With sounds gathered from the landscapes of the American Southwest, chris and thomas’ music could just as easily find its home in the rainy hills of the early 1970’s English countryside. Combining American roots instrumentation with soothing vocal harmonies, the duo’s rustic sounds and heartfelt songs are filled with thoughtful lyricism.
chris and thomas became close friends at the historic art school in Liverpool where John Lennon and Paul McCartney had met up decades before. During their student years they found themselves in the bohemian surrounds of a group of painters, sculptors, renegades, holy men and metaphysical explorers who had made up much of Liverpool’s underground. They played the drunken Irish pubs till the sun shone and they sang for the Queen while they earned music degrees in film composition.
In the late 90’s the two had created “Cook Au Van,” a traveling cooking show. The vehicle for the show was literally an old gas board utility van that they had converted into a five star restaurant. Made from exquisite found objects, the van boasted water fountains, changing works of art and a fully functional wet bar. Inside the van, they hosted dinner parties for the Lord Mayor and countless British celebrities. After doing the circus lifestyle with the traveling restaurant and cooking for the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Bill Drummond, politicians and fine artists, the two had decided to turn back to their true love of music.
In 2003 chris and thomas arrived in Los Angeles, California. The duo’s live debut was on 11/18/03, opening up at the Hotel Café for singer/ songwriter Alexi Murdoch. Their unique live performance which involved playing with one condenser microphone and gathering around it like some modern day Carter Family, quickly earned chris and thomas a name on the L.A club circuit.
That was just the beginning. Returning from a weekend in Joshua Tree, the two were greeted by multiple phone messages from excited friends who had heard their song “Take These Thoughts” on L.A.’s influential NPR station KCRW. It was news to the pair. Their EP, Vista Street Sessions, was passed on by a mutual friend to the station’s tastemaker DJ /music director Nic Harcourt. Harcourt programmed the disc on his show, eventually included it on NPR’s syndicated Sounds Eclectic, which introduced a national audience to chris and thomas. Since then a lot has happened.
On air performances on KCRW and other radio stations followed with appearances at SXSW and other venues and festivals throughout the country. More radio stations have added chris and thomas to their playlists as their fan base continues to grow in the U.S., in continental Europe and in the UK.
“Take These Thoughts” recently won best song of the year in the Americana category at the Independent Music Awards 2006. The duo’s full length debut Land Of Sea was recorded with renowned producer/engineer Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, U2, Tom Waits). Howard, who used to work with producer Daniel Lanois for over ten years, has a very unique way of recording. He rented out an old sound stage in Hollywood the size of Abbey Road Studios, where he set up vintage recording equipment, Persian rugs, Victorian lamps and brought in legendary musicians to accompany chris and thomas on their record.
The record was first released in the UK in 2006 in conjunction with a 5 week tour and has gained critical acclaim and rave reviews (4 stars and runner up to album of the month in MOJO Magazine).
The US release includes the bonus track "Horse In The Sky". The song, penned by chris and thomas and Oscar nominated composer John Debney, is featured in the end credits of Garry Marshall’s new film Georgia Rule starring Lindsey Lohan and Jane Fonda.
chris and thomas’ woven harmonies and sparse instrumentation will make you think of big skies with small clouds.
Windows
Chris and Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She keeps on staring at me does she love me?
How will I know?
Will I ever know?
The girl in the car window opposite me
She keeps on looking at me does she love me?
How will I know?
Will I ever know?
But then again I think I see the same girls everyday
They become the same
I wouldn’t care if she stared a little longer
She’s kinda cute but maybe she’s thinking that I look strange
Is my hair okay?
And is a red light really a good time to find
Someone to fall for only by eyesight
Definitely not but I know that I will
And is it the right time to be in love for a night?
I don’t know her name but she’s still on my mind
I’d break my own heart through a window still
The girl in the car window opposite me
She keeps on staring at me does she love me?
How will I know? (How will I know?)
Will I ever know? (Will I ever know?)
The girl in the car window opposite me
She keeps on looking at me does she love me?
How will I know? (How will I know?)
Will I ever know?
Maybe she’s thinking of me too?
Would that even be something she’d do?
Maybe she’s looking for me in a song that she’ll write
About the one guy who she saw at a red light
I think it’s unlikely
She’s probably far away now the lights have changed
Now I’ll never be the same
The girl in the car window opposite me
She keeps on staring at me does she love me?
How will I know? (How will I know?)
Will I ever know? (Will I ever know?)
The girl in the car window opposite me
She keeps on looking at me does she love me?
How will I know? (How will I know?)
Will I ever know? (Will I ever know?)
The song "Windows" by Chris and Thomas explores the feelings of uncertainty and curiosity when two strangers catch each other's eye at a red light. The singer of the song notices a girl in the car window opposite him, staring at him, and wonders if she could be possibly interested in him. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and self-doubt as he questions whether he looks okay and whether he could be someone worthy of her attention.
The song encapsulates the ephemeral nature of fleeting romantic connections and the desire to know what could have been. The lyrics suggest that this momentary encounter could be a life-changing experience for both of them, but they are unlikely to get the chance to find out. There is a sense of longing and wistfulness as the singer acknowledges that he may never know whether she was truly looking for him.
Overall, "Windows" is a poignant and relatable song about missed opportunities and the sheer randomness of life. It elegantly captures the fleeting moments of connection that can occur between strangers and the hope and uncertainty that come with them.
Line by Line Meaning
The girl in the car window opposite me
Chris sees a girl in a car window on the other side of the street.
She keeps on staring at me does she love me?
Chris is wondering why the girl is staring at him and if she loves him.
How will I know?
Chris wants to know how he will find out if the girl loves him back.
Will I ever know?
Chris is not sure if he will ever find out if the girl loves him back.
Kinda looks like I’ve seen her before
Chris thinks he may have seen the girl before.
But then again I think I see the same girls everyday
Chris realizes that he sees many girls on his daily routine.
They become the same
Chris feels that all the girls he sees blend into one another.
I wouldn’t care if she stared a little longer
Chris is fine with the girl staring at him for a little while.
She’s kinda cute but maybe she’s thinking that I look strange
Chris thinks the girl is cute but wonders if she thinks he looks strange.
Is my hair okay?
Chris worries if his hair is in place.
And is a red light really a good time to find someone to fall for only by eyesight
Chris wonders if it's a good idea to fall in love with someone he sees only at a red light.
Definitely not but I know that I will
Chris knows that falling in love at a red light is not ideal but it might happen.
And is it the right time to be in love for a night?
Chris wonders if it's the right time to fall in love just for one night.
I don’t know her name but she’s still on my mind
Chris cannot remember the girl's name but he can't stop thinking about her.
I’d break my own heart through a window still
Chris would be willing to get hurt to pursue the girl.
Maybe she’s thinking of me too?
Chris wonders if the girl is also thinking about him.
Would that even be something she’d do?
Chris is not sure if the girl would also be thinking about him.
Maybe she’s looking for me in a song that she’ll write
Chris thinks the girl might be searching for him through a song she might write.
About the one guy who she saw at a red light
Chris thinks the girl might be writing a song about her experience seeing him at the red light.
I think it’s unlikely
Chris thinks it's unlikely that the girl is actually looking for him.
She’s probably far away now the lights have changed
Chris thinks that the girl is probably far away now that the lights have changed.
Now I’ll never be the same
Chris thinks that this experience has changed him forever.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Thomas Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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