The Gin
Blossoms were one of the greatest, and most tragic, rock bands of the 1990s.
The greatness stems mainly from their hit 1992 album, New Miserable Experience, one of the greatest collections of
jangle-pop tunes of this or any other decade. (It’s probably not a coincidence
that their first post-NME single, “Til I Hear It From You”, was co-written with
Marshall Crenshaw.)
The band’s
co-founder and original guitarist, Doug Hopkins, wrote their first two hit
singles (“Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You”), as well as two of NME’s
best non-radio tracks, “Lost Horizons” and “Pieces of the Night”.
Unfortunately, the drinking references in the latter two songs were based on
personal experience; Hopkins had battled depression and alcoholism for many
years, and his drinking problems worsened significantly while the band was
recording NME, to the extent that the other members were forced to dismiss him
from the band. In December of 1993, just as the band was hitting it big, Doug Hopkins shot himself to death.
“Follow
You Down” was the first single from the band’s follow-up album, Congratulations I’m Sorry. (The title
refers to how some people greeted the band, referring both to their success and
to Hopkins’ death.) Musically, the song is irresistibly infectious, with a
great uptempo melody and some tasty harmonica work. The lyrics are more
bittersweet, and the chorus in particular has always brought Doug Hopkins to
mind for me.
Anywhere you go
I’ll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I’ll follow you down
I’ll follow you down, but not that far
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