Jaffe's musical journey began while attending boarding school in Millbrook, New York. It was during this time that he adopted the name Del Water Gap, inspired by the sight of it handwritten on the back of a box truck. Initially, Jaffe played drums in a noise rock band, where he had limited opportunities to showcase his vocals. Seeking further education in music and sound production, he pursued studies at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU.
While Del Water Gap was originally a band, it eventually transitioned into Jaffe's solo project. The lineup underwent changes during his college years, including a collaboration with singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, who was involved for a six-month period. Jaffe and Rogers initially connected during their freshman year of college, and they released the song "New Song," recorded in 2014. Collaborations have played a significant role in Jaffe's career, as he also worked with Claud on the single "My Body" and co-wrote and produced Claud's "Never Meant To Call."
In 2018, Jaffe signed with Terrible Records and released the single "Laid Down My Arms." This was followed by the release of the singles "Chastain" and "Theory of Emotion" as a lead-up to his third EP, "Don't Get Dark," also under Terrible Records.
Del Water Gap signed with Atlantic Records in 2020, and subsequently released the tracks "Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat" and "Mariposa." The song "Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat" gained significant attention when actresses Margaret Qualley and Kaitlyn Dever shared an Instagram video of themselves participating in a "socially distant dance party" to the song during the initial summer of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Del Water Gap joined Mom + Pop Music, releasing the single "Hurting Kind" along with a music video co-directed by Charlie Plummer. The video received support from MTV, and images from the shoot were featured in GQ. Del Water Gap's debut album was released with Mom + Pop Music in October 2021, followed by a headline tour and a support tour alongside Jeremy Zucker.
Alone Together
Del Water Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't have the courage, do you mind it?
I′ve been superstitious at night now, I've been
More specifically, I'm frightened
"Don′t die," I said, "I won′t," you repeat
I'm so in my head, my thumb′s on your teeth
I'm coasting through life, you sold your twenties
Oh love, oh my, my
Don′t you find it moving how we're still alone, still alone together?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don′t you find it moving how we're still alone, still alone together?
Tell me, what would you do for love
Now that you found it?
Smoking, hanging off of my hand and coughing
"Do you wanna move in with me?"
You can do the crossword while I'm making breakfast
Don′t tell me if you have to cheat
I′ll try my best to keep you appeased
You're crying on my chest, I′m high on my knees
I'm so sad, but I, just don′t make me leave
Fuck, how did this happen?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we′re still alone, still alone together?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone, still alone together?
Tell me, what would you do for love
Now that you found it? (oh, no)
Yeah, tell me, what would you do for love
Now that you found it?
Tell me what would you do
Don′t you find it moving?
Oh, don′t you find it moving?
Oh, don't you find it moving how we′re still alone?
The lyrics to Del Water Gap's song Alone Together convey a sense of vulnerability in a romantic relationship. The singer begins by admitting that they struggle to communicate their deepest thoughts and feelings to their partner. They express fear and superstition at night, suggesting a level of insecurity that they may not have revealed before. Additionally, the lyrics highlight the singer's introspective nature, remarking that they are "so in my head."
The chorus appears to be a reflection on the paradox of being "alone together" - that is, sharing one's life with someone else but still feeling solitary. The singer questions whether this is a shared experience with their partner, asking if they find it as moving as they do. The song seems to be an honest portrayal of the kind of loneliness that can exist even in the closest of relationships.
It's also notable that the song's tone shifts from an emotional, introspective ballad to a more lighthearted portrayal of domestic life towards the end of the track. The singer makes jokes about moving in together and mentions playful domestic activities like doing the crossword and making breakfast. This contrast between heavy emotional themes and moments of light relief further emphasizes the complexity of the singer's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t ever tell you nothing, no
I lack the courage to say anything to you. Does that bother you?
I’ve been superstitious at night now, I've been
At night I am increasingly frightened and superstitious.
Don′t die,′ I said, ′I won′t,′ you repeat
I begged you not to die, and you promised me you wouldn't.
I’m so in my head, my thumb′s on your teeth
I am lost in my thoughts, my thumb is on your teeth as a nervous habit.
I'm coasting through life, you sold your twenties
I am taking life as it comes, while you have already gone through the tumultuous phase of your twenties.
