Meaning and Lyrics of 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins

Song Lyrics meaning of 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins

About The Smashing Pumpkins

Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois. The band was founded by Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar), James Iha (guitar), D’arcy Wretzky (bass), and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums). The band’s music is known for its fusion of heavy guitar rock and dreamy, melodic sounds, often featuring introspective and poetic lyrics. One of their standout songs is “1979,” released in 1996 as part of their album ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.’ The track became one of their most popular hits and won critical acclaim for its nostalgic lyrics and catchy melody. Smashing Pumpkins is also known for other hits like “Today,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” Over the years, the band has gone through various lineup changes and turbulent periods but has remained a prominent figure in the alternative rock scene. Billy Corgan remains the sole original member of the band, leading their music in new directions while staying true to their signature sound.

Meaning of 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins

The song “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins captures a sense of nostalgia, youth, and reflection on fleeting moments. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a carefree time in the year 1979, a time when youth felt invincible, carefree, and impulsive. The song’s verses depict scenes of youthful rebellion, freedom, and the idea of living in the moment. The reference to “shakedown 1979” sets the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting a year of upheaval and change.

The cool kids who never seem to have enough time and the feeling of being on a “live wire” evoke a sense of exhilaration and recklessness that are common in adolescence. The lyrics describe a carefree adventure with a feeling of endless possibility, accentuated by images like “Junebug skippin’ like a stone” and “headlights pointed at the dawn.” It speaks to a time of innocence and excitement, where the future seems limitless.

The chorus reflects a sense of apathy towards the mundane aspects of life, represented by “zipper blues,” and a contemplation on mortality and the passage of time. The imagery of bones resting to dust and being absorbed into the earth signifies the transience of human existence and the inevitability of mortality.

The song delves into themes of rebellion, uncertainty, and restlessness. The verses talk about defying expectations and norms, feeling detached from societal conventions, and embracing a sense of rebellion. The reference to “morphine city” and “thousand guilts” suggests a world filled with complexities, struggles, and a sense of entrapment.

The bridge brings a moment of reflection and realization, acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and the speed at which time passes. The juxtaposition of lights and towns below and the feeling of moving faster than anticipated symbolize a sense of not fully grasping the passing of time until it’s already gone.

The final verses and outro emphasize a feeling of isolation and urgency, hinting at the realization of time slipping away and the transient nature of youth. The references to “freaks and ghouls” and the urgency of the street heat create a sense of immediacy and fleeting moments.

Overall, “1979” captures a mix of nostalgia, rebellion, and introspection, encapsulating the complexities and contradictions of youth and the ever-changing nature of life.

Lyrics of 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins

Verse 1
Shakedown 1979
Cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet

Verse 2
Junebug skippin' like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all

Chorus 1
And I don't even care
To shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth
Below

Verse 3
Double-cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slippin' dues, down to see

Chorus 2
That we don't even care
As restless as we are
We feel the pull
In the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement

Bridge
Lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go
Beneath the sound of hope

Verse 4
Justine never knew the rules
Hung down with the freaks and ghouls
No apologies ever need be made
I know you better than you fake it, to see

Chorus 1
That we don't even care
To shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth
Below

Outro
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around

Discography The Smashing Pumpkins

Aghori Mhori Mei

Release: 2024-08-02
Label: Martha’s Music
Popularity: 👏👏👏
1. Edin
2. Pentagrams
3. Sighommi
4. Pentecost
5. War Dreams Of Itself
6. Who Goes There
7. 999
8. Goeth The Fall
9. Sicarus
10. Murnau
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ATUM

Release: 2023-05-05
Label: Martha’s Music
Popularity: 👏👏
1. ATUM
2. Butterfly Suite
3. The Good in Goodbye
4. Embracer
5. With Ado I Do
6. Hooligan
7. Steps in Time
8. Where Rain Must Fall
9. Beyond the Vale
10. Hooray!
11. The Gold Mask
12. Avalanche
13. Empires
14. Neophyte
15. Moss
16. Night Waves
17. Space Age
18. Every Morning
19. To the Grays
20. Beguiled
21. The Culling
22. Springtimes
23. Sojourner
24. That Which Animates the Spirit
25. The Canary Trainer
26. Pacer
27. In Lieu of Failure
28. Cenotaph
29. Harmageddon
30. Fireflies
31. Intergalactic
32. Spellbinding
33. Of Wings
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CYR

Release: 2020-11-27
Label: Sumerian Records
Popularity: 👏👏
1. The Colour Of Love
2. Confessions Of A Dopamine Addict
3. CYR
4. Dulcet In E
5. Wrath
6. Ramona
7. Anno Satana
8. Birch Grove
9. Wyttch
10. Starrcraft
11. Purple Blood
12. Save Your Tears
13. Telegenix
14. Black Forest, Black Hills
15. Adrennalynne
16. Haunted
17. The Hidden Sun
18. Schaudenfreud
19. Tyger, Tyger
20. Minerva
Tracklist Collapse

Upcoming Events for The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins: The World Is A Vampire Tour

Price Range: $59.95 – 249.95
Date: 2024-09-27
Location: Fontainebleau

The Smashing Pumpkins

Price Range: $89.5 – 229.5
Date: 2024-09-21
Location: Grand Sierra Resort and Casino

The Smashing Pumpkins

Price Range: $89.5 – 229.5
Date: 2024-09-21
Location: Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
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