The Smashing Pumpkins — 1979
Album: Mellon Collie & The Infinite SadnessAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 2716
Length: 4:15
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Shakedown 1979
Cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end
To it all
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
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slippin dues
Down to see
That we don't even care
As restless as we are
And we found pull
In the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, 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
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 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
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
Cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end
To it all
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
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slippin dues
Down to see
That we don't even care
As restless as we are
And we found pull
In the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, 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
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 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
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
Comments (323)add comment
The iPhone app did it again, when I was posting a comment for the previous song, it posted it in the song that’s playing now. Radio Paradise, can you please get somebody to work on the iPhone app so that when you are posting a comment on a song and the song changes that the comment will stay on the original song?
Just love those story dirge songs.
This may be the Pumpkins' best song...
In psychiatry we call this “word salad”....but I still give it a 9 just for the raw sound of it
You can always tell the truly great songs. They sound good every time.
When this song came out, I was blasting music in the basement of my parents house in 1995, cleaning it out after a winter of hermetically sealed to keep drafts out and gas bills low. I propped the vestibule door space to the basement wide open, warm fresh air poured around me and stale, cool air fled for its life into the sunny day as I heard this song and was never more happy to hear a song from the 60s or 70s. Rock music still inspired young artistry, energy, and renewal. I was 22 for most of 1979 and was never more alive than during that year. I felt the same feeling with the Smashing Pumpkins. I always returned to youtube to listen to that song as one of may favorites. Not because of the impressionable years of teenage-hood, but because it was so emotionally moving by just its sound alone and that voice of the lead singer. I started to follow this new to me band because of its one song, even though I was a father of 3, 13 years into a marriage and a long way from a well or misspent youth. It broke though the armor of anxiety of responsibility and unfailing routine of paying bills on time and dutifully following up on every misstep of my young children to nudge them back to the strait and narrow of safety, as much as safety as I could provide.
One of the most persistent jingles going around in my brain for the last few decades - can't shake it - not sure if I even like the song :)
Skydog wrote:
More like «It reminds me of my days at University»
****
I was 18 in 1979, quite a step. Just about to go to university. When this song came up in 1995, I felt old just by reading the title! Now, a long time after, it seems so foolish. Liked it then, like it now. I think I must sttill have the CD somewhere...
nasa50016177 wrote:
вспомнил учёбу в университете...
Skydog wrote
I remembered his studies at the University of ...
вспомнил учёбу в университете...
Skydog wrote
I remembered his studies at the University of ...
More like «It reminds me of my days at University»
****
I was 18 in 1979, quite a step. Just about to go to university. When this song came up in 1995, I felt old just by reading the title! Now, a long time after, it seems so foolish. Liked it then, like it now. I think I must sttill have the CD somewhere...
dc_zee wrote:
Were you in your teens in 1979?Kaisersosay wrote:
I was,,,,, it was fun....
Were you in your teens in 1979?
I was,,,,, it was fun....
I was in my teens in 1995 (HS grad in June 95) when this song came out...and since I was decidedly anti-grunge (or anti-whateverwaspopularatthemoment) I didn't really know the song then....and while I can say I'm not a big fan of the squashed squash-kin, I do like the grove and vibe and meaning of this song. And being 18 then, the same age Billy C was when he captured his mental image at the heart of the song (apparently he was waiting in his car at a 4-way stop in the rain) which he has said "emotionally connotes a feeling of waiting for something to happen, and not being quite there yet, but it's just around the corner" - well that's pretty cool...and a lot like graduating from HS...so I'm rating this an 8 for delayed nostalgia on my part.
And then a few songs after this was played today, BillG spins the Counting Crows "Mr. Jones" - another tune from my HS days - and one that I liked then and still do. (and contrary to the rather low RP rating, the song is pretty good with a great story behind it, and after reading about it might turn some of those 6s to 9s.)
Anyways, I'm rambling and I'll stop.
dc_zee wrote:
Were you in your teens in 1979?
