Allegra Gellar is named after the lead character… Read Full Bio ↴Bio from AG's Facebook:
Allegra Gellar is named after the lead character in David Cronenberg’s 1999 film, eXistenZ, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, and yes, purposefully spelled differently by one letter. Jeremy Wilkins and Denver Bon began using the band name, Allegra Gellar, in 2003 upon their arrival in Los Angeles. They previously played together in several Atlanta based bands, including underwater and rosewater elizabeth, but were starting over in a new city with a new sound.
In 2003, they immediately began working on their debut, “The Make-Up Artist” (2004). Inspired heavily by bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Red House Painters, and Cursive, Allegra Gellar was originally at it’s core an indie-rock band, writing songs about destructive relationships and lost love. While primarily guitar based, Jeremy’s experiences as a keyboard player and programmer meant that electronics were always a substantial ingredient of the band’s sound.
Throughout the years Allegra Gellar became more of an ever-changing cast of players than an actual band. In 2004, George Lewis III moved to Los Angeles from Portland and joined the group just as Denver took an extended leave of absence. Together Jeremy and George, with contributions from various friends, released, “Where I’ve Been Has Faded” (2005) and “Cassette” (2007). In 2007, after the release of “Cassette”, Denver returned to the group and a drummer, Olive, was added to the line-up to promote the record. In 2008 Allegra Gellar recorded and released their most definitive and artistically successful record to date, “The Light From Cakes”, half brand new material and half older songs revised and perfectly executed by the newly refreshed and inspired band.
The Allegra Gellar camp saw big changes in 2009. First, George took a break to focus on his solo endeavor, The Other Also. Then in spring George decided to move back to Portland and continue his educational studies. By summer Jeremy and Denver left Los Angeles behind to follow George to Portland, where they are now officially based. In October Jeremy and Denver released the fifth Allegra Gellar full-length, “The Wrist Vs The Futurist Party”. The record was recorded mostly in Los Angeles but George added some final touches just before the record was mixed in Portland. Unlike their previous records, “The Wrist Vs The Futurist Party” is not filled with autobiographical tales but instead made up entirely of stories about characters from a fictional American future. The record has solidified Allegra Gellar’s current sound, which melds acoustic guitars and electronics to create a delicate, spacious foundation for the up-close storytelling of Jeremy’s vocals, more in the vein of European electro-pop than American indie-rock..
Moving forward Jeremy and Denver plan to continue to take the lead in further exploration of Allegra Gellar’s electro-folk sound in both the studio and on stage. Meanwhile, all three core Allegra Gellar contributors, Jeremy, Denver and George have started a brand new full-time band with drummer Daniel Kopton called International Grey. The new band has a loud and dark, shoegaze/post-rock sound. Expect to see and hear plenty from both International Grey and Allegra Gellar in coming months.
Leave Me Alone
Allegra Gellar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a thousand people just like me
A hundred unions in the snow
I watch them walking, falling in a row
We live always underground
It's gonna be so quiet in here tonight
A thousand islands in the sea
And a hundred years ago
A sailor trod this ground I stood upon
Take me away everyone
When it hurts thou
From my head to my toes
From the words in the book
I see a vision that could bring me luck
From my head to my toes
From to my teeth, through my nose
You get these words wrong
You get these words wrong
Every time
You get these words wrong
I just smile
But from my head to my toes
From my knees to my eyes
Every time I watch the sky
For these last few days leave me alone
Leave me alone
In Allegra Gellar's song Leave Me Alone, she sings about feeling isolated and disconnected from those around her. She mentions a thousand islands in the sea, which could signify the vastness of the world and the feeling of being lost in it. She sees a thousand people just like her, which could represent a sense of sameness and an inability to stand out or be noticed. Similarly, she mentions a hundred unions in the snow, which could signify a plurality of people working together, but in a desolate and isolated landscape.
Allegra sings that they live always underground, which could mean they are disconnected from the rest of the world, living in a subterranean existence where they are unseen and unheard. She anticipates that it's going to be quiet where they are tonight, which further emphasizes the silence and isolation. The last few lines of the verse are 'It's a shame,' which could mean she's disappointed with her life or that the isolation is unfortunate.
The next verse mentions a sailor who trod the ground that she is now standing on a hundred years ago. This could symbolize the notion of timelessness and continuity, but also the feeling that nothing has changed, and she is still disconnected and separated from the world. She wishes to be taken away from everything that hurts her, from her head to her toes. She sees a vision that could bring her luck, which could be a fleeting hope that keeps her going.
In the chorus, Allegra sings about how people often get her words wrong, but she just smiles. This could represent her feeling like she's misunderstood and not truly seen, but she accepts it and moves on. She ends with the plea, "Leave me alone," emphasizing her desire to be left in solitude.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of isolation, disconnection, and a desire for solitude. The lyrics have a lot of symbolism and metaphor that leave room for interpretation, making it a poignant and reflective piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
On a thousand islands in the sea
I feel lost, surrounded by countless strangers in an unfamiliar place, similar to being on an island in the vastness of the ocean.
I see a thousand people just like me
Despite feeling lost, I realize that everyone around me is going through the same struggles and emotions as I am.
A hundred unions in the snow
I observe unions or connections between people, but the snow symbolizes how these unions can be cold, distant, and fleeting.
I watch them walking, falling in a row
I witness the conformity and uniformity in the actions of these people, almost as if they are blindly following each other and falling in line.
We live always underground
I feel trapped and confined, like we are living in a dark and closed-off place, not fully experiencing life above ground.
It's gonna be so quiet in here tonight
I predict that tonight will be solemn and somber, lacking any excitement or entertainment to distract me from my thoughts and emotions.
It's a shame
Despite acknowledging the beauty of the sea and the islands, I can't help but feel melancholy and sad about my current situation.
And a hundred years ago
I reflect on how time has passed and how different life used to be. This line also hints at the fact that things may not change for a long time.
A sailor trod this ground I stood upon
I imagine a sailor walking on the same land as me, reminding me of how small and insignificant we all are compared to the vastness of the world.
Take me away everyone
I long to escape my current reality and to be taken away from my troubles, together with everyone else around me.
When it hurts thou
I know that it hurts, but I don't know how to express it or how to fix it.
From my head to my toes
My whole body is overwhelmed and affected by my emotions, both physically and mentally.
From the words in the book
I find solace and inspiration from the written word, which has the power to lift me up and give me hope.
I see a vision that could bring me luck
I envision success and happiness, hoping to manifest these positive outcomes in my life.
You get these words wrong
I'm disappointed when people don't understand my thoughts and feelings or interpret them incorrectly.
Every time
This issue happens repeatedly, causing me frustration and disappointment every time it occurs.
I just smile
Despite the disappointment, I try to maintain positivity and hide my true emotions with a smile.
But from my head to my toes
Again, my whole being is consumed by my emotions and thoughts.
From my knees to my eyes
My body is physically affected by my emotions, from experiencing weak knees to shedding tears.
Every time I watch the sky
Looking up at the sky reminds me of the limitless possibilities and opportunities out there, offering a sense of hope and inspiration.
For these last few days leave me alone
I need some space and time for myself to process my thoughts and emotions. I'm asking for solitude, even if it's just for a few days.
Leave me alone
This final line is a plea for peace and quiet, time to reflect and heal without external distractions or interruptions.
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.