's okay to think logically and rationally
Your head is square
You have a logical and rational thought process
Go out with me
Accompany me outside
Come out
Step outside
1 2 3, 1 2 3, I didn't care'
Counting to three and expressing apathy towards something
I wanted you to know I didn't care
Clarifying the lack of interest in something
I always loved your hair
Complimenting the person's hair
I want to fight the clouds
Expressing a desire to challenge something seemingly unbeatable
With your head on a stick
Using the person's head as a figurative weapon
Fight the bush with your water
Confronting an obstacle with a resource available to you
And your leaves
Utilizing additional resources to overcome an obstacle
And you leave so'
You depart so suddenly
Fight with me
Partner with me in defeating an obstacle
Run the grass
Move along the grass
Run the road
Travel down the road
The road house
The place where the road ends
Home with me
Come home with me
In my head
Mentally
In your heart
Emotionally
Under your ribs
Physically
In my mind
Mentally
Sleep your box
Rest in your own space
I don't care'
I have no concern over this matter
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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