the night of a thousand verses
one thousand friends said have you heard
what we expected
we are all working late and
waiting to win a prize we don't deserve
and live to collect it
can't you see i'm weary
maybe this news can wait
the night of a thousand verses
one thousand strivers strain to hear
a voice that's left us
and the magazines still have to sell us
twelve mastergeniuses a year
it's all so shameless
can't you see i'm weary
maybe this news can wait
can't you see i'm blurry
maybe this news can wait
maybe there was a message in it
i don't know where you hid it
maybe there was a piece that will fit
i don't know where to fit it
tell me what kind of prize can you get
where you don't want to win it
can't you see i'm weary
maybe this news can wait
can't you see i'm blurry
maybe this blues can wait
i'm fairly new to posting on this website, and this song has been around for years now, so i was kind of surprised no one else has commented here. and it's been a few years since i've listened to this song but i recently got an incredible urge to hear it again. i have never actually heard any of semisonic's proper albums (shame on me, i know); i only own a greatest hits compilation of theirs. it's a damn fine collection--that band has a knack for churning out catchy power pop songs--so it's weird, now that i think about it, that i never made an effort to hear more of their discography.
from their best of collection, though, this is easily my favorite song. this track has a very unique tone that none of the other songs on the compilation have--it has a much darker sound. there's a tension in the verses because it feels like there's no resolution to the melody. ...which is why i absolutely fucking love the chord change into the chorus. it provides the release that the verse before had built up. and i also have to say i love the drums in the chorus--the cymbal work provides the coolest accents to the beat.
i was hoping someone here would have some intelligent insights regarding the lyrics, but alas, there were no comments. and i, unfortunately, am not very perceptive when it comes to the reading of lyrics. i definitely see some religious overtones here, but i can't seem to form any eloquent, substantial thoughts on the matter. hopefully other people will have left some comments by the time i get the urge to hear this song again in the distant future.