The band was sta… Read Full Bio ↴Weeping Tile was a Canadian rock band in the 1990s.
The band was started by singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer in 1993, when she was invited to fill in for the opening band at a Bag of Hammers concert in Ottawa, Ontario. Taking the name Weeping Tile from the clay pipes that are placed around the foundations of rural homes to draw groundwater away from the building, she did the show as a duo with Joe Chithalen, and later added other musicians to round out the lineup.
The band released its debut effort, a seven-song cassette, in 1994, and was quickly signed to a major label. That cassette was re-released in 1995 with the title eepee, and in 1996 they released Cold Snap, their first full album.
The band's lineup changed several times, leaving Harmer as the only member who was part of the band for its full lifespan. When Chithalen left, he was replaced by Luther Wright. Harmer's sister Mary also played with the band for a while.
In 1997, they released their follow-up album, Valentino. Although they were a popular draw on the live music circuit and a regular presence on campus radio, Weeping Tile never broke through to mainstream success, and in 1998 they were dropped from their record label. Later that year they recorded another independent cassette, This Great Black Night, but shortly afterward the band broke up.
Sarah Harmer went on to success as a solo artist. Composing and playing, she got success around the world with her strong and unpretentious voice.
Although Weeping Tile have not recorded as a unit since the breakup, they still sometimes play together on stage in Kingston, Ontario, and sometimes perform on each other's solo recordings.
Chicken
Weeping Tile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are we there
Where the fuck are we?
Puerile, hapless
Going to a strapless party
Checkin' your toes for leaches
Checkin' your hair for lice
Blue sandals wide beaches
Feel so nice
You got it all over your fingers
I wanna park it with the
Blue rinse midway swingers
Playing under the tent at the point
At the end with the chips that you get
That you haven't bet
I'm not ready for it yet
The night is a wave of the day
Makin' way for romance
Lathered in cream at the scene
Of a perfect light
Checkin your toes for leaches
Checkin your hair for lice
Blue sandals, wide beaches
It's the heat the makes
It feel so nice
You got it all over your fingers
I wanna park it with the
Blue rinse midway swingers
Playing under the tent at the point
And the end with the chips that you get
For a free chicken dinner bet
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm not ready for it yet
You got it all over your fingers
I wanna pack it with the
Blue rinse midway swingers
Playing under the tent at the point
And the end with the chips that they get
For a free chicken dinner bet
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm not ready for it
I'm not ready for it
I'm not ready for it yet
The lyrics to Weeping Tile's song "Chicken" are quite abstract, as they describe a sequence of events that are difficult to piece together. The song begins with a sense of aimlessness and confusion, as the singer wonders where they are and laments their lack of luck. The imagery is quite vivid, with mentions of leeches, lice, and blue sandals.
As the song unfolds, it becomes clear that the singer is headed to a party of some sort - specifically, a strapless party, which could suggest some degree of revelry or debauchery. There are references to midway swingers and chips that you get for a free chicken dinner bet, which gives the impression of a carnival or fair. The overall tone is dreamlike and disorienting, with the refrain "I'm not ready for it yet" suggesting a hesitant or uncertain attitude.
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and out of their element, perhaps grappling with personal insecurities or anxieties. The party and carnival imagery could represent a desire for escapism or distraction from real-life problems. Overall, the lyrics to "Chicken" evoke a sense of disconnection and confusion, but with moments of vivid sensory experience and whimsical imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Bus fare, no luck
We don't have any money for transportation.
Are we there
Are we at our destination yet?
Where the fuck are we?
We're lost and don't know where we are.
Puerile, hapless
Childish and unlucky.
Going to a strapless party
Heading to a party where the women are not wearing straps on their dresses.
Checkin' your toes for leaches
Examining your feet for bloodsucking parasites.
Checkin' your hair for lice
Making sure you don't have any tiny insects in your hair.
Blue sandals wide beaches
Wearing blue sandals at a wide beach.
It's the heat that makes it Feel so nice
The pleasant feeling is due to the warmth of the sun.
You got it all over your fingers
You have something messy or dirty on your fingers.
I wanna park it with the Blue rinse midway swingers
I want to stay at the midway with the older ladies with blue hair.
Playing under the tent at the point
Having fun under the tent at the designated spot.
At the end with the chips that you get That you haven't bet
At the end of the game, winning chips without betting anything.
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm not prepared for it yet.
The night is a wave of the day Makin' way for romance
Night is like a continuation of the day, paving the way for love and affection.
Lathered in cream at the scene Of a perfect light
Covered in cream at a perfect lighted area
And the end with the chips that you get For a free chicken dinner bet
At the end of the game, you win chips for betting on a free chicken dinner.
You got it all over your fingers
You still have something unpleasant on your fingers.
I wanna pack it with the Blue rinse midway swingers
I want to stay longer with the older ladies with blue hair at the midway.
Playing under the tent at the point
We're having fun under the tent at our designated spot.
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm still unprepared for whatever is going on.
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm not ready for it yet.
I'm not ready for it
I'm still not ready for whatever is happening.
I'm not ready for it yet
I'm still not ready for it yet.
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RedandBlue Bulldog
LOVED this band in 1997!! I remember walking out of the Bloor Cinema in Toronto after seeing a film, and walking across the street to Lee’s Palace where Weeping Tile was in the midst of their show. I remember they were doing a cover of the Beastie Boys, Sabotage, and it was honestly spot on! I bought their album, Valentino on cd in the days to follow, and listened to it endlessly. South of Me was my favorite song on that album.
Miya
my dad was on drums! although for sabotage they all used to switch instruments.