In the advent of alternative rock’s mainstream breakthrough, Mayonaise was released on the Smashing Pumpkins‘ second studio album Siamese Dream (image inset) in 1993. There are a whole host of other pioneering grunge / alt-rock groups who have featured here that arose in the early 1990’s and coursed a new path for music, but today it’s the Smashing Pumpkins’ turn to shine. I listened a lot to their breakout record Siamese Dream and two tracks always remained close to me, namely Mayonaise and Today, and from their follow-up record Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – Tonight, Tonight. Despite a tumultuous recording process, the album received acclaim and is regarded as one of the best albums in the genre.
The following are extracts from the Wikipedia article below:
In 2012, Rolling Stone readers voted Mayonaise as their favourite song in the band’s catalogue. Despite having garnered considerable radio play and remaining a fan favorite, Mayonaise was never an officially released single. According to Billy Corgan (founder, lead singer & primary songwriter), the whistling sound (feedback) heard in Mayonaise came from a cheap guitar he bought, which, whenever he stopped playing it, created the whistling sound. This sound was then incorporated into the song. Corgan apparently got the title for the song after he looked “in [his] refrigerator“. Later, he stated in an interview with a Colombian radio station that the name stands for the phonetics of “My Own Eyes“.
The track is a delicate balance of raw emotion and intricate musicianship, encapsulating the band’s ethos. Despite its whimsical name, the song is deeply introspective. Its lyrics delve into themes of self-doubt, longing, and the search for identity.
[Verse 1]
Fool enough to almost be it
Cool enough to not quite see it
Doomed
Pick your pocket, full of sorrow
And run away with me tomorrow
June
[Bridge]
We’ll try and ease the pain
But somehow, we’ll feel the same
Well, no one knows
Where our secrets go
[Verse 2]
I send a heart to all my dearies
When your life is so, so dreary
Dream
I’m rumored to the straight and narrow
While the harlots of my perils
Scream
[Chorus 1]
And I fail
But when I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Mother, weep the years I’m missing
All our time can’t be given
Back
Shut my mouth and strike the demons
That cursed you and your reasons
Out of hand and out of season
Out of love and out of feeling
[Chorus 2]
So bad
When I can, I will
Words defy the plans
When I can, I will
[Verse 4]
Fool enough to almost be it
And cool enough to not quite see it
And old enough to always feel this
Always old, I’ll always feel this
No more promise, no more sorrow
No longer will I follow
Can anybody hear me?
I just want to be me
References:
1. Mayonaise (song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I remember this one…you know I have started to like them more and more as I hear more from the blogs. Probably my favorite of their catalog is the song “1979”… but I do like this one as well. His influences are many of the bands I like.
When I was relistening to ‘Mayonaise’ in drafting the post, I felt transported back to when I first heard it in my late teens. That guitar reverberation sound he achieved (by a kink in his cheap guitar lol) is outta this world. I think I am as impressed now with this epic song as much as I was back then.
Thanks for reconnecting me with ‘1979’. Wonderful song, which regretfully with time I let slip.
The Replacements do that to me also…take me back to a simpler time. Like I said…I’m liking them more and more as time goes on.
It’s funny you mentioned that because there was a song you mentioned to me from them which I thought I didn’t like it. But after like 20 or so revisits I think I do like.
I clung to them in the 80s Matt…they were the rawest band being played on alt channels. They were almost a 70s throwback band…
I have listened to so much of The Replacements based on your recommendations, but I just can’t warm to them like The Smiths. It doesn’t make one right or wrong.
Oh no…just a personal thing…I listened to the Replacements in my teen years like you did the Smiths…so it’s who we listened to…can’t go wrong with either one…they were a hell of lot better than mainstream…. we picked right
I didn’t listen to the Smiths in my teenage years. I wish I had. I learnt of them much later by a girl Tatiana
Oh ok…I heard them on our alt channel…I liked them and REM.
Apart from REM’s big hits I didn’t get into them.
You know I like that jangle guitar man….I’m hooked with that.
I mean, god help me..is there a better 2 minute song of ‘William It Was Really Nothing’. There might be a Beach Boys song
I remember that one…it very well could have fit them
I’m a way bigger fan of The Smiths than I am of the Replacements, but I can see your love.
I just like Westerberg’s songwriting…I think he was one of the best of the 80s.
Now I really like Johnny Marr a lot from the Smiths..
I think Morrissey’s songwriting continues to endure. Not to mention his singing. It depends on what resonates with you.
I do like a lot of their songs…my favorite song by them….and one of my favorites of all time is How Soon Is Now?
The question begs to ask – How did they realise that song? They achieved so much that people are still perplexed by.
Johnny Marr put that tremolo at the beginning and that hooks me
They couldn’t replicate it
It was just a magical moment so to speak…it is the song that probably defines them…they had more songs but that one is special.
I doubt that although that song is stupendous. I think there are way too many songs which people are crazy for. I think Morrissey’s ‘Half a person’ which was mostly written by a fan is up there. But there are too many.
For the general public though…that is the one they know the most I think. I’m not saying it’s their best but that is the one that more people seem to know.
Ok
For example, you don’t think the song ‘There is a Light, that Never goes out’ won’t be talked about in a hundred years’?
Yes….I think Dave blogged about it before…I like the song. Like I said…I like The Smiths. They were all part of that alternate music scene growing up.
Sorry for the delay in responding…our house has a new resident…we picked up a Prairie Dog…and she rules us pretty much…we just got her a 4 story cage-home lol….
It’s sad about Christian. I’ll get back.
Yea I just read it Matt…you and I are the first two who saw it.
That would appear. He posts excellent music like you. Love you too buddy.
Losing my parents was devastating…6 months apart…I felt like an orphan as dumb as that sounds.
Yeh, I couldn’t imagine how that would be for you. But you have kicked all arse, so you are laughing.
Yea….I wasn’t just saying that to Christian…I do feel them with me. They taught me right from wrong and I still hear them saying good job or why did you do that for? It made me a better person with my family.
You are a great guy and people feed off that and read it. To me you have always been an inspiration and who I talk about here.
Thank you Matt. You have taught me about movies and music…and we have had some good chats. Its nice to talk to you about politics…which I couldn’t with most people on here.
Yeh, that’s cool too. What a bummer they didn’t kill Trump
Well we have 3 choices…Trump, Harris, and Kennedy…I won’t vote Harris no matter what.
I was joking ofcourse. I think given the young population, America is f%6ed anyway-
I know dude…believe me. I am happy Bailey’s friends mostly are for the republicans because the other is so wacko.
You are a great guy and people feed off that and read it. To me you have always been an inspiration and who I talk about here.
Same to you Matt
Always my go-to man. Love you too
You know Matt…it’s odd that us bloggers are countries away but we still feel love for each other…we have a good community here.
Yeh, like Christian are miles off as far as world – views are concerned, but he feels like a brother of sorts. Like you do to me.
Same here Matt. I think more of a lot of you than a lot of people I know in my “real life.”
I also feel a lot closer to you and Christian in my own life. It’s a blessing and it’s only because of music.