At some point I went to college in Philadelphia, did some music there (I was in an a cappella group called Off the Beat – yes, I know it’s a terrible name – and a killing rock band called Thriphtway named after a grocery store), and started writing songs in earnest while majoring in music composition (even took a class in Debussy and Bartok with George Crumb – only modern music dorks will know who that is). One song from a little production deal I had with Ruff House Records (think Digable Planets) in Philly wound up on my first album, Careen.
I moved to Los Angeles ‘cuz I didn’t really know where else you could make a living as a musician, and soon found myself working as a composer’s assistant and writing my songs in off hours. Made my first album during these off hours, and started playing shows and being a musician for real, kinda late by most people’s standards.
I’ve done a bunch of music industry stuff that people generally like to enumerate in their bios – far be it from me to break tradition. I won the Overall Grand Prize for the USA Songwriting Competition, I was a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, got 2nd prize in the Just Plain Folks awards, & I’ve been one of Music Connection’s top 100 unsigned artists a couple years running. Lots of my songs have been on TV and in movies, some quality, some not so quality (you decide which is which) – Arrested Development, Office Space, Ghost Ship, Road Rules, Real World, Sleepover, The Hills, What About Brian, lots more. I ran down the aisles at the Oscars singing with Ellen. The Diamond Wink tour took me all over Europe opening for Alanis Morisette, and I’ve supported Jamie Cullum & Glenn Tillbrook (Squeeze) touring here in the U.S. Oh, and I opened for the Stones (yup, the Rolling ones) on the road with Tim Burgess in the UK, and I’ve played at lots of music festivals (SXSW, CMJ, V Festival in England). This year I sang on the Oscars, which was a riot. I also write score for video games and TV shows and produce other artists as well (Sara Bareilles’ Careful Confessions and Naimee Coleman’s new stuff, of late).
So I just came out with my Tall Buildings, my 4th full length album. Linus of Hollywood (The Charlatans, Puff Daddy, OPM) produced it, Dave Trumfio (Wilco, OK Go, Rilo Kiley) mixed it, and my usual band of lunatics played it – Adam Marcello on drums, Carson Cohen on bass, and Steve Mazur on guitar. Come see us play music – you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it’s a riot."
Gabriel Mann's "My Little Box" was a part of "Ghost Ship"'s Soundtrack.
Lighted Up
Gabriel Mann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is where I was before
Sitting lonely trying to stay so drunk
Waiting for somebody to leave open some door
Tuesday came and went as quickly as expected
Didn't notice that I needed it to stay
And you know sometimes I need to be neglected
And I believe
Somewhere there's a vision in the dark
But I can't see
Unless there's someone there with a spark
To keep me lighted up
Now you're back in D.C.
And I'm in Los Angeles again
The cold wind grips you like a fist
And the spotlight here is not my friend
But I believe
Sometimes there's a need for separation
And I can't see
I need to find another way
To keep me lighted up
And I believe
Somehow there's a prism in the dark
And I can't see
Unless it's you there with a spark
You keep me lighted up
In this song, Gabriel Mann sings about his experiences with loneliness, separation, and the need for connection. The first stanza highlights his past struggles with alcoholism and his constant search for a way out of his solitude, waiting for someone to "leave open some door." The following stanza describes Mann's realization that he needed Tuesday to "stay," but it passed too quickly, leaving him feeling neglected sometimes. Despite this, the artist acknowledges that love sometimes "looks good in gray," suggesting that even broken relationships can yield positive outcomes.
The chorus addresses Mann's deep-rooted belief in the power of human connection to bring light into the darkness. He talks about how a "spark" from someone else is necessary to see through the dark, and how this spark is what keeps him "lighted up." The second verse references the physical distance between himself and his loved one, as well as the emotional barriers that can arise in a long distance relationship. Mann describes how the spotlight on him in Los Angeles only makes him feel more disconnected, almost as if his isolation is being emphasized. However, he remains hopeful that he will find another way to feel "lighted up" again despite the separation from his loved one.
Overall, Gabriel Mann's "Lighted Up" is a contemplative and introspective examination of the human experience of loneliness and the power of human connection to light up our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
What comes to mind today
Reflecting on past struggles
Is where I was before
Thinking about a lonely, dark place in the past
Sitting lonely trying to stay so drunk
Trying to numb the pain of loneliness
Waiting for somebody to leave open some door
Hoping for an opportunity to escape from the pain
Tuesday came and went as quickly as expected
Days pass by quickly, regardless of how much we need them to slow down
Didn't notice that I needed it to stay
Failing to recognize the importance of a particular day
And you know sometimes I need to be neglected
Feeling like being alone and ignored, rather than constantly trying to impress someone
Sometimes love looks good in gray
Sometimes love doesn't need to be all shining and perfect, but can still be beautiful in its own way
And I believe
Holding on to hope
Somewhere there's a vision in the dark
Believing that even in the darkest moments, there is still hope
But I can't see
Feeling stuck and unable to move forward
Unless there's someone there with a spark
Needing someone to inspire and guide me
To keep me lighted up
To keep me motivated and hopeful
Now you're back in D.C.
A change in circumstances
And I'm in Los Angeles again
Feeling like things have gone back to how they were before
The cold wind grips you like a fist
Feeling overwhelmed and constricted by life
And the spotlight here is not my friend
Feeling exposed and vulnerable in the face of scrutiny
Sometimes there's a need for separation
Recognizing that sometimes distance is necessary
I need to find another way
Feeling the need to change direction and try something new
And I believe
Holding on to hope
Somehow there's a prism in the dark
Believing that there are still possibilities
And I can't see
Feeling lost and unsure
Unless it's you there with a spark
Needing someone to inspire and guide me
You keep me lighted up
You give me hope and motivation to keep going
Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.