Garneau, a native of Boston, lived with his family in Paris during grade school, and later New Jersey before moving to New York City. Garneau discovered a love of music at a young age while learning to play piano. After high school, Garneau briefly attended Berklee Music School in Boston, but left after completing one term and moved to Brooklyn, NY. There he began writing music and playing live shows at small venues in the East Village and Lower East Side of Manhattan, including CBGB's Gallery and "The Living Room".
Garneau eventually signed with Absolutely Kosher Records, an Emeryville, California-based record label. He was brought to the label by Jamie Stewart and Caralee McElroy of Xiu Xiu. Garneau released his debut album Music for Tourists in October 2006 and on iTunes in January 2007. His second project, an EP titled "C-Sides", was released in December 2007. Garneau's second full-length album, titled "El Radio," was released in July 2009.
Hymn
Chris Garneau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or I might run away
My ears are bleeding
And my heart is worth swallowing
I can run fast, you know I can
I am aghast your favorite man
I can run fast, you know I can
Your favorite man
In Chris Garneau's song "Hymn," the lyrics "Try and think of nice things to say, or I might run away" reflect the struggles of someone who is experiencing intense emotions and feels the need to guard themselves against being hurt. The singer is begging for some form of affirmation, but also acknowledges that they may flee if the words spoken to them are anything less than what they want or need. The line "My ears are bleeding and my heart is worth swallowing" illustrates the depth of their emotional turmoil; their ears are bleeding from the harsh words they may have heard in the past and their heart feels heavy enough to be consumed.
The repetition of "I can run fast, you know I can" is both a plea for validation and an admission of fear. The singer is essentially stating that they are capable of moving at a rapid pace if necessary, but they are also subtly indicating that they may bolt if they feel overwhelmed or unsupported. Additionally, the phrase "I am aghast your favorite man, your favorite man" may suggest that the singer feels like they are constantly under scrutiny or pressure to perform for someone else's affection. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of someone who is struggling with their internal demons and needs reassurance and validation from those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Try and think of nice things to say
Please choose your words carefully, as negative comments may cause me to leave.
Or I might run away
If you say something negative or hurtful, I may feel compelled to leave the situation.
My ears are bleeding
The harsh or unpleasant sounds around me are causing me physical distress.
And my heart is worth swallowing
I am experiencing emotional pain so intense, it feels as if my heart has been consumed or swallowed up.
I can run fast, you know I can
I am capable of running away from physical or emotional threats if necessary.
I am aghast your favorite man
I am surprised that you like me or view me as a favorite person, given my struggles and vulnerabilities.
Your favorite man
You have affection or admiration for me, despite my imperfections and struggles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GARNEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind