The band released five albums before going on an extended hiatus in 1997: "Green Eggs and Crack" (1987), "Son of Sam I Am" (1988), "Cereal Killers" (1991), "Mutiny" (1992) and "...finally" (1996). Their single "Donna Everywhere" from "Mutiny" was a #11 hit on the Billboard alternative chart in 1992.
In 2020, a new crowd sourced alum - Mistakes Were Made was released. In late 2021 another crowd funded album was announced with a project called 12 Months of Joy with backers receiving 1 or more tracks per month before the eventual full release.
Skyline
Too Much Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lazy people ignoring the view
Blinking red lights on top of you
So no planes will crash into
The stupid skyline I call home
Wandering these streets alone
Looking for a telephone
Left these words on your machine
And you asked me what they mean
And you asked me where I’d been
I muttered something bout the space between
The stupid skyline and what it represents
The empty dreams of it’s aspirants
Nobody owes anybody rent
Everybody is an accident
All the soldiers planting land mines
All the rich folks drinking fine wines
Crazy columnists with their precious by-lines
Rhapsodizing bout the stupid skyline
"Skyline" by Too Much Joy is a song that satirizes the idea of the "stupid skyline." According to the lyrics, the skyline is full of lazy people who ignore the beauty of their surroundings. The blinking red lights on top of the buildings are there to prevent planes from crashing, but in the end, the skyline is just a symbol of emptiness and unfulfilled dreams. The singer wanders the streets alone searching for a sense of belonging, but all he finds is a place that represents the empty aspirations of the modern city.
The chorus of "Skyline" emphasizes the singer's feelings of isolation and disconnection. He leaves a message on someone's answering machine, explaining that he's been contemplating the space between himself and the world around him. He feels like an accident, a meaningless part of a system that has no real purpose. The song doesn't offer any solutions or hope, only a bitter commentary on the futility of the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Stupid skyline, nothing new
The city skyline, which I find unimpressive and unchanging.
Lazy people ignoring the view
The people who live here are indifferent to the beauty of the skyline.
Blinking red lights on top of you
The blinking aircraft warning lights atop tall buildings.
So no planes will crash into
They are installed to avoid accidents.
The stupid skyline I call home
I live in this uninspiring city skyline.
Wandering these streets alone
I meander around the city's deserted streets all by myself.
Looking for a telephone
I am looking for a telephone to call someplace my own.
So I can call someplace my own
To connect with a place that feels like home and belongs to me.
Left these words on your machine
I left a message on your answering machine.
And you asked me what they mean
You inquired about the message and its content.
And you asked me where I’d been
You asked me about my whereabouts.
I muttered something bout the space between
I mumbled something about the emotional distance that exists between us.
The stupid skyline and what it represents
The city skyline, and everything it embodies.
The empty dreams of its aspirants
The lack of fulfillment experienced by those who come to the city with big dreams.
Nobody owes anybody rent
No one is entitled to anything in this city.
Everybody is an accident
Everyone is a product of chance, and their existence in this city is mere coincidence.
All the soldiers planting land mines
The soldiers posted to prevent potential threats to the city.
All the rich folks drinking fine wines
The wealthy individuals who indulge in their expensive lifestyles.
Crazy columnists with their precious by-lines
The eccentric writers with their self-important journalism stories.
Rhapsodizing bout the stupid skyline
Glorifying and romanticizing the city skyline, which I find unremarkable.
Contributed by Zoe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.