The band was originally conceived as a side project. The Weiss brothers and Kleinberg were playing together in another band called The Operation (who released one album, 2001's There Is Hope for a Tree Cut Down, on Takehold Records), but Aaron wanted to start another band to experiment with new sounds. After picking up Rick Mazzotta on drums and Ray Tadeo on bass, Kleinberg and the Weiss brothers released their first EP (I Never Said That I Was Brave) in 2001 and shortly thereafter signed to Tooth & Nail Records after a show at Cornerstone Festival the same year. An even earlier six song demo EP called Blood Enough For Us All has also surfaced, apparently having been recorded in 2000.
Around this time Tadeo had moved on, Daniel Pishock picked up as the bass player, and The Operation disbanded soon afterward. mewithoutYou's debut full-length album, A→B: Life, was released in 2002. The band garnered more attention for their sophomore release, 2004's Catch for Us the Foxes, which was produced by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Fire Theft). In December of 2004 Pishock had made a decision to retire as the bassist for the band and former Operation frontman, Greg Jehanian, was selected to replace him. In 2005, mewithoutYou won mtvU's "Left Field" award for most original artist. Their third album, Brother, Sister, again produced by Wood, was released on September 26th, 2006. Their fourth album, it's all crazy! it's all false! it's all a dream! it's alright, produced by Dan Smith of Danielson, was released May 19th, 2009. Their fifth album Ten Stories, produced again by Dan Smith of Danielson, was independently released May 15th, 2012. Their sixth LP is set to be released in 2015 on Run for Cover Records.
mewithoutYou has released videos for "January 1979" and "Paper Hanger", from Catch for Us the Foxes, with the help of Red Van Pictures this past year, and one for "Bullet to Binary" from A→B: Life. They have recently released a video for "Nice and Blue, Pt. 2" from Brother, Sister, directed by Shane Drake. A video for "The Fox, the Crow and the Cookie" from It's All Crazy! has recently been released.
mewithoutYou is:
Aaron Weiss - Lead Vocals
Michael Weiss - Guitar
Brandon Beaver - 2nd Guitar
Greg Jehanian - Bass Guitar
Richard Mazzotta - Drums
Official homepage: http://www.mewithoutyou.com
http://www.myspace.com/mewithoutyou
Aubergine
mewithoutYou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining in the light of nightshade
Cultivating unsophistication in my face
Trying to think of nothing to say
Grapes gone sour and the spinach went to seed
It was spindly and sick from the outset
Waiting for the hour with a wherewithal to leave
Patient as a dog for its master
Aubergine
Labrador was locked through the promontory rock
She called down, said "time is an illusion"
An inconsequential shift as the continents drift
But my confidence was crushed and I miss you regardless
Aubergine
Aubergine
You can be your body but please don't mind
If I don't fancy myself mine
You at 32 still tied to your poor mother's apron strings!
Sorrel in the gravel and the saffron robe
Sleeping like a shark in the cord grass
Now I saw how far I traveled down the solipsistic road
I climbed out to ask for directions
There was not a pond in sight, here I'm gasping like a fish
In the desert with a basket full of eggplant
Who asked about the passage from the bible on my wrists
But I couldn't catch my breath enough to answer
The song "Aubergine" by mewithoutYou is a poetic representation of the human experience of feeling lost and overwhelmed in the world, and struggling to find direction and meaning. The first verse describes the singer's attempt to escape the complexities of life by "cultivating unsophistication," or attempting to simplify their existence. They describe failed attempts at nurturing plants and waiting patiently for an opportunity to leave behind whatever troubles them. The chorus, repeated twice, is a refrain to the seemingly nonsensical word "aubergine," which in this context seems to represent a meaningless object or concept.
The second verse introduces another character, "Labrador," who speaks of time being an illusion, which throws the singer's confidence into confusion. The use of geographic imagery, such as the "promontory rock," suggests that this disorientation and loss of direction may be related to physical journeys, but it's clear that the lyrics are meant to be metaphorical. The singer then tells someone else to "be their body," an odd phrase that could suggest finding grounding in physical existence.
The final verse describes the singer's experience of feeling lost and helpless in a desolate landscape, trying to answer existential questions without being able to catch their breath. The "basket full of eggplant" may relate to the aubergine theme from earlier in the song, and suggests something heavy and difficult to carry. Ultimately, the song is a meditation on the feelings of confusion and disorientation that come with being human, and the struggle to find meaning and direction amid the chaos of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar down the syrup in the Queen Anne's lace
Drinking sweet syrup from a wildflower plant
Shining in the light of nightshade
Glowing in the dark under the influence of toxic plants
Cultivating unsophistication in my face
Trying to appear less refined or cultured
Trying to think of nothing to say
Attempting to avoid conversation or confrontation
Grapes gone sour and the spinach went to seed
Fruits and vegetables that have rotted or died
It was spindly and sick from the outset
The plant was unhealthy from the beginning
Waiting for the hour with a wherewithal to leave
Eagerly anticipating the opportunity to depart
Patient as a dog for its master
Enduring a situation with great tolerance and loyalty
Aubergine
Labrador was locked through the promontory rock
A dog was trapped in the rocky cliffs
She called down, said "time is an illusion"
Someone called out and made a philosophical statement
An inconsequential shift as the continents drift
A minor change as the land masses move
But my confidence was crushed and I miss you regardless
Despite feeling unconfident, the singer still longs for another person
Aubergine
You can be your body but please don't mind
It's okay to prioritize your physical needs
If I don't fancy myself mine
But I don't feel connected to my own body
You at 32 still tied to your poor mother's apron strings!
Mocking someone for having a close relationship with their mother
Sorrel in the gravel and the saffron robe
A plant and a piece of clothing in an unusual location
Sleeping like a shark in the cord grass
Resting peacefully in an unfamiliar place
Now I saw how far I traveled down the solipsistic road
Realizing how self-centered and isolated I've become
I climbed out to ask for directions
Making an effort to seek guidance and assistance
There was not a pond in sight, here I'm gasping like a fish
Feeling out of place and struggling to survive
In the desert with a basket full of eggplant
In a barren and unforgiving environment with limited resources
Who asked about the passage from the bible on my wrists
Being questioned about a religious tattoo
But I couldn't catch my breath enough to answer
Too overwhelmed to respond or explain
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: AARON WEISS, BRANDON BEAVER, GREGORY JEHANIAN, MICHAEL WEISS, RICHARD MAZZOTTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind