Reverb-drenched and bittersweet, Alvvays members Molly Rankin and Kerri MacLellan were childhood friends, who began playing music with Alec O'Hanley while in high school. Lead vocalist Molly Rankin is the daughter of John Morris Rankin from the popular Canadian folk family group the Rankin Family. Molly Rankin released a solo EP titled "She EP" in 2010 and then in 2011 formed Alvvays with MacLellan, O'Hanley, and new members Brian Murphy and Phil MacIsaac.
Following tours with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Peter Bjorn and John, the group recorded a full-length album, Alvvays, which was released by Royal Mountain Records (Canada), Polyvinyl Records (US), and Transgressive Records (Europe) in July 2014. Chad VanGaalen, John Agnello, and Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck all contributed to the album's production. Simon Vozick-Levinson, writing in Rolling Stone, called the eponymous album an "indie-pop wonder". Alvvays went to #1 on US college charts on August 5, 2014.
The Agency Group
Alvvays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wondering if you can sneak away with me
I'll admit, I've been losing sleep
Rifling through your toxicology
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me
An outcast of modern society
Suffering from a case of sobriety
Shortcomings, well, you can take your pick
When you are catering to one of your nervous tics
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me, to me
You know that it won't take much longer before it's wrong
You know that it won't take much longer now that I'll be gone
It's gone, the sun is gone
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me, to me, to me, to me, to me, to me
In Alvvays's song "The Agency Group," the singer is parked outside of a company or agency, waiting for someone they are interested in to sneak away with them. The singer admits to losing sleep and rifling through the other person's toxicology, indicating that they have some anxious and potentially invasive tendencies. The second verse describes the singer as an outcast of modern society, suffering from sobriety and a series of shortcomings - these could be personal struggles or flaws, or could be related to the societal pressure to conform to certain ideals. The lines about catering to a nervous tic suggest that the singer may have some compulsive behaviors or tendencies.
The chorus repeats twice, with the other person's lack of interest in the singer being emphasized. There is tension between what the other person says and the singer's perception of their relationship - it could be that the other person is leading the singer on, or it could be that the singer is misinterpreting things. In the final lines, the singer acknowledges that their situation is unsustainable and that things are going to fall apart soon.
Overall, "The Agency Group" highlights themes of anxiety, isolation, and unrequited love. The singer's obsessive tendencies and shaky sense of self-worth are contrasted with their desire for connection and validation from another person.
Line by Line Meaning
Parked outside of the agency
Sitting in a car near the company, pondering about leaving together
Wondering if you can sneak away with me
Fantasizing if it's possible to make an escape plan
I'll admit, I've been losing sleep
Confessing that it's keeping them up at night
Rifling through your toxicology
Going through their behavior, looking for signs of negative influence
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
Feeling hurt that their partner doesn't reciprocate their feelings
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
Admitting that they don't have strong emotions for their partner
An outcast of modern society
Feeling disconnected from contemporary lifestyle and culture
Suffering from a case of sobriety
Being affected by the lack of drugs or alcohol, facing reality
Shortcomings, well, you can take your pick
Acknowledging their flaws, letting others choose what to criticize
When you are catering to one of your nervous tics
Noticing when their companion is indulging in a bad habit due to anxiety
You know that it won't take much longer before it's wrong
Having a premonition that their affair will soon be exposed
You know that it won't take much longer now that I'll be gone
Realizing that the end is near since they're planning to leave
It's gone, the sun is gone
Everything is over, they feel empty and secluded
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Molly Rankin, Alec O'Hanley, Brian Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CheaKH
[Verse 1]
Parked outside of the agency
Wondering if you can sneak away with me
I'll admit, I've been losing sleep
Rifling through your toxicology
[Chorus]
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me
[Verse 2]
An outcast of modern society
Suffering from a case of sobriety
Shortcomings, well, you can take your pick
When you are catering to one of your nervous tics
[Chorus]
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me, to me
[Bridge]
You know that it won't take much longer before it's wrong
You know that it won't take much longer now that I'll be gone
It's gone, the sun is gone
[Chorus]
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
When you whisper you don't think of me that way
When I mention you don't mean that much to me
To me, to me, to me, to me, to me, to me
@LadiesandgentlemenfooFIGHTERS
I love this band
@peppapig3616
Same
@davesmith3075
Same
@amelias2026
same
@SFforlife
Love everything about them. 😌
@AlbertMarv11
I do too. I love the first album so much I bought it twice. One one itunes and the other time a CD.
@legioxciicorvus5917
I am really digging this chicks vocals, and the band overall, been sampling her music for several months now, and I am definitely a fan.
@miklat11
all the albums have been 10/10 i love this band
@martinlynch9527
Just beautiful, like most of their songs. Love this band and can’t wait to see them live some day.
@bruhmoment1761
Im gonna see them in 4 days lol. But I still need to hear half of their new album