Widow Wake My Mind

"Widow Wake My Mind"
Promotional single by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album Lyrics Tabs
Released	January 18, 2010
Format	Digital download, 7", CD
Studio sessions	Spring 2009 – Coldwater Studios; September-December 2009 – Pumpkinland II;
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:59
Label	Self-released, Rocket Science
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan
Producer(s)	Kerry Brown, Billy Corgan, Bjorn Thorsrud
Alternate cover
	Promotional CD cover
	Teargarden by Kaleidyscope - Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor A Song for a Son; Astral Planes; Widow Wake My Mind; A Stitch in Time; Teargarden Theme;

"Widow Wake My Mind" is a 2010 song by The Smashing Pumpkins.^[2]^[3] It is the second track released from the band's eighth album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.^[4] It was first performed live by Billy Corgan's side project, Spirits in the Sky. The song was released as a promotional CD single for radio play and was added to the rotation of several major-market stations. Additionally, the band performed the song live with an Up With People choir on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 20, 2010 to promote the Songs for a Sailor EP release.^[5]^[6]

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

The song received mixed reviews. William Goodman of Spin gave it a positive review, describing it as "a well-crafted pop-rock song with spare piano interludes, never-overbearing drums, and a big, song-capping vocal with polished guitar solos." According to Goodman, the song opens with a funk-inspired jangly guitar riff and drops into a bass guitar and keyboard section, accompanying Billy Corgan's nasal singing. He also praised Mike Byrne's drumming skills.^[1] The Wall Street Journal also indicated that the song has a "mid-career Beatles-like feel, with a bright melody and expansive production."^[7] Spin's review was also positive, naming the song "a very pleasant surprise." Rolling Stone included it in their "hot list", calling it "[Corgan's] sweetest pop melody since Kennedy left MTV."^[8]

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh
oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh

widow wake my mind
widow wake my mind
widow wake my mind
widow wake my mind

i'm looking for a love, a love that shines
that shines, a love that shines
to be mine, yes, all mine
a love that's mine

oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh
oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh

widow wake my mind
widow wake my mind
are you real this time?
widow wake my mind

i'm looking for a love that i can find
to be mine, a love that's mine
it'll shine, in my mind
a love that shines

accept the grace, the moment you are in
accept the chase of where we must begin
'cause when you crawl, you crawl into my heart
and when you fall, you fall right in my arms

we'll shine, yes, we'll shine
our love will shine
you'll be mine, yes, all mine
our love will shine

oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh
oh, oh oh, oh, oh oh

i'm looking for a love that i call mine

shine, we'll shine
widow wake my mind
shine, we'll shine
widow wake my mind
shine, we'll shine
we'll shine
widow wake my mind
shine, we'll shine
we'll shine
widow wake my mind
shine, we'll shine
we'll shine
widow wake my mind
shine, we'll shine
we'll shine
widow wake my mind
we'll shine

Track listing[edit | edit source]

MP3 and US promo CD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Widow Wake My Mind"	4:26

Limited edition red 7" vinyl
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Widow Wake My Mind"	4:26
2.	"A Song for a Son"	6:02

Release history[edit | edit source]

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
January 18, 2010	Rocket Science	9158	CD	US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[1]
January 18, 2010	Self-released		MP3	US	Discogs		[1]
April 17, 2010	Self-released		7" red	US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[2]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Availability

Title	Notes	Type
Widow Wake My Mind	MP3 and US promo CD	Promo
Teargarden by Kaleidyscope - Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor	CD and bonus 7"	EP

Tour stats

Total plays: 21 plays (20 full, 1 abandoned, 1 soundcheck), 9 acoustic, 3 artists
First performance: Spirits in the Sky 2009-08-26 at Cellar Door, Visalia, CA, US
Last performance: Billy Corgan 2022-02-06 at Madame ZuZu's, Highland Park, IL, US

Personnel[edit | edit source]

Musicians

Mike Byrne – drums
Billy Corgan – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Mark Tulin – bass guitar

Technical personnel

Kerry Brown – production
Stephen Marcussen – mastering
Bjorn Thorsrud – production, engineering

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Goodman, William (January 19, 2010). "REVIEW: Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song". Spin. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
↑ Breihan, Tom (January 18, 2010). "New Smashing Pumpkins Track: "Widow Wake My Mind"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
↑ Owen, Tom (January 19, 2010). "LIsten to New Smashing Pumpkins Track 'Widow Wake My Mind' Now!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins – "The Fellowship" & "Jesus Needs A Hit"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
↑ Marty Lennartz (2010-04-21). "The Smashing Pumpkins On Jay Leno". Wxrt.radio.com. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins "Widow Wake My Mind" (live on Jay Leno)". Tiny Mix Tapes. April 21, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Give Away New Song, "Widow Wake My Mind"". The Wall Street Journal. January 18, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
↑ Rolling Stone Magazine. Issue #1099. March 4, 2010.

External links[edit | edit source]

"Widow Wake My Mind" at SPFC

[spin-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Goodman, William (January 19, 2010). "REVIEW: Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song". Spin. Retrieved July 14, 2013.

[2] Breihan, Tom (January 18, 2010). "New Smashing Pumpkins Track: "Widow Wake My Mind"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 14, 2013.

[3] Owen, Tom (January 19, 2010). "LIsten to New Smashing Pumpkins Track 'Widow Wake My Mind' Now!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 15, 2013.

[4] "The Smashing Pumpkins – "The Fellowship" & "Jesus Needs A Hit"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2011-06-28.

[5] Marty Lennartz (2010-04-21). "The Smashing Pumpkins On Jay Leno". Wxrt.radio.com. Retrieved 2011-06-28.

[6] "The Smashing Pumpkins "Widow Wake My Mind" (live on Jay Leno)". Tiny Mix Tapes. April 21, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2013.

[7] "Smashing Pumpkins Give Away New Song, "Widow Wake My Mind"". The Wall Street Journal. January 18, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2013.

[8] Rolling Stone Magazine. Issue #1099. March 4, 2010.

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