Still Life With Cooley Lyrics

Lyric discussion by N9inchnails9 

Cover art for Still Life With Cooley lyrics by Better Than Ezra

This song is perfect in summing up what was wrong with that wave of 90’s “alt-rock” (pop) that came around from about 94-99… I was in junior high back then so I, unfortunately, experienced it first hand. Plus, a friend of mine loved.. and still loves.. all those bands like Eve 6, Our Lady Peace, Sponge, Tonic, Sugar Ray, etc.

Did you ever hear a song that makes you feel embarrassed for the person singing it? Yeah, that’s this. Those “good time, heart warming” lyrics just make me cringe. Labels were out signing each and every band that played poppy, radio friendly alt-rock, so the radio was flooded with them. But just as quickly as they came, they disappeared… Most of these bands are still playing/releasing music, but other than people in their late 30s/40s, no one else is really interested.

Really, think about that… The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Kiss… bands that have been around 50+ years… you can go to a concert and see younger kids there, enjoying it. But bands like Better Than Ezra and The Clarks… They’re playing small clubs to small audiences of people strictly over 35.

But that’s what happens with these two-dimensional groups that lack the substance and depth required to make them appealing beyond being a one hit wonder riding on the fad of the decade.

@N9inchnails9 Gotta disagree, respectfully of course. There's a dark tone underneath this one and it all hinges on replacing the phrase "Now Daddy don't love her anymore" to "Daddy don't LIVE HERE, anymore."

it's not as shallow and accessible as it may first appear, due to it's whimsical, bouncy and yes somewhat "pop" sound - whatever that even means at this point...

Unless I'm mistaken, I believe the BTE singer is from Louisiana so his Southern US accent could be making this harder to decipher for many but, as an originating US Southener,...