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.
Status Quo
Throwing Muses Lyrics
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And quit your vision of the millennium
Leaving our hopes in the hands of the psychics
Peace isn't quiet, I'm heading down the freeway
I'm hanging on the frequency of your voice
I'm drunk on the sound of your voice
You turned a blind eye to the baby
Leaving our hopes in the hands of the psychos
Peace isn't quiet, I'm heading down the freeway
I'm hanging on the frequency of your voice
I'm drunk on the sound of your voice
There are sapphires in the trees
And the moths as big as bats
Lucky me, to have all that
What do you have on your mind?
What do you have on your mind?
There are sapphires in the trees
And the moths as big as bats
Lucky me, to have all that
What do you have on your mind?
What do you have on your mind?
What do you have on your mind?
What do you have on your mind?
The lyrics to "Status Quo" by Throwing Muses touch on themes of paranoia, hope, and connection. The first verse suggests a sense of desperation, with the imagery of "the eyes of a paranoid man" and "quitting your vision of the millennium." The idea of leaving hope in the hands of psychics implies a lack of control or agency in a situation, relying instead on the supernatural or unexplainable.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Peace isn't quiet," perhaps suggesting that peace is not easily attained or maintained, or that it may be disruptive or uncomfortable. The second verse brings in more surreal imagery, with the singer dreaming of climbing a hill in "midnight mud" and someone turning a blind eye to a baby. Again, the idea of leaving hope to the "psychos" suggests a lack of trust or faith in others.
The third repetition of "What do you have on your mind?" seems to be a call for communication, or perhaps an acknowledgement that there are deeper thoughts or feelings that need to be expressed. The final repetition of the "sapphires in the trees" and "moths as big as bats" could signify a moment of wonder or beauty in an otherwise bleak or uncertain world.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with a sense of disillusionment or uncertainty, while also offering glimmers of hope or connection in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
I dreamed you saw the eyes of a paranoid man
I had a dream where you saw the world through the eyes of someone consumed by paranoia
And quit your vision of the millennium
In that dream, you gave up on the idea of a better future
Leaving our hopes in the hands of the psychics
This left us with no hope for the future, leaving it up to psychics to tell us what will happen next
Peace isn't quiet, I'm heading down the freeway
Peace is not a quiet state, so I am racing down the freeway to get there
I'm hanging on the frequency of your voice
I am clinging to every word you say in hopes of finding peace
I'm drunk on the sound of your voice
Your voice brings me a level of comfort that makes me feel intoxicated
I dreamed I climbed a hill in the midnight mud
I had a dream where I climbed a muddy hill at midnight
You turned a blind eye to the baby
In that dream, you ignored the needs of an infant
Leaving our hopes in the hands of the psychos
This led us to entrust our hopes and future to people who are insane
There are sapphires in the trees
The trees are filled with blue gems
And the moths as big as bats
Moths that are as big as bats also roam in these surroundings
Lucky me, to have all that
I feel fortunate to have the privilege of witnessing these phenomena
What do you have on your mind?
I am curious to know what thoughts are running through your mind right now
What do you have on your mind?
I am eager to learn more about the thoughts that occupy your mind
What do you have on your mind?
I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter
What do you have on your mind?
Please share your current thoughts with me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kristin Hersh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind