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.
To the Lightning
Wussy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dynamite behind our eyelids, this is where the ruin starts.
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
Thunderstorm, indian summer, late afternoon
Cats and dogs against the window, disappearing way too soon
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
Enemies at 8 in the morning hangs on our hearts.
Dynamite behind our allies, this is where the ruin starts.
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
Bide your time and when the time arises
Rise and shine and let me go
The lyrics to Wussy's song "To the Lightning" are filled with vivid imagery and a sense of urgency. The first line, "enemies at 8 in the morning, hands on our hearts," sets the tone for the rest of the song. It speaks to a feeling of vulnerability and impending danger. The next line, "dynamite behind our eyelids, this is where the ruin starts," adds to this sense of danger and suggests that something catastrophic is about to happen. The repeated refrain of "to the lightning, to the lightning we pray" adds to the urgency of the song and creates a sense of desperation.
The second verse adds to the sense of impending doom with the imagery of a thunderstorm and cats and dogs against the window. It suggests that the storm is approaching and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. The repeated refrain of "to the lightning, to the lightning we pray" reinforces the idea that the only hope is to appeal to some higher power.
The final verse suggests that there is a potential for escape or resistance, with the line "bide your time and when the time arises, rise and shine and let me go." It suggests that there may be a way to fight back against the impending danger, but that it will require patience and timing.
Overall, the lyrics to "To the Lightning" create a sense of tension and urgency, with vivid imagery and a repeated refrain that adds to the feeling of desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
Enemies at 8 in the morning hands on our hearts.
We have enemies who are causing us distress and we feel this pain deeply.
Dynamite behind our eyelids, this is where the ruin starts.
We feel explosive emotions building up within us and recognize that this could lead to our downfall.
To the lightning, to the lightning we pray!
We are turning to the power and unpredictability of nature, specifically lightning, for guidance and salvation.
Thunderstorm, indian summer, late afternoon
The setting is a time and place of transition, where a storm is brewing during a season when everything is supposed to be calm.
Cats and dogs against the window, disappearing way too soon
The storm is intense and the landscape is changing rapidly, with rain and wind lashing out against the world outside.
Enemies at 8 in the morning hangs on our hearts.
Our enemies persist in causing us emotional pain and it is taking a toll on our well-being.
Dynamite behind our allies, this is where the ruin starts.
Even our friends and allies may have their own painful and destructive emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Bide your time and when the time arises
We must wait patiently for the right moment to take action.
Rise and shine and let me go
When that moment arrives, we must seize it and let go of anything that holds us back.
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carl Janssens
Just heard "Teenage Wasteland"! Blew me away completely! My god, how brlliant can you get?? Wussy rules!
Please, please come to Belgium!! Soon!!!!
Carl (the Pets)
Gary Shell
Just might be my favorite Wussy song ever! Can't wait to hear the rest of the album!
Will R
Attica is such a great album... I wish more people knew about it!
Jeffrey Thompson
Love the song. Love the video. Wussy + Billy Jack: a heady combination!
Carl Janssens
Goosebumps, chickenskin and wet eyes... this is so unreal good!!!
Please come to Belgium!!
Carl (the Pets)
David Cohen
It's a hit! Who plays the Robert Quine-style guitar solo?
Aufar Ul Afkaar
amazing!!
S. Abnoxious
This is really a great video. Great cult footage in there.
a
This song is the shit :)
Eric Wiland
I'm hearing bits of "Kohoutek" in the verse's melody!