They signed with Murderecords, the label of fellow Haligonians Sloan, in 1994 in time to release their Smart Bomb EP, which featured songs such as Benvie's "French Inhale" and Plaskett's "Hated It". The former would get some rotation on MuchMusic, which then held a reputation for more "alternative" programming, while the latter would end up in the Kevin Smith film Mallrats.
Following the release of the band's second EP, The Great Pacific Ocean, in 1996 the group signed with Elektra Entertainment which released their first full-length album in 1997, Sweet Homewrecker. The Memphis recorded album features many great tracks showcasing the maturing songwriting talents of Plaskett, Benvie and McGettigan. The album proved a disappointment from Elektra's standpoint however, and Thrush Hermit were bought out of their contract.
After their foray into the United States market, Thrush Hermit returned north to release their final album Clayton Park on Sonic Unyon Records in 1999. While indisputably the band's best record, Thrush Hermit amicably disbanded in 1999. Plaskett is now a solo artist. Benvie released a solo record under the moniker "Tigre Benvie", and McGettigan began producing records by such acts as his old band mate Plaskett, and other Canadian rock acts such as The Flashing Lights. Benvie and McGettigan are now the main members of Camouflage Nights, which features a revolving door cast of musicians.
Heart Wrenching Man
Thrush Hermit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please try to understand
I can't take it anymore even if you can
There was nothing that they found When I got back my ultrasound
My heart would go out to you if it was around
I felt the evil
That did surround me
Nearly drown me
I felt resistance
In the wires
Conduct the urge
To retire
Heart wrenching man
Your stories are too sad for human ears
We all feel bad for leaving you alone
All my sympathy goes out to your bad knee
I know if I had one too, hey, you'd be there for me
We all dropped by simply to wish you
A swift recovery, now I need a tissue
There's something in my eyes
Everybody cries
Everybody cries
Everybody rise
For heart wrenching man
Please try to understand
I can't take it anymore even if you can
The lyrics to Thrush Hermit's song "Heart Wrenching Man" deal with the idea of sympathy and how it can become overwhelming. The singer is addressing someone who constantly shares their sad stories, saying that they can no longer bear to listen to them. The chorus using the repetition of "heart wrenching man, please try to understand, I can't take it anymore even if you can" emphasizes the singer's exhaustion with hearing the constant tales of woe.
The verses explore the idea of the singer being surrounded by sadness and feeling overwhelmed by it. The line "I felt the pathos nearly drown me" emphasizes the emotional weight of the situation. The reference to the ultrasound in the second verse adds to the theme of sadness, suggesting that even when the singer goes to find answers and solutions to problems, they are met with disappointment. However, it's clear that the singer still has some level of sympathy for the Heart Wrenching Man, acknowledging that they would feel bad for him if they were able to continue to listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Heart wrenching man
The person being addressed is a man who causes heartache for others.
Please try to understand
The singer is asking the heart wrenching man to empathize with their perspective.
I can't take it anymore even if you can
The singer is at their limit of emotionally supporting the heart wrenching man, even if he isn't.
There was nothing that they found When I got back my ultrasound
There was nothing medically wrong when the artist received their test results.
My heart would go out to you if it was around
The artist would empathize with the heart wrenching man if they were not already emotionally exhausted.
I felt the evil
The singer felt a negative, harmful energy.
That did surround me
The harmful energy was engulfing the singer.
I felt the pathos
The artist felt a deep emotional response.
Nearly drown me
The emotional response was overwhelming the artist.
I felt resistance
The artist felt an opposing force.
In the wires
The opposing force was related to the machinery being used.
Conduct the urge
The artist is trying to control their impulse.
To retire
The singer wishes to escape the current situation.
Your stories are too sad for human ears
The heart wrenching man's tales are too sorrowful for others to hear.
We all feel bad for leaving you alone
Others feel guilty for not being able to emotionally support the heart wrenching man.
All my sympathy goes out to your bad knee
The only aspect of the heart wrenching man's situation that the artist can empathize with is his physical ailment.
I know if I had one too, hey, you'd be there for me
The artist believes the heart wrenching man would support them if they suffered the same ailment.
We all dropped by simply to wish you
Others have visited the heart wrenching man to offer well wishes.
A swift recovery, now I need a tissue
The person speaking is emotional and needs a tissue.
There's something in my eyes
The artist is crying.
Everybody cries
Everyone experiences sadness and cries sometimes.
Everybody rise
The artist is asking others to stand up, possibly to leave.
For heart wrenching man
The singer is dedicating this song to the heart wrenching man.
Please try to understand
The artist is reminding the heart wrenching man to see things from their perspective.
I can't take it anymore even if you can
The singer is reiterating that they cannot handle the emotional weight of the heart wrenching man's problems.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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