I was,,,,, it was fun....
Were you in your teens in 1979?
I was,,,,, it was fun....
Mellon Collie was a bit of a letdown for me after the sonic boom of Siamese Dream. Still some audio qualities in this tune though.
wellmm wrote:
Were you in your teens in 1979?
I feel blue everytime I listen to this song 
Were you in your teens in 1979?
1979 makes me miss 1995
ScottishWillie wrote:
Yes, weren't the bowlegged gypsy muleskinners driven out of Scotland by Saint Fillan of Pittenweem back in the 12th Century?
You Americans are a funny race. I can assure you that you could listen to Scottish radio for a hundred years and never hear 1979 which is a shame. However you could go to church in Scotland for hundred years and never see people “dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... ” which on balance is probably a good thing.
Yes, weren't the bowlegged gypsy muleskinners driven out of Scotland by Saint Fillan of Pittenweem back in the 12th Century? nasa50016177 wrote:
I remembered his studies at the University of ...
вспомнил учёбу в университете...
I remembered his studies at the University of ...
this mobys porcelain and elton johns tiny dancer are my lone 10's so far... brilliant writing imagery great music and coorigans voice has never been all that good the growly whispry airy voice works perfectly here so a 10
вспомнил учёбу в университете...
ppopp wrote:
funny (good song)
Listening to this guy sing is like chewing tin foil and juggling box jellyfish.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
funny (good song)
Sooooo over done.
This song was the first song that I liked and was not liked by my parents and/or friends.
8
sublime song
1995 was a good year! 
I feel blue everytime I listen to this song
This song always does it for me.
This song reminds me of Special Needs by Placebo (or vice versa). Definitely they took some inspiration from 1979.
I love this song - I added it as one my ringtones. Thank you for playing it!!
A Bertolli Production
I'd give everyone a widespread bed
Still my ratings are so low, in the following episodes,
I'm quasi forced to change my name from Dart Vader into Dearth Vader.
I'd give everyone a widespread bed
Still my ratings are so low, in the following episodes,
I'm quasi forced to change my name from Dart Vader into Dearth Vader.
primm wrote:
Except Mick never whined
singer always reminds me of a young mick jagger
Except Mick never whined
love this song
'we really love Geek USA'
ppopp wrote:
Great imagery. I don't agree, but still...
Listening to this guy sing is like chewing tin foil and juggling box jellyfish.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
Great imagery. I don't agree, but still...
singer always reminds me of a young mick jagger
Listening to this guy sing is like chewing tin foil and juggling box jellyfish.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
This album was huge when it came out. Now it's about as popular as a Confederate Flag in San Francisco.
Never gets old! lemmoth wrote:
No such thing as overplayed on RP.. Seriously, stop listening to terrestial radio. A great song is a great song, And this is one great song.
Again you totally missed the point with this sentiment; I have not heard this song since the 90s when I did listen to terrestial commercial radio. What has been done has been done, has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the song. You cannot tell someone how to experience a song if they do not enjoy it anymore, again has nothing to do with the song itself. Maybe someday you will get that.
No such thing as overplayed on RP.. Seriously, stop listening to terrestial radio. A great song is a great song, And this is one great song.
Again you totally missed the point with this sentiment; I have not heard this song since the 90s when I did listen to terrestial commercial radio. What has been done has been done, has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the song. You cannot tell someone how to experience a song if they do not enjoy it anymore, again has nothing to do with the song itself. Maybe someday you will get that.
one of the few Pumpkins songs I can listen to. A couple of times a year is often enough though.
Dazzerb wrote:
Oh yes!
10 - Godlike. 
Oh yes!
10 - Godlike.
astapen wrote:
That voice like a sick cat.
——————————————————————————-
And we all know a great voice is a prerequisite for rock 'n roll. I'm sure Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett would sound much better doing this.
And this segues into Pretty in Pink by Psychedelic Furs and we all know Richard Butler has a sublime voice....ha ha...but hey, it works!
That voice like a sick cat.
——————————————————————————-
And we all know a great voice is a prerequisite for rock 'n roll. I'm sure Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett would sound much better doing this.
And this segues into Pretty in Pink by Psychedelic Furs and we all know Richard Butler has a sublime voice....ha ha...but hey, it works!
By_The_Bay wrote:
Agreed, I'm really not a fan of his voice either but the music they wrote was so incredible it didn't matter and still doesn't matter - just great songs and lots of them. It's a perfect example of how a whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts. As individual artists, nobody in the Smashing Pumpkins has ever approached the greatness of what they accomplished as a group - in my opinion.
Great songwriting. Don't like the voice? That's Rock & Roll.
Agreed, I'm really not a fan of his voice either but the music they wrote was so incredible it didn't matter and still doesn't matter - just great songs and lots of them. It's a perfect example of how a whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts. As individual artists, nobody in the Smashing Pumpkins has ever approached the greatness of what they accomplished as a group - in my opinion.
If I had a rock band we would sound like this....My daughter came down to listen with me which automatically makes it a 10
This was a great rock band.
Great songwriting. Don't like the voice? That's Rock & Roll.
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song more than flying saucers... time flies when we're having fun...
Outstanding song. Unfortunately maximum overplayed in due time.
Classic!!!
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of homeless camps be dancing buck ass naked all over the mountains and beaches from sea to shining sea like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... we love this song... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... time flies when we're having fun...
War On Drugs ==> Smashing Pumpkins / Billy Corrigan
Hidden meaning there?
Hidden meaning there?
ScottishWillie wrote:
and that's why jocks are queer, in the original sense.
You Americans are a funny race. I can assure you that you could listen to Scottish radio for a hundred years and never hear 1979 which is a shame. However you could go to church in Scotland for hundred years and never see people “dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... ” which on balance is probably a good thing.
and that's why jocks are queer, in the original sense.
astapen wrote:
That voice like a sick cat.
i agree.
That voice like a sick cat.
i agree.
tournemire wrote:
very strange request : the PSD button is here for you, and please let the others enjoy ....;
Yup, but we have some trumpets who think radio paradise should only play songs from their own personal play list.
very strange request : the PSD button is here for you, and please let the others enjoy ....;
Yup, but we have some trumpets who think radio paradise should only play songs from their own personal play list.
astapen wrote:
I soo agree! That voice like a sick cat.
Retire this song please!
very strange request : the PSD button is here for you, and please let the others enjoy ....;
I soo agree! That voice like a sick cat.
Retire this song please!
very strange request : the PSD button is here for you, and please let the others enjoy ....;
smartn1 wrote:
I soo agree! That voice like a sick cat.
Retire this song please!
One of my least favorite songs ever.
I soo agree! That voice like a sick cat.
Retire this song please!
MIkePogo wrote:
Have to agree with the last comment: 1979 is a great song but it's been played to within an inch of its life (especially here in Southern California). Bill: respectfully, may we retire 1979 until 2079? And then you can revive the crap out of it. 
You Americans are a funny race. I can assure you that you could listen to Scottish radio for a hundred years and never hear 1979, which is a shame. However you could go to church in Scotland for hundred years and never see people “dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... ” which on balance is probably a good thing.
oldsaxon wrote:
I've told you a million times, stop exagerating!
I told him a billion.
I've told you a million times, stop exagerating!
I told him a billion.
sirdroseph wrote:
I've told you a million times, stop exagerating!
I remember I liked this song when it first came out, that affection waned after about a 1000 plays..........then came day 2.
I've told you a million times, stop exagerating!
One of my least favorite songs ever.
MIkePogo wrote:
No such thing as overplayed on RP.. Seriously, stop listening to terrestial radio. A great song is a great song, And this is one great song.
Have to agree with the last comment: 1979 is a great song but it's been played to within an inch of its life (especially here in Southern California). Bill: respectfully, may we retire 1979 until 2079? And then you can revive the crap out of it.
No such thing as overplayed on RP.. Seriously, stop listening to terrestial radio. A great song is a great song, And this is one great song.
Wow! This song right after Violent Femmes? Totally made my Friday afternoon. Tx, PR. You are the greatest!
Best. Song. Ever.
Lazarus wrote:
Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... love this song... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... love this song... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Have to agree with the last comment: 1979 is a great song but it's been played to within an inch of its life (especially here in Southern California). Bill: respectfully, may we retire 1979 until 2079? And then you can revive the crap out of it.
A classic, wonderful song that if I never hear it again...will be too soon. Sorry. Good tune, just beaten to death and beyond.
Anyone know what that weird little sound effect is after each repeated guitar riff?
sirdroseph wrote:
Lets see... 1000 times at 4:16 minutes...hmmmmm... (sound of fingers tapping a calculator)... (murmuring) let's see here, carry the 4...
Got it! 71 hours of listening to the same song back to back to back. So... that's more like 3 days without sleep you nut,
I remember I liked this song when it first came out, that affection waned after about a 1000 plays..........then came day 2.
Lets see... 1000 times at 4:16 minutes...hmmmmm... (sound of fingers tapping a calculator)... (murmuring) let's see here, carry the 4...
Got it! 71 hours of listening to the same song back to back to back. So... that's more like 3 days without sleep you nut,
LOVE the song, always have...but I have always wondered...what is that sound you hear on the repeated guitar riff? Just a sound effect?
It´s my favourite song since I was a teenager.
Never much of a fan of the Pumpkins, but always liked this one a lot. Turning it up....
ambrebalte wrote:
My god, I didn't realize this was released in 1995. I swear I thought it was mid 2000's...holy crap! I was a freshman in high school in 1979. I loved this song when SP released it. I think today, what I thought then.... "WOW!...I've had so much fun! But, boy does the time fly when you do!"
1979. Such a good year. Eighteen. Still have most of the dreams of this year.
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
My god, I didn't realize this was released in 1995. I swear I thought it was mid 2000's...holy crap! I was a freshman in high school in 1979. I loved this song when SP released it. I think today, what I thought then.... "WOW!...I've had so much fun! But, boy does the time fly when you do!"
I remember I liked this song when it first came out, that affection waned after about a 1000 plays..........then came day 2.
Still love to listen to, and jam along with, this one. Billy's ear for a catchy hook is almost as good as Kurt's was.
This song always takes me to another place.
best. song. ever.
Everybody in my church loves this song...
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. —Friedrich Nietzsche
ambrebalte wrote:
I remember when Prince 1999 came out. I was in high school and always thought what a far, distant future it would be, and wondered if they would play 1999 during that year, or if our hovercars would even HAVE radios or cassettes.
1979. Such a good year. Eighteen. Still have most of the dreams of this year.
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
I remember when Prince 1999 came out. I was in high school and always thought what a far, distant future it would be, and wondered if they would play 1999 during that year, or if our hovercars would even HAVE radios or cassettes.
ambrebalte wrote:
Hello, ambrebalte! I hope you are having a great time right this minute...
this song is marvelous... time flies when we're having fun...
1979. Such a good year. Eighteen. Still have most of the dreams of this year.
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
Hello, ambrebalte! I hope you are having a great time right this minute...
this song is marvelous... time flies when we're having fun...
8292... 3, that's wangernum!
mrgus wrote:
mrgus wrote:
That's Numberwang!
1979. Such a good year. Eighteen. Still have most of the dreams of this year.
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
When SP released this album in 95/96 I remember thinking, gosh, such a huge amount of time already. Hello 2013, and yet time seems to endlessly stretch or concentrate itself.
I love this song!
Hello romeo/lazarus
motobecane wrote:
I have been saved...
everybody in my church loves this song...
Former member?
I have been saved...
everybody in my church loves this song...
(former member) wrote:
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this autumn evening...
Former member?
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this autumn evening...
Former member?
It gets my toe tapping too. Not an insignificant feat when work is going so badly for me today.
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this autumn evening...
That's Numberwang!
Please tell me it's over. First time RP has made me take my headphones off.
romeotuma wrote:
This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...
I find you strangely intriguing romeotuma. I suspect if you are not on some kind of some kind of medication you probably should be. But as my employers filters have denied me access to you profile (first time that’s ever happened) because the “Page content filters applied - score = 485”. I’m not sure what a "Score = 485" means other that my employer thinks it would be inappropriate for me to learn about you.
This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...
I find you strangely intriguing romeotuma. I suspect if you are not on some kind of some kind of medication you probably should be. But as my employers filters have denied me access to you profile (first time that’s ever happened) because the “Page content filters applied - score = 485”. I’m not sure what a "Score = 485" means other that my employer thinks it would be inappropriate for me to learn about you.
Double intriguing!
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this summer night...
I've always thought this song was really bland. Meh.
When this song came out, my carpool mate and I would try the whole hour long commute home to make that echo-y sound they are making. It was like a contest to see who could come closest.
kcar wrote:
Actually, you can play it too much...Bill.
Feeling that a little bit more these days, unfortunately.
Actually, you can play it too much...Bill.
Feeling that a little bit more these days, unfortunately.
We be profoundly dancing... love it...
misterbearbaby wrote:
Um, this song was released around 1995; this band didn't even exist until the late '80s. It seems like rock music has been in a "money-lined trench" since long before the '80s, but I guess it depends who you ask.
Just before "rock" music slid into the shallow, plastic-lined money trench of the 80's there was a last gasp- here it is! Not a bad tune.
Um, this song was released around 1995; this band didn't even exist until the late '80s. It seems like rock music has been in a "money-lined trench" since long before the '80s, but I guess it depends who you ask.
beautiful song...
soooo brilliant... love it soooo much...
ShoePuke wrote:
No, I be human... love this song...
Are you a bot?
No, I be human... love this song...
Before the lyrics start, someone sings a word or a phrase. What on earth are they saying? "Television" or "Tell it to me". I've always wondered. 
Are you a bot?
romeotuma wrote:
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this spring night...
romeotuma wrote:
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this spring night...
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this spring night...
absolutely marvelous... love this song...
Everybody in my hotel room be dancing to this wonderful classic... love it...
This song is soooo good it puts a spring in my step this winter morning...
shakitten wrote:
...then I really need to hear some more of their music because this song is really growing on me.
Not their best.
...then I really need to hear some more of their music because this song is really growing on me.
Just before "rock" music slid into the shallow, plastic-lined money trench of the 80's there was a last gasp- here it is! Not a bad tune.
This takes me back to summer 1995, 120 Minutes, Matt Pinfield. Lots of great modern rock to choose from in the mainstream at that time. My rock 'n' roll cover band used to play this when it was current. Not well, but we played it.
This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...
ziakut wrote:
A nice, solid 5 at best!
always wonderful to hear this cool song... love it...
magnificent... love it...
Not their best.
I was born in 1980, and when this song came out I was at my grunge/rock era (actually, still am...) and it completely blew my mind. This song, to me, symbolizes the feelings of a teenager (and my feelings then, of course) - to perfection. It has this vibe and urgency in the music and the lyrics that I connected with immediately when I heard it first, and still today it reminds me of that time.
One of the best songs ever. If I ever grow tired of it, it would mean I forgot my youth. I hope that never happens.
One of the best songs ever. If I ever grow tired of it, it would mean I forgot my youth. I hope that never happens.
Okay, I'll go with it........I did NOT hear this inn 1979: but I should have. HEM.........madebytim wrote:
madebytim wrote:Meeeeeehhhhhh
Time flies when we're having fun... love this song...
Meeeeeehhhhhh
Everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
Everybody in my hotel room be dancing! Love this song!
I'll dance to this...
Look after the king of R n R please