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.
In the Yard
Del Water Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were standing in the cold
I said, "There's only room for one of you to live inside my home."
But this, this is not my home
The first one took my mind away, the second took my name,
Oh yeah, she writes me love letters every day but I need her all the same
I need her all the same
But you're my leech
I hope you never leave me
You could live inside my heart, killing people just to eat, you're mine
And if you ever grow old,
I will hold you in my hands and tell you just how beautiful you are
When all the old folks went to bed, the gardener was spent
And the children playing quietly, I lost my only friend
And you held my head
The wind it whipped the trees around, it was snowing in the yard
So you ripped a piece right off your shirt and tied it 'round my arm
And said, "I'll keep you warm."
Yeah you're my leech
I hope you never leave me
You could live inside my heart, killing people just to eat, you're mine
And if you ever grow old,
I will hold you in my hands and tell you just how beautiful you are
I hope you never leave me
You could live inside my heart, killing people just to eat, you're mine
And if you ever grow old,
I will hold you in these hands and tell you just how beautiful you are
The lyrics of Del Water Gap's song "In The Yard" tell a story about a man who meets two girls in Boulder and becomes enamored with both of them. He is torn between them, as one takes his mind away and the other takes his name. He acknowledges that he needs both of them, even though he refers to one of them as his "leech" and talks about how she could live inside his heart, killing people to eat. Despite this dark imagery and strange attraction, he also talks about holding this person, who may be a metaphor for addiction or obsession, in his hands and telling them how beautiful they are.
The song goes on to describe a moment of vulnerability, where the man loses his only friend and is comforted by the person referred to as his "leech" as they sit in the cold yard together. The metaphor of the leech takes on a more nurturing tone, as this person is the only comfort he has in that moment. The final chorus repeats the idea that he hopes this person never leaves him and that he will hold them and tell them they are beautiful, as if he is trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
Overall, the lyrics of the song paint a picture of someone who is struggling with conflicting emotions and desires. The metaphor of the leech, as both a parasitic and nurturing force, adds an eerie and unsettling quality to the story that leaves the listener uncertain about the true nature of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I met two girls in Boulder
I encountered two women in Boulder
We were standing in the cold
We stood together enduring cold temperatures
I said, "There's only room for one of you to live inside my home."
I told them that only one of them could live in my home
But this, this is not my home
However, my current location is not my actual home
The first one took my mind away, the second took my name,
The first woman captured my thoughts, while the second acquired my name
Oh yeah, she writes me love letters every day but I need her all the same
Despite receiving daily love letters, I still crave her presence
I need her all the same
I require her companionship just as much as before
But you're my leech
But I see you as my parasite
I hope you never leave me
I desire for you to never leave my side
You could live inside my heart, killing people just to eat, you're mine
You have such a hold on me that even if you harmed others, I'd still cling to you
And if you ever grow old,
Even if you age and change over time
I will hold you in my hands and tell you just how beautiful you are
I'll declare your beauty while holding you in my hands
When all the old folks went to bed, the gardener was spent
After the elderly retired for the night, the gardener grew exhausted
And the children playing quietly, I lost my only friend
As the children played without a care, I realized I had no remaining friends
And you held my head
You comforted me during this realization
The wind it whipped the trees around, it was snowing in the yard
The howling wind caused the trees to sway, and snow fell in the yard
So you ripped a piece right off your shirt and tied it 'round my arm
You took a piece of your shirt and used it to tie around my arm
And said, "I'll keep you warm."
You promised to keep me warm through this cold weather
I hope you never leave me
Again, I hope for you to never leave my presence
You could live inside my heart, killing people just to eat, you're mine
Even if it were to mean you hurting others, I'd keep you close
And if you ever grow old,
Yet again, even with time and age
I will hold you in these hands and tell you just how beautiful you are
I will continue to hold you and express how much I admire you
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DelWaterGap
NEW SONG IS ALIVE stream and download “ode”: https://found.ee/DWGOde
@alecmagic
Plz put this back on Spotify :(
@marcdycus4866
Why did Spotify get rid of this song?
@cecilarson7932
This song is unbelievable, I cant believe I went 4 years without listening again
@samiraalrantisi2243
Anyone listening to this song in this year
I love you
@DelWaterGap
i love you too
@samiraalrantisi2243
@@DelWaterGap OMG😭😭😭
@jeneabratton1828
i listen to this and brings me back to moments i though i couldn’t relive
@jeneabratton1828
just found this song last month and i can’t stop listening
@ToddBeasley1
This was by far my favorite song from The Outs!