As Tall As Lions’ journey toward maturation began in casual fashion, the original version of the band forming around Fitzgerald while the members were still in high school, around year 2002. During the next few years, they endured the lineup changes and artistic roadblocks many young bands experience before taking their present, permanent form. But they still had some growing to do.
"When we started doing Lafcadio, we really didn't understand what we were getting ourselves into – we were just kids" says Nigro. "We had made a couple demos, put them on the Internet and, after a couple of days, we had record labels calling us ready to sign the band. We all thought this whole band thing was going to come too easily after that. We dropped out of college and made As Tall As Lions our priority. At first, it was a tough adjustment. We'd never been on tour before, and getting used to life on the road was draining. I think we've all grown up a lot since then, and our attitude has changed for the better. We put everything we had into this new record and are extremely happy with how it came out."
But it didn’t come easy, as ATAL hit some speed bumps along the way. "Recording this record was not a walk in the park." Nigro admits. "There were a lot of passionate and vibrant discussions [read: arguments] during the creative period, and at one point I had to just leave for a while get away from it all." As it turned out, the hiatus gave Nigro the inspiration he and the rest of the band needed. "I came back with a clear head and was ready to write, record and be with my band. It all clicked after that.”
What emerged was an album entrenched in moody, soulful rock and roll – at once life-affirming, sensual and technically sophisticated – that seamlessly intertwines the members’ eclectic tastes, encompassing Neil Young, Can, Elbow and the Buena Vista Social Club. Produced by Steven Haigler (Brand New, Quicksand) and Mike Watts, As Tall As Lions is an album of irrepressible songcraft in which shimmering anthems ("Ghost Of York") stand alongside odes to love and resilience ("Milk And Honey").
"There weren't any rules," says Nigro. "We didn't want to be a band that limited ourselves or made rules about writing our music. In the past, we would come up with an idea and say, 'Oh, we can't do that – we're a rock band.' We felt shoved in a box. Two years ago, if we were to toss the idea around of having a dozen kids sing on a song ["Love, Love, Love (Love, Love)"], we would have thought it was absurd. Well, why? It'd be awesome to have little kids singing on our record."
As Tall As Lions vividly demonstrates what can happen when inspiration and dedication intersect at the right moment in a talented band’s evolution. After an intensive 18 months, As Tall As Lions have come of age.
http://www.astallaslions.com
In October 2010 the band released this statement on their website:
"A Sort of Farewell.
After eight years of music, friendship, laughter, adventure, bliss, blood, sweat, tears, and everything else that goes along with it, As Tall As Lions are retiring for the foreseeable future. There is no sadness on our side, and we hope there is none on yours. We will be playing a handful of shows across the country to try and give everyone an opportunity to see us one last time.
Our sincerest apologies to those who can't join us at these celebrations, but know you will be there in spirit. Much love to you all, and thanks again for everything.
-As Tall As Lions"
Song For Luna
As Tall As Lions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It'sbeen three years since I last saw
That lonely smile.
Bound to be a thousand more
'till I can find
Never
Would have thought you'd catch my eye
Broken ENglish, a goodbye
That came too soon.
Who needs words wboy.
When you reply
Con su cuerpo?
I've been stuck
On you foreign eyes.
They have struck for better
We put our lives on our shoulders,
But these arms are too weak to hold us.
Dreaming
'bout some drunken melody
You sung before.
Verses beautiful and strange,
I love that song.
I am strong beneath the fold
Of all that files.
Haven't found all that I'm looking for.
Lost your ghost somewhere in Samana
I run my finger across windows to trace
All the outlines that make up your face
Haven't found all that I'm looking for.
Lost your ghost somewhere in Samana
Try and try there's no use to pretend,
All I want is to see you again.
Sing into the moonlight
Who could ask for more?
The lyrics of "Song For Luna" by As Tall As Lions express a longing for a lost love. The first stanza introduces the subject, a person whose "lonely smile" has not been seen for three years. The singer yearns to see them again, but recognizes that it will likely be a long time before that happens. The second stanza describes how the two initially met, with the singer being struck by the other person's broken English and physical presence more than by their words. The singer then confesses to being "stuck" on this person's eyes and how they are too weak to hold up the weight of their lives together.
Moving on to the third stanza, the singer talks about how they often dream of the other person's voice and a "drunken melody" they once sang. The lyrics describe the song as "beautiful and strange," which seems to highlight the way this person was able to captivate the singer despite their broken English. The final stanza of the song expresses frustration at not being able to find what they're looking for (presumably the lost love), and a sense that they may be gone forever. The singer runs their finger across windows to trace the outline of the lost love's face, admitting that they can't pretend anymore - all they want is to see this person again.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer
The season when the events in the story took place.
It'sbeen three years since I last saw
It has been three years since the singer last saw someone.
That lonely smile.
The person the singer is talking about had a smile that appeared sad or lonely.
Bound to be a thousand more
The time to find that person again is going to be long.
'till I can find
The artist is talking about the time it will take to find someone again.
Never
The word suggests that the person the singer is referring to is unexpected.
Would have thought you'd catch my eye
The singer didn't expect to be drawn to this person.
Across the room
The person the artist is talking about was far away.
Broken ENglish, a goodbye
The last words the artist heard from the person left were goodbye, spoken in broken English.
That came too soon.
The artist believes that the moment was too short.
Who needs words wboy.
The singer is questioning the value of verbal communication.
When you reply
The artist is addressing the person spoken to.
Con su cuerpo?
The singer is asking if the person communicated with their body language.
I've been stuck
The singer is saying they've been fixated on a person or event.
On you foreign eyes.
The person the singer is talking about is not from the same country as them.
They have struck for better
The artist thinks the person's eyes are beautiful.
We put our lives on our shoulders,
The artist is taking responsibility for their life.
But these arms are too weak to hold us.
The singer says they are not strong enough to support themselves or someone else.
Dreaming
The singer is thinking about something that could have been a dream.
'bout some drunken melody
The artist is thinking about a song that was either played when they were drunk or about being drunk.
You sung before.
The artist is referring to the person they are thinking about singing the song in question.
Verses beautiful and strange,
The artist believes the lyrics to the song were unusual and attractive.
I love that song.
The singer has a strong positive emotional reaction to the song.
I am strong beneath the fold
The artist is trying to say they possess hidden strength.
Of all that files.
This line is ambiguous, but the singer might be saying that they are determined despite their troubles.
Haven't found all that I'm looking for.
The singer is admitting that they haven't achieved everything they want yet.
Lost your ghost somewhere in Samana
The singer is metaphorically referring to the person they are thinking about as a ghost they can't find.
I run my finger across windows to trace
The artist is physically searching their environment for any sign of the person they are thinking about.
All the outlines that make up your face
The artist is describing what they're hoping to find.
Try and try there's no use to pretend,
The singer is admitting that they are unable to deceive themselves into thinking they've found the person they're looking for.
All I want is to see you again.
The singer's ultimate goal is to see this person again.
Sing into the moonlight
The artist is addressing the person they are thinking of, encouraging them to sing into the night sky.
Who could ask for more?
The artist considers this a remarkable situation, which someone couldn't ask for more from.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind