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.
Skip the Life
Thrush Hermit Lyrics
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Until we skip the life completely
902-5396
Long distance information don't play those tricks
There's no luck in the draw and none in the lines
I will dial until the end of time
Until I hear the lines connect
Teach a lesson to the fool who gets too close
To the truth in the face of the Holy Ghost
Condemn my soul to the telephone wires
I will drive on These Four Black Tires
Until the yellow lines connect
Until the yellow lines connect
902-5396
Long distance operator don't charge me for this
It's the last conversation passing through these wires
I will weep with my soul on fire
Until we skip the life complete
Until we skip the life completely
The song Skip the Life by Thrush Hermit is a melancholic and reflective piece that speaks of the singer's desire to connect with another person, to escape from the mundanity of their daily existence. The opening lines reference a phone number, 902-5396, and immediately conveys a sense of longing and desperation. The singer is trying to connect with someone, but is met with frustration and disappointment. They are willing to go to great lengths, even dialing endlessly, just to hear a voice on the other end of the line. The repeated line "Until I hear the lines connect" echoes this sentiment of wanting to bridge a gap, to reach out and touch someone, to eliminate the emptiness they feel.
The second verse delves into the singer's disillusionment with religion and their search for meaning. The lines "Teach a lesson to the fool who gets too close/To the truth in the face of the Holy Ghost" suggest a cynicism and a distrust in traditional beliefs. The reference to "These Four Black Tires" implies a desire to escape, to leave behind the constraints of their current existence. The lines "Until the yellow lines connect" seem to imply a sense of journey, of moving forward towards a destination, perhaps even a physical one.
The final verse returns to the phone number, and the singer's urgency to connect. The lines "Long distance operator don't charge me for this/It's the last conversation passing through these wires/I will weep with my soul on fire" evoke a sense of terminality, of finality, as if this is the last chance for the singer to make a connection before they give up entirely. The repeated line "Until we skip the life complete/Until we skip the life completely" carries a melancholic tone, as if the singer has resigned themselves to a life of unfulfilled connections and meaningless interactions.
Line by Line Meaning
Until we skip the life complete
Until we completely escape the current way of living
902-5396
A telephone number
Long distance information don't play those tricks
The singer does not want to be fooled or misled by the telephone operator
There's no luck in the draw and none in the lines
The outcome of making a call is not affected by chance or fate
I will dial until the end of time
The artist will continue to make phone calls indefinitely
Until I hear the lines connect
Until the singer hears a successful connection has been made
Teach a lesson to the fool who gets too close
A warning to people who may get too involved or invested in something dangerous
To the truth in the face of the Holy Ghost
The danger or truth may be in a religious or spiritual context
Condemn my soul to the telephone wires
The artist is willing to sacrifice themselves to the phone calls
I will drive on These Four Black Tires
The artist will keep going, symbolized by the image of driving on black tires
Until the yellow lines connect
Until the singer finds a sense of direction and purpose
Long distance operator don't charge me for this
The artist does not want to pay for their actions or consequences
It's the last conversation passing through these wires
The singer is aware that this may be their final chance or opportunity
I will weep with my soul on fire
The singer will experience intense emotion or passion
Until we skip the life complete
A repetition of the opening line, emphasizing the desire to escape the current way of living
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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