Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Give Them A Token
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love the kisses that I'll be sending you, play the rhythm that I'm pretending to.
Take the time to find out why I bowed out...
I was flat on my own, my darling; fought the lessons of grace for so long...
When your trip's only five meters long, and you find you've been grown all along,
Join the living innoxious lullabies; only sleeping cabróns could sympathize.
Only they could forget their consciousness...
You can't stop laughing if you can't stop falling.
It makes you wonder whether he is calling.
Give them a token, give them a token to play...
Phone stops ringing when I play your number.
No bad loving could pervade my slumber.
Give them a token, give them a token to play...
Minor love can be shorn like a scarf...
Fairy tales are beheld to depart...
You can't stop laughing if you can't stop falling.
It makes you wonder whether he is calling.
Give them a token, give them a token to play...
The lyrics of Adam Green's Give Them a Token seem to explore themes of self-reflection, love, and the passage of time. The opening lines, "Disappear in complete disarray; reaffirm what our grandfathers say," suggest a sense of chaos or uncertainty, but also a desire to connect with past generations and traditions. The following lines, "Love the kisses that I'll be sending you, play the rhythm that I'm pretending to," hint at a romantic relationship that may be based more on fantasy than reality. Meanwhile, the lyrics "Take the time to find out why I bowed out... I was flat on my own, my darling; fought the lessons of grace for so long..." suggest that the singer has struggled to come to terms with some aspect of themselves or their past.
The second verse seems to continue exploring these themes, with lines like "Join the living innoxious lullabies; only sleeping cabróns could sympathize. Only they could forget their consciousness..." seemingly referring to the idea of escapism or avoidance. The repeated refrain of "Give them a token, give them a token to play..." could be interpreted as a plea to others to acknowledge or accept the singer's struggles or desires. The final lines, "Minor love can be shorn like a scarf...Fairy tales are beheld to depart..." suggest a sense of resignation or acceptance, perhaps hinting that the singer has come to terms with a certain amount of disappointment or disillusionment.
Some possible interpretations of the lyrics could include a sense that the singer is struggling to come to terms with their own identity or past, while also seeking love or connection with others. The idea of "tokens" or symbols may suggest a desire to be seen or acknowledged, while the repeated references to laughter, falling, and calling could hint at a sense of chaos or instability. Ultimately, however, the lyrics offer a somewhat ambiguous and open-ended portrayal of these themes, encouraging the listener to draw their own conclusions.
Line by Line Meaning
Disappear in complete disarray; reaffirm what our grandfathers say.
Lose oneself completely while simultaneously returning to the wisdom of the past generation.
Love the kisses that I'll be sending you, play the rhythm that I'm pretending to.
Enjoy the affection that I give you, follow the persona that I am fabricating.
Take the time to find out why I bowed out...
Investigate the reason behind my withdrawal from the situation.
I was flat on my own, my darling; fought the lessons of grace for so long...
I was failing at life all by myself, resisting the teachings of elegance for an extended period.
When your trip's only five meters long, and you find you've been grown all along,
When your journey is short and you realize you have been mature all this time,
Join the living innoxious lullabies; only sleeping cabróns could sympathize.
Become part of the harmless lullabies of existence that only ignorant people can relate to.
Only they could forget their consciousness...
Only those can forget their consciousness.
You can't stop laughing if you can't stop falling.
You will continue to laugh if you keep falling.
It makes you wonder whether he is calling.
This makes you question if he is calling.
Give them a token, give them a token to play...
Give them a coin or trinket to use as a game piece...
Phone stops ringing when I play your number.
The phone stops ringing when I dial your number.
No bad loving could pervade my slumber.
Negative affection cannot invade my sleep.
Minor love can be shorn like a scarf...
Affection of little importance can be removed like a scarf...
Fairy tales are beheld to depart...
Fictional stories are destined to go away...
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Iguanaintrouble
We were at an Adam Green show here in Stockholm, my friend and I waited for him behind the place he played. When he came out we talked and he hugged us and wanted to go for a smoke. A genuinely nice guy! Would pay to see him anytime, anywhere!
Brownie
This album is so good
Kyle Liao
I live in NYC and have been everywhere Adam walks in this video, which just makes me hopeful that one day I'll randomly bump into him in the park or on the subway. Greaaaaaaaaaaaaat song! My favorite on the album. Give them a token....
ThesixthStroke
This is absolutely brilliant Im sick of being subjected to dross like Florence and the Machine while real artists like Adam Green remain in relative obscurity. The bloke's a genius.
zaidabanksnyc
Adam Green is a genius he makes me feel happy everyday...I love you Adam,thanks a lot for your music,talent...for everything and please come back to Argentina I would like to see you for third time ♥
Lance Lindsey
Wow. He looks so different than he did from The Moldy Peaches. Such a talented musician.
numbkid
Perhaps one day the whole world will appreciate this pure talent
Raymond Bates
This is prolly one of my favorite songs.
waisbein
i feel so much by listening to his music!
Kyle Liao
Where can you get the acoustic version? I'd love to hear it.