According to Songfacts, Buffalo Tom's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer Tom Maginnis. The band epitomized the rise of indie guitar rock in the 1990s, but unfortunately they had only limited commercial success, despite the consistently high quality of their records.
While Buffalo Tom never 'officially' broke up, they took a seven year break, starting around 1999/2000. During that time while singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz and singer/bassist Chris Colbourn worked on solo material and other projects (Bill with his band, The Crown Victoria, Chris with former Fuzzy singer/guitarist Hilken Mancini). Drummer Tom Maginnis took up a day job in publishing.
In 2007 the trio began playing again and released an album of new material, Three Easy Pieces.
As of 2018 they are again active, touring behind their album released 3/2/2018, "Quiet and Peace."
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Late At Night
Buffalo Tom Lyrics
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But they get in all right
And she turns on the light
I held her hands so tight
'Cause words don't come out right
And she sees things at night
I don't get scared no more
But I don't know the score
If I could hold them in my hand
I'd make them understand
I'm not a haunted mind
I'm not a thoughtless kind
If I could put them in a jar
I know they wouldn't scar
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would
I close my door at night
But she gets in all right
So I turn on the light
I held her hand too tight
Too hard to make it right
So I could sleep at night
If I could hold them in my hand
I'd make them understand
I'm not a haunted mind
I'm not a thoughtless kind
If I could put them in a jar
I know they wouldn't scar
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would
The lyrics of Buffalo Tom's Late at Night represent the inner turmoil of a person struggling with their thoughts and worries, particularly during the night. The song's opening lines "I close my door at night, but they get in all right" highlight the theme of insomnia and anxiety. Despite closing the door, the singer's negative thoughts and worries still invade his mind. The second line, "And she turns on the light," suggests that the singer is not alone in this experience, and likely has a partner trying to comfort him through the difficult time.
The second verse, "Me, I'm closer to the door, I don't get scared no more, but I don't know the score" suggests a sense of detachment from the singer. He may have developed a coping mechanism to distance himself from his worries, but this has resulted in a lack of insight into his own mental state or the source of his troubles. The chorus, "If I could hold them in my hand, I'd make them understand, I'm not a haunted mind, I'm not a thoughtless kind," highlights the singer's desire to find a solution to his problems. He wants to be understood and heard, but he also wants to assure those around him that he's not "haunted" or "thoughtless."
The final verse, "So I could sleep at night" suggests that getting a good night's sleep is the end goal for the singer. The song's final lines repeat the chorus, emphasizing the singer's desperation to feel understood and accepted by himself and those around him. Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the effects of anxiety and insomnia, and the struggle to find a sense of inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I close my door at night
At the end of the day, I shut myself off from life's troubles
But they get in all right
Despite my efforts to block out the world, problems find their way inside
And she turns on the light
To ward off the fears and anxieties that come with the dark
I held her hands so tight
I cling to my loved ones as if they are my only hope for survival
'Cause words don't come out right
I struggle to articulate my feelings or express myself when I need to be vulnerable
And she sees things at night
My partner is privy to my inner demons and can sense when I am troubled
Me, I'm closer to the door
I position myself closer to the escape route because I'm always on edge
I don't get scared no more
Although I'm used to my fears, they never fully dissipate
But I don't know the score
I don't know what life will inevitably throw at me, and that ambivalence troubles me
If I could hold them in my hand
If I could physically grasp my problems, they would seem more manageable
I'd make them understand
I would communicate my feelings to my troubles in hopes of resolving them
I'm not a haunted mind
I am not defined solely by my traumas or fears
I'm not a thoughtless kind
I don't ignore problems or dismiss them as insignificant
If I could put them in a jar
If I could bottle up my worries, I would feel more in control
I know they wouldn't scar
I believe that if I could contain my problems, they wouldn't hurt me as much
I'd do it if I could
If there were any way to make my troubles disappear, I would do it
I hope you know I would
I want to convey to those around me that I am trying my best to cope
So I turn on the light
I seek comfort in the illumination, both literally and figuratively
Too hard to make it right
I try to control my fears but often overcompensate and cause tension in my relationships
So I could sleep at night
I desperately want to find a way to make my inner turmoil subside enough to rest peacefully
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BUFFRALO TOM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind