Soma

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"Soma"
Song by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album
Lyrics
Lyrics
Tabs
Spotify
Released1993-07-27
Studio sessions
GenrePsychedelic rock[1]
Length6:39
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan, James Iha
Producer(s)Butch Vig, Billy Corgan
  1. Cherub Rock
  2. Quiet
  3. Today
  4. Hummer
  5. Rocket
  6. Disarm
  7. Soma
  8. Geek U.S.A.
  9. Mayonaise
  10. Spaceboy
  11. Silverfuck
  12. Sweet Sweet
  13. Luna

"Soma", originally called "Coma",[2] is a track on the album Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The song-writing credits list James Iha and Billy Corgan as co-authors, though reportedly Iha only wrote the chord structure for the beginning of the song.[3] The song is said to have included up to 40 overdubbed guitar tracks.[4] Corgan says the song "is based on the idea that a love relationship is almost the same as opium: it slowly puts you to sleep, it soothes you, and gives you the illusion of sureness and security."[5] It was also acknowledged that song was inspired by Corgan's break-up with his ex-wife, Chris Fabian.[6][7] The song also contains references to a hallucinogenic drug which was featured in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World[8] and features a prominent piano figure by Mike Mills of R.E.M.[9][10]

Reception[edit | edit source]

The song received positive reviews. Ned Raggett of AllMusic especially praised the song's guitar solo, while spotting elements from gothic rock and psychedelic rock.[9] The song was also likened to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones".[9][11] The critically acclaimed guitar solo was rated as the 24th in Rolling Stone's "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos" list.[12] The guitar solo was placed as 41st in NME's "50 Greatest Guitar Solos" list.[13]

Covers[edit | edit source]

Videos[edit | edit source]

Live at The Fillmore (April 27, 1994)

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

Nothing left to say
And all I've left to do
Is run away
From you
And she led me on, down
With secrets I can't keep

Close your eyes and sleep
Don't wait up for me
Hush now don't you speak
To me

Wrapped my hurt in you
And took my shelter in that pain
The opiate of blame
Is your broken heart, your heart

So now I'm all by myself
As I've always felt
I'll betray my tears
To anyone caught in our ruse of fools

One last kiss for me...yeah
One last kiss good night

Didn't want to lose you once again
Didn't want to be your friend
Fulfilled a promise made of tin
And crawled back to you

I'm all by myself
As I've always felt
I'll betray myself
To anyone, lost, anyone but you

So let the sadness come again
On that you can depend on me, yeah
Until the bitter, bitter end of the world, yeah
When god sleeps in bliss

And I'm all by myself
As I've always felt
And I'll betray myself
To anyone

Availability

TitleNotesType
Quiet and Other SongsDemo • Bootleg
Siamese DreamOriginal releaseStudio
VieuphoriaVideo
A Gothic–Industrial Tribute to Smashing PumpkinsTribute
EarphoriaMain releaseLive
The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing PumpkinsTribute
Rarities and B-SidesCompilation
Celebrating *20* Years of SadnessLive
Inside the Dream MachineBootleg • Live
Neath The Darkest EvesOriginal video releaseLive • Video
Siamese Dream (Fruit Bats cover)Tribute

Tour stats

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Terich, Jeff. "Smashing Pumpkins : Siamese Dream (Deluxe Edition)". Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  2. ↑ Hunter, James. "The Pumpkins Won't Be Smashed", Musician Magazine. July 1994.
  3. ↑ If All Goes Wrong. Dir. Jack Guliek. Perf. Smashing Pumpkins. DVD. Coming Home Media, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)". Punknews.org. March 25, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ van den Berg, Erik. "Smashing Pumpkins." Oor. 10 June 1993
  6. ↑ Hanson (2004), p.88
  7. ↑ Dimery, Robert and Michael Lydon (2010), p.706
  8. ↑ Lett, Jr. (2008), p.131
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Raggett, Ned. "Smashing Pumpkins - Soma". Allmusic. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ Reisfeld (1996), p.140
  11. ↑ Raggett, Ned (November 28, 2011). "The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  12. ↑ "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos". RollingStone.com. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2006-08-12.
  13. ↑ Coombs-Roberts, Kris. "50 Greatest Guitar Solos - 41 - Smashing Pumpkins - 'Soma'". NME. Retrieved January 2, 2013.

Sources[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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