Tell me how did it happen?
Please explain how did things turn out this way?
Smoking, hanging off of my hand and coughing
We smoke together, with me holding the cigarette and you coughing.
Don′t tell me if you have to cheat
Don't tell me if you have to be unfaithful, I would prefer to not know.
I′ll try my best to keep you appeased
I will do everything in my power to make you happy and satisfied.
You're crying on my chest, I′m high on my knees
You are crying while resting on my chest, and I am emotionally overwhelmed and on my knees.
Fuck, how did this happen?
I am shocked, wondering how our relationship ended up like this.
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone, still alone together?
Isn't it touching how even though we are alone in our struggles, we face them together?
Tell me what would you do for love? Now that you found it?
Now that you have found love, what lengths would you go to keep it?
Oh, don’t you find it moving?
Do you not find it touching as well?
Oh, don't you find it moving how we're still alone?
Isn't it touching how even though we are alone in our struggles, we are still together?
Writer(s): Jaffe S. Holden, Andrew Seltzer
Contributed by Gabriel M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@prabeshkoirala4930
I don't ever tell you nothing, no
I don't have the courage, do you mind it?
I've been superstitious at night now, I've been
More specifically I'm frightened
"Don't die, " I said, "I won't, " you repeat
I'm so in my head, my thumb's on your teeth
I'm coasting through life, you sold your twenties
Tell me, how did it happen?
Oh love, oh my my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together
Oh love, oh my my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together
Tell me what would you do for love
Now that you found it
Smoking, hanging off of my hand and coughing
"Do you wanna move in with me?"
You can do the crossword while I'm making breakfast
Don't tell me if you have to cheat
I'll try my best to keep you appeased
You're crying on my chest, I'm high on my knees
I'm so sad but I
Just don't make me leave
Fuck, how did this happen?
Oh love, oh my my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together
Oh love, oh my my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together
Tell me what would you do for love
Now that you found it
Yeah tell me what would you do for love
Now that you found it
Tell me what would you do
Don't you find it moving
Oh, don't you find it moving
Oh, don't you find it moving how we're still alone
@bridgenunley5971
I don't ever tell you nothing, no
I don't have the courage, do you mind it?
I've been superstitious at night now
I've been more specifically, I'm frightened
"Don't die, " I said
"I won't, " you repeat
I'm so in my head
My thumb's on your teeth
I'm coasting through life
You sold your 20s
Tell me, how did it happen?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together?
Tell me, what would you do for love
Now that you found it?
Smoking, hanging off of my hand
And coughing, "Do you wanna move in with me?",
You can do the crossword while I'm making breakfast
Don't tell me if you have to cheat
I'll try my best
To keep you appeased
You're crying on my chest
I'm high on my knees
I'm so sad, but I
Just don't make me leave
Fuck, how did this happen?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together?
Oh love, oh my, my
Don't you find it moving how we're still alone
Still alone together?
Tell me, what would you do for love
Now that you found it? (Oh, no)
Yeah, tell me, what would you do for love (don't you find it moving?)
Now that you found it? (Don't you find it moving?)
Tell me, what would you do?
Don't you find it moving?
Oh, don't you find it moving?
Oh, don't you find it moving how we're still alone?
@DelWaterGap
love you guys thanks for listening<33333
@chiefbelief7837
Thank you for us all. Keep feeling it so well. The touch you give to this song feels nice.
@JHallDaBoss
Song is a bop bro!
@_vedanth
Thanks for the music!
@cheshirecqt1966
You are incredible!
@maryluna8156
Love you for making something worth listening a thousand times
@marcomoctezuma7745
every time you drop a song it's like i'm sure it's gonna be fire but i always get amazed by the essence and uniqueness of every song, you never fail to deliver something beautiful and sublime in a very authentic way.
thank u so much, i already love this album.
@DelWaterGap
love u papa
@jamesvenkatrao2295
Production is crystal clear, vocal melody is melancholic, wholesomeness levels through the roof
@stephanys5905
I loved this video and song.
It reminded me of flash backs of time before with a person you once loved alone together & happy. But you had to say goodbye and they're just a memory now.. always in your heart and soul. 🦋💙