Kasher has a very close relationship with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. They grew up in Nebraska together, went to the same Catholic high school, Creighton Prep. It is rumored that Tim taught Oberst to play guitar. In the Bright Eyes song, "Nothing Gets Crossed Out" Oberst sings, "yeah Tim I heard your album and it's better than good. When you get off tour I think we should hang and black out together." (referring to the album Black Out by The Good Life, released in 2002 on Saddle Creek Records.) Furthermore, Oberst later sang backup on the song "Staying Alive," from Cursive's 2003 effort The Ugly Organ.
Kasher temporarily disbanded Cursive after the departure of guitarist Steve Pedersen (who left to pursue a law degree at Duke University. He now leads the Saddle Creek band Criteria). He married and moved to Portland, Oregon. According to interviews, Kasher went through a bitter divorce in 2000, which led to the regrouping of Cursive, as well as providing the inspiration for The Good Life album Black Out, and Cursive's Domestica.
The Good Life was originally planned to be a solo project. Kasher wanted to experiment with different types of lyrics and melodies. He released Novena on a Nocturn on Better Looking Records. He then recruited Ryan Fox, Roger Lewis and Stephanie Drootin into the band and released Black Out, Lovers Need Lawyers EP and Album of the Year.
Kasher created a another record with Cursive which was released in August 2006, entitled Happy Hollow. In 2009, Cursive released their latest effort, 'Mama, I'm Swollen'. The Good Life, despite a near breakup in late 2005, returned to the studio to release the album, 'Help Wanted Nights' in September 2007.
Under his own name, Tim Kasher recorded a song called "Stranger Than Strangers" which was released on a compilation CD called "My Favorite Songwriters." He released the solo album 'The Game of Monogamy' in 2010, and a follow-up disc of songs from that session called 'Bigamy', in 2011.
Surprise Surprise
Tim Kasher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surprise, surprise, you've even packed your things
You wish we'd never met-you'd have never moved
The homecoming queen in her dad's spare room
The Belle of the Bars prancing through downtown
You could've had the quarterback
If you'd only stuck around
Surprise, surprise, the time of your life was then...
The song "Surprise Surprise" by Tim Kasher depicts the feeling of being left unexpectedly by someone you loved. The opening lines "Surprise, surprise, you're leaving me / Surprise, surprise, you've even packed your things" reveal the shocking realization of being abandoned, and the feeling of betrayal. The singer's former partner regrets meeting him, and wishes she hadn't moved as the songs continue to describe her life before meeting him. She was a "homecoming queen in her dad's spare room / The Belle of the Bars prancing through downtown," and could have had the quarterback if she hadn't left him. The song is melancholic, with a bittersweet element, as the singer reminisces about the period their partner was with him, and how they had the time of their life. The question "So, what now?" in the last line shows confusion and a lack of direction, as the singer grapples with the reality of life after the shock of being left alone.
The song showcases a range of emotions for the singer of the song, including sadness, betrayal, and confusion. Kasher's lyrics explore the intense emotions that come with heartbreak in a way that is both relatable and emotionally complex. The song's structure is primarily driven by its catchy chorus, which features the lines "Surprise, surprise" repeated throughout. What's interesting about the song is its vagueness, as it doesn't go into much detail about why the singer's partner left; instead, it emphasizes the shocking nature of the events that have occurred.
Line by Line Meaning
Surprise, surprise, you're leaving me
It's unexpected, but you are breaking up with me
Surprise, surprise, you've even packed your things
Not only did you break up, but you've already packed your belongings to leave
You wish we'd never met-you'd have never moved
You regret meeting me and moving with me to our current location
The homecoming queen in her dad's spare room
You used to be popular and successful, but now you are staying in your dad's spare room
The Belle of the Bars prancing through downtown
You used to be the center of attention in bars in the city
You could've had the quarterback
You had the opportunity to be with someone more popular than me
If you'd only stuck around
If you'd stayed with me, you could have had more opportunities
Surprise, surprise, the time of your life was then...
Your best days were in the past, and you didn't realize it until now
So, what now?
What are your plans after leaving me?
Writer(s): John Nommensen, Exene Cervenka
Contributed by Riley G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.