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.
Theory of Emotion
Del Water Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get horribly nostalgic for the times we had Throwing plates, surprise attack
Yeah we fought like we were acting in an improv class
But through it all we still managed to laugh
Do you take me as I am?
Cause I'll take you as I am
And I feel nothing mostly all the time
Am I dead behind the eyes from loving you too tightly? That reminds me
Of a poster I saw hanging at the dentist
I was late for my appointment
But the lady at the desk was awfully patient
She said, honey won't you sit across from me? Pour yourself a coffee, choose a magazine.
Do you take me as I am?
Cause I'll take you as I am
And I don't take things lightly
And I feel nothing mostly all the time
Am I dead behind the eyes from loving you too tightly?
Do you take me as I am?
Cause I'll take you as I am
And I don't take things lightly
And I feel nothing mostly all the time
Am I dead behind the eyes from loving you too tightly? Too tightly?
Del Water Gap's "Theory of Emotion" is a song about the complexities of love, relationships, and human emotions. The first stanza talks about the nostalgia that comes with seeing someone you used to love sad. The memories of past times together come rushing back, both good and bad, with the line "throwing plates, surprise attack, yeah, we fought like we were acting in an improv class." It's a humorous way of describing the intensity of their arguments. Despite the fighting, they managed to find moments of laughter and lightness, which shows the ups and downs of relationships.
The chorus of the song talks about accepting each other as they are, flaws and all. The singer wonders if their intensity of love has caused them to become deadened to their emotions, as they feel "nothing mostly all the time." This may suggest that their relationship is not as fulfilling as it once was or that their love has become a routine that has lost its passion. The last verse introduces an interesting scene at the dentist's office where the singer sees a poster that reminds them of their own emotional numbness. The irony is that the staff member at the desk is patient, an act of kindness that contrasts with the singer's own emotional struggles.
Overall, "Theory of Emotion" is a reflective song that captures the nuances of love and relationships. It acknowledges that being in a relationship is not always perfect, but that there are moments of lightness and joy. It also recognizes that it takes two people to accept each other's flaws and embrace their imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, when she looks sad
I become very nostalgic for the good times we shared when I see her upset
I get horribly nostalgic for the times we had
I feel extreme sadness and longing when I reminisce about our past experiences together
Throwing plates, surprise attack
Our arguments were very intense and we often resorted to throwing objects at each other unexpectedly
Yeah we fought like we were acting in an improv class
Our conflicts with each other were so frequent and dramatic that it seemed like we were improvising a scripted performance
But through it all we still managed to laugh
Despite our constant fighting, we were still able to find moments of joy and humor together
Do you take me as I am?
Are you willing to accept me for who I truly am without trying to change me?
Cause I'll take you as I am
I am willing to accept you for who you truly are without trying to change you
And I don't take things lightly
I am a serious person who takes things very seriously
And I feel nothing mostly all the time
Most of the time I am emotionally numb and don't feel much at all
Am I dead behind the eyes from loving you too tightly?
Have I lost my passion and feelings for you from loving you too much and holding on too tightly?
That reminds me
Something about this situation or conversation triggered a memory for me
Of a poster I saw hanging at the dentist
I recalled a poster that I saw while waiting at the dentist's office
I was late for my appointment
I arrived to my dentist appointment after the scheduled time
But the lady at the desk was awfully patient
The receptionist was very understanding and forgiving of my tardiness
She said, honey won't you sit across from me? Pour yourself a coffee, choose a magazine.
The receptionist invited me to relax and make myself comfortable while I waited for my appointment
Too tightly?
I am questioning whether my love for you has become too intense and suffocating
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Samuel Holden Jaffe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind