I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Is it the way you're speakin'
Is it because I'm peakin'
Twistin' your face, thumb in hand, but you
Gotta have your own space to play in
A collection of glass chickens
Oh Vernie, what a garden you have
Maybe its the snuff under your lip
Or maybe caramel cake covered in Christmas
Oh a flower you are to my land, but I
No I cannot deny the beauty
If I had a heart I would want it to be like Vernie's
Oh what a heart that she has
Roaming through the cupboard jar of
pickles never opened since 1983
Peanuts in a pile and Elvis down the aisle
Singing gallantly
I wish I could be
A little more like Vernie
Oh, I wanna be
I wanna be a little more like Vernie
Is it because I'm peakin'
Twistin' your face, thumb in hand, but you
Gotta have your own space to play in
A collection of glass chickens
Oh Vernie, what a garden you have
Maybe its the snuff under your lip
Or maybe caramel cake covered in Christmas
Oh a flower you are to my land, but I
No I cannot deny the beauty
If I had a heart I would want it to be like Vernie's
Oh what a heart that she has
Roaming through the cupboard jar of
pickles never opened since 1983
Peanuts in a pile and Elvis down the aisle
Singing gallantly
I wish I could be
A little more like Vernie
Oh, I wanna be
I wanna be a little more like Vernie
Lyrics submitted by bubbrock316
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
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While the obvious connections with suicide or alcoholism could be drawn easily, more subtly this song could be about someone who views the world through a negative lens constantly and how as much as the writer tries to show the beauty in the world, this person refuses to see it. It's one or another between the rope and the bottle. There is no good option for this person. They can't see it. Skiba sings it in a kind of exasperated way like He's tired of hearing this negative view constantly and just allowing that person to continue feeling the way they feel knowing he can't do anything about it. You can hear it when he says maybe you're a vampire.
Its about his grandmother Vernie who he was really close to. i really like this song. Vernie goes to his vigil every year. i thought taht was kinda cool.
the best part of this song is when hes like...Tee hee hee hee, Tee hee hee hee, then roaming through the cupboard.....
this song reminds me of my cousin that just died... :(
Its about his grandmother Vernie who he was really close to. i really like this song. Vernie goes to his vigil every year. i thought taht was kinda cool.
In live concerts he says that vernie is a little old lady that lives in Indiana. I had no Idea that it was Shannons Grandma.
this song makes me think of this girl im in love with she has a beautifull heart...
Vernie is a fabulously delirious song. The way it shifts from a warbling, kind of blurred atmosphere, mixed with Shannon's unique way of describing his view of things, to the shift into memory lane of roaming through Vernie's cupboard jars, and peanuts in a pile, with Elvis down the aisle singing gallantly, is amazing, and it's quite evident that Shannon always kept good memories of his grandmother, with the little things bringing her to mind. The song is one, that if people didn't know that Shannon was singing about his grandmother, would maybe confuse some, but thats part of the beauty of Vernie. It's disorienting...I have seen and heard a couple live performances of the song, and sometimes prior to it, Shannon would say, "This song's about a little old lady who always told me to keep it simple, stupid".
This is one of my favorite Blind Melon songs. I love the slow tempo and brilliant lyrics that paint a picture. Its really a great song. I think this band was underrated. They were very good!
Shannon once said this is a song about keeping it simple stupid! This is my most favoritest of all Blind Melon songs!
This song is about Shannon's grandmother, Vernie, who lives in Lafayette, Indiana. Shannon described her as "a beautiful simple woman who loves God, her family, and her garden." "She's just very simple and doesn't take a lot of things for granted. That sums up her beauty. She always says, 'I love you' when you depart from her presence, because she always feels like that's the last time you could ever see each other."
She comes to his vigil on his birthday annually.