Here is some background information on Alabama Shakes from the Hold On Songfacts: The R&B-inspired Rock band Alabama Shakes originated when lead singer/guitarist Brittany Howard approached bassist Zac Cockrell during a high school psychology class in Athens, Alabama and the pair began meeting after school to write songs. Howard and Cockrell then approached Punk-Rock drummer Steve Johnson, who was working at a local music store, to join the band. The trio recorded some of their songs in a studio in Decatur, Alabama and subsequently recruited guitarist Heath Fogg on his return to Athens from college in Tuscaloosa. Originally christened "The Shakes," the band later renamed themselves The Alabama Shakes in order to differentiate themselves from other bands with their original name.
The Alabama foursome gained widespread media attention after releasing a self-titled four-song EP in September 2011 and Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and ATO Records in the United States signed them two months later. Hold On was released as the first single from their debut album, Boys & Girls .
Gemini
Alabama Shakes Lyrics
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We were born together
In the beginning there was just you and me
Where we was washed up, upon this ferry
Suckled on the honey of the Tenessee
Where we would sleep, in the soft sunshine
I smile at you and you to me
Shine in your eyes
We grew strong and tall as weeds
Never live forever, there were no such thing
I looked at you, and you looked into me
And we saw in each other, everything
We knew no fear as we grew the years
That's the growing up, we've come to love
On this planet not so far away
We wouldn't stay together
Rolling in a dream
We'd drift apart, on down the stream
Like honeysuckle tangled up in kudzu vine
The snake that lay in the Sun, so fine
I saw true you, and you, true me
And in your eyes, I'd see the dark
Inside of you
Walk from dream, pulled up like weed
Never knew no better, there was no such thing
I reached for you like a child that cling
Oh we saw in each other, everything
Everything
Everything
The Alabama Shakes' song "Gemini" presents a beautiful journey of two people, who were born together on a planet not far away. The song embraces the concept of growing up together, intertwined as they suckled on the honey of Tennessee and slept in the soft sunshine. As they grew, there was no fear to be felt or known since everything they ever needed, they had in one another. They continue to grow, strong and tall like weeds, knowing that nothing lasts forever, but that they would always have each other.
However, just as the honeysuckle tangled in the kudzu vine, and the snake lay in the sun, the two people began to drift apart, roll in their dreams, and drift away from one another. As they grew apart, they saw new aspects of each other, including the dark sides, the parts that they never knew existed in one another. It's tempting to keep clinging onto each other, like a child who doesn't wish to let go, but the fact that they saw in each other everything is enough to let go and drift apart.
The emotion behind "Gemini" is raw and textured. It paints a picture of a journey of two people coming together, growing, and eventually drifting apart. There is a sense of sadness in the song as they go their separate ways, but an underlying sense of acceptance that nothing lasts forever, making it an exquisite reflection of the growth of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
On a planet not so far away
We were born on this planet, not too distant from here
We were born together
We were born at the same time
In the beginning there was just you and me
At the start, there were only the two of us
Where we was washed up, upon this ferry
We found ourselves on this shore, stranded from our home
Suckled on the honey of the Tenessee
We were nurtured by the sweetness of Tennessee
Where we would sleep, in the soft sunshine
We would rest in the warmth of the gentle sunlight
I smile at you and you to me
We exchanged smiles and happiness between us
And in the dark, I see the moon
During the darkness, I gaze upon the moon in your eyes
Shine in your eyes
The moonlight sparkles in your eyes
We grew strong and tall as weeds
We developed and matured, like sturdy weeds
Never live forever, there were no such thing
We knew we could not live forever, for that was impossible
I looked at you, and you looked into me
We truly saw each other, beyond superficial appearances
And we saw in each other, everything
We saw every aspect of each other's character, strengths and weaknesses alike
We knew no fear as we grew the years
We were fearless as we aged
That's the growing up, we've come to love
Growing up was something we have learned to cherish
We wouldn't stay together
We came to understand that we wouldn't always be together
Rolling in a dream
We were lost in a dream-like state
We'd drift apart, on down the stream
We slowly moved away from each other, like a river drifts apart
Like honeysuckle tangled up in kudzu vine
We were connected, like plants entangled with one another
The snake that lay in the Sun, so fine
We faced challenges and obstacles in the bright light of day
I saw true you, and you, true me
We saw each other's true selves
And in your eyes, I'd see the dark
I could see the darkness in your eyes
Inside of you
Your internal state
Walk from dream, pulled up like weed
We walked away as if from a fantasy, uprooted like weeds
Never knew no better, there was no such thing
We didn't know any better, for it simply didn't exist
I reached for you like a child that cling
I tried to hold onto you as a child would cling to someone
Oh we saw in each other, everything
We saw every aspect of each other, both good and bad
Everything
Absolutely everything
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Zachary Riley Cockrell, Heath Allen Fogg, Brittany Amber Howard, Steven William Johnson, Blake Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@msmith3426
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On a planet not so far away
We were born together
In the beginning there was just you and me
Where we was washed up, upon this ferry
Suckled on the honey of the Tenessee
Where we would sleep, in the soft sunshine
I smile at you and you to me
And in the dark, I see the moon
Shine in your eyes
We grew strong and tall as weeds
Never live forever, there were no such thing
I looked at you, and you looked into me
And we saw in each other, everything
We knew no fear as we grew the years
That's the growing up, we've come to love
On this planet not so far away
We wouldn't stay together
Rolling in a dream
We'd drift apart, on down the stream
Like honeysuckle tangled up in kudzu vine
The snake that lay in the Sun, so fine
I saw true you, and you, true me
And in your eyes, I'd see the dark
Inside of you
Walk from dream, pulled up like weed
Never knew no better, there was no such thing
I reached for you like a child that cling
Oh we saw in each other, everything
Everything
Everything
@Free2Pree
song makes me want to fall in love in a celestial pool full of gold energy at the tippy top of the universe. that dramatic....
@shantiharris7005
Yes!!
@GoddamnManbat
I’m not one to put stock in the truth of astrology, but as a Gemini diagnosed with Bipolar II, this nails how I want to love.
@scottydowns3954
Unbelievable... Honestly, I thought this kind of music was dead. When I first heard Alabama Shakes I figured it was just another come and go alternative band with songs like hold on and Don't wanna fight. But as SOON as I heard this album I was speechless. They incorporate greats like Floyd, zeppelin and with a blues voice I can't even compare. They will be considered classic in the near future, mark my words.
@cosmicccsource
+Scotty Downs I couldn't agree with you more! Glad to know that I am not the only one who appreciates the authenticity and originality of this band! Future classics, indeed.
@arviajohnson5150
Yea n evidently I few years later here 🤷
@JB-rv9zw
You are 100% correct. You thought GOOD music was DEAD. But is "holding on" in Brittany Howard and the Shakes. Too bad most people consume Plastic garbage music.
Support this artist and those like her or it will surely die. Pressure your local radio and don't support crap.
@robertrogers6021
I was about to change the song since there was auto play but i'm a Gemini so i decided to keep listening, pretty good song.
@jerrickfarbes7944
+Robert Rogers That's exactly why I am listening..
@jhxcczs
+Jerrick Farbes same here