Cymbals Eat Guitars were an indie rock band from Staten Island, New York, U… Read Full Bio ↴Cymbals Eat Guitars were an indie rock band from Staten Island, New York, United States, who formed in 2005. They consist of Joseph D'Agostino (vocals, guitar), Matthew Whipple (bass, vocals), Brian Hamilton (keyboards, vocals) and Anne Dole (drums).

The band quietly disbanded in late 2017.

The Living North
Cymbals Eat Guitars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I met the first guy
Who said "I'll always remember this night, Jane"
When I brought cigarettes home on a whim
It was really him
And all of us other guys
Who've said it since then
Well we've been trying to mean it as sincerely as he did

There is a metal divide
Between myself and this lake in New Jersey
Silver seaweed hands reach up and grab
A woman walking dog pulled in
Never heard from again
Focus on shining tension
We're striders on the surface
Of striders on the surface

I found a dog's leash on the shores of the Pacific
It means nothing to me

Overall Meaning

The Living North by Cymbals Eat Guitars is a complex song with vivid imagery that leaves interpretation open to the listener's discretion. The first verse refers to a memory of meeting someone who exclaimed that they will remember the current moment forever. The singer then brought cigarettes home on a whim, and this person was present when it happened. The singer mentions how this person's sentimentality is unmatched, and others who have tried to emulate that sincerity since have failed to match his level.

The second verse is overtly cryptic, distancing the listeners further from the song's intention. The lyrics reference a divide between the singer and a lake in New Jersey, the metaphor unclear. The silver seaweed hands are a vivid image that suggests an unseen presence that can forcefully subdue and drown someone. A woman walking her dog is pulled in, never heard from again. This metaphor can be many things, from the fear of the unknown, dangers that lie beneath the surface or the inevitability of death. The last verse is an incongruous fragment about finding a dog's leash on the shores of the Pacific, suggesting the disconnect between ideas and the persistence of memory.

Line by Line Meaning

I met the first guy
I encountered the first person who proclaimed they will always remember a moment we shared and his name was Jane.

Who said "I'll always remember this night, Jane"
This guy I met expressed that he will always remember the specific moment in which we were together, and he used the name Jane while saying it.

When I brought cigarettes home on a whim
During a spontaneous moment, I purchased some cigarettes and brought them back to my location.

It was really him
The individual who spoke up about always remembering our moment was present at the time cigarettes were brought to our location.

And all of us other guys
Myself as well as other individuals who have been in similar situations.

Who've said it since then
People who have made the same statement about always remembering an experience since I initially encountered the first individual.

Well we've been trying to mean it as sincerely as he did
All of us who have spoken about always remembering a moment have been attempting to do so with the same sincerity as the first guy I met.

There is a metal divide
A physical separation exists between myself and the lake in New Jersey.

Between myself and this lake in New Jersey
There is a distance between where I am and a body of water located in New Jersey.

Silver seaweed hands reach up and grab
There are portions of seaweed present in the lake which are reflective in nature and resemble hands reaching towards the surface.

A woman walking dog pulled in
A woman who was walking her dog near the lake was unexpectedly pulled in by the currents.

Never heard from again
After the woman was pulled into the lake, no one has heard from her again.

Focus on shining tension
Concentrating on a feeling of bright pressure or high emotion.

We're striders on the surface
We are moving forward on top of the lake's surface mimicking the movement of striders or water skippers.

Of striders on the surface
Repeating the previous statement to create emphasis on our movements.

I found a dog's leash on the shores of the Pacific
While located near the Pacific ocean, I discovered a leash used for restraining dogs washed up on the beach.

It means nothing to me
Finding the dog leash has no personal significance towards my life.

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Joseph Ferocious

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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