Cleaver and Walker began playing together in 2001 as a result of Cleaver’s stage fright when asked to perform a brief run of solo shows. The duo’s first performance was largely unplanned and yet went without incident.. so they agreed to continue and expand. Mark Messerly joined in 2002 as bassist and utility man, and Dawn Burman joined on drums shortly thereafter. The four-piece has released three full-length albums and one EP on their native Cincinnati’s Shake It label. Klug joined the band shortly after Burman's departure in early 2009.
The band is known for its use of "an army of alternately droning and jangling guitars" (Uncut 6/09) to offset the traditional three-minute pop format. Lyrics are typically split evenly between Cleaver and Walker.
Their work has met with critical praise from Rolling Stone and SPIN, both of which gave the band’s second and third albums four stars each, in addition to favorable reviews from Village Voice, NPR, Washington Post, Uncut, and many other press outlets. The “Dean of American Critics” Robert Christgau placed the band’s first two albums (Funeral Dress and Left for Dead) on his Best of the Decade list, and their third album (Wussy) ranked tenth in his best of 2009 Dean’s List.
Funeral Dress
Wussy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You save your money for a funeral dress
Skipped your dinner when you got the news
Maybe now you can afford the shoes
But you're alive
Each and every day you're alive
Counting every second you're alive
Knowing it'll never come again
You've never run so far from anywhere
You clutched the rail but never left the stairs
Scars are hidden by a plastic ring
Coming home may be the hardest thing
You're alive
Each and every day you're alive
Knowing it'll never come again
Feeling poorly but it's just as well
You love the fabric but you hate the smell
So in order that you look your best
You save your money for a funeral dress
You're alive
Each and every day you're alive
Counting every second you're alive
Knowing it'll never come again
The song Funeral Dress by Wussy seems to be a reflection on mortality, grief, and the ways in which we cope with loss. The lyrics suggest that the singer is preparing for a funeral, either their own or someone else's, and is focusing on looking their best. However, the singer is also keenly aware of their own mortality and the preciousness of life. They count every second they are alive, knowing that they will never get that time back.
The line "you've never run so far from anywhere" could symbolize the desire to escape the harsh reality of death, while "coming home may be the hardest thing" suggests that the singer might not want to confront the loss they are experiencing. The plastic ring could represent the cheap imitations of real things that we sometimes cling to in order to cope with grief, while the line "feeling poorly but it's just as well" suggests that the singer may have accepted their fate and is at peace with it.
Ultimately, Funeral Dress explores the complex emotions that come with death and dying. It reminds us that life is fleeting and that we should cherish every moment we have.
Line by Line Meaning
So in order that you look your best
You want to look your best for your own funeral.
You save your money for a funeral dress
You're sacrificing other expenses to buy a dress for your funeral.
Skipped your dinner when you got the news
You're so focused on preparing for your funeral that you're even sacrificing meals.
Maybe now you can afford the shoes
You're finally able to afford the shoes you've been eyeing for your funeral.
But you're alive
Despite your focus on your funeral, you're still alive.
Each and every day you're alive
You're constantly reminded that you're alive and trying to make the most of it.
Counting every second you're alive
You're aware that time is precious and you're trying to make every moment count.
Knowing it'll never come again
You're aware that once your time is up, you can never get that time back.
You've never run so far from anywhere
Your obsession with your funeral has caused you to distance yourself from other aspects of life.
You clutched the rail but never left the stairs
You're hesitant to fully commit to preparing for your funeral, but you also can't let it go.
Scars are hidden by a plastic ring
Your emotional scars are being hidden by a superficial purchase (the ring).
Coming home may be the hardest thing
Your focus on your funeral may be affecting your relationships and making it difficult to come back to reality.
Feeling poorly but it's just as well
Your health may be suffering, but it's not a priority compared to preparing for your funeral.
You love the fabric but you hate the smell
You're invested in the appearance of your funeral, but you're also aware of the unpleasant reality of death.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.