The Gathering Field line-up ultimately became Bill Deasy vocals and acoustic guitar), Dave Brown (lead guitar), Eric Riebling (bass) and Ray DeFade (drums). (After DeFade left the group he was replaced with Joe Zelek.) Their first independent release, entitled "The Gathering Field", was met with great reception around the region and they started playing to packed clubs. However, the band's popularity really skyrocketed when one of the region's most powerful rock radio stations, WDVE, began playing a song called, "Lost in America" and it remained in rotation for over 7 months. Based on the success of the independent release which bore the same name, the group garnered a major label deal with Atlantic Records, who re-released the CD.
Soon after they signed to Atlantic Records and "Lost in America" was re-released, there was turmoil at the label. The album charted on the Billboard Top 100 album chart, Radio and Records and various other industry publications but ultimately the CD and group got lost in the shuffle, largely due to Matchbox 20. When Matchbox 20 signed, the Gathering Field was forgotten, and the struggling band attempted to be released from their contract. When they finally succeeded, they released two more CDs; "Reliance" and "So Close to Home," the latter consisting of songs the band had played live for several years but never recorded. During that time Deasy also released a semi-acoustic solo album called "Spring Lies Waiting", produced by Brown. The band ultimately called it quits in 2002 and went their separate ways but their legacy includes a still loyal fan base across the United States and in several countries abroad, most notably (but not limited to) the Netherlands and Germany, where they received a stellar review in that country's edition of Rolling Stone. Lead singer-songwriter Bill Deasy now records as a solo artist and continues to be a prolific songwriter. His songs have also been recorded by several major label artists and used in a national television campaign for Good Morning America in which he also appeared.
Who We Are
Gathering Field Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I run and hide
Make myself so lonesome
You just say,
"That's okay.
Hey babe I'll catch you later."
It took a while
To put it all together
You can't change somebody
With your love no matter
How right your are
We are who we are
The sidewalks teem
With sunlight beams
A thousand rainbow colors
Private parts
Troubled hearts
All searching for the answer
Faded dreams
And broken hearted laughter
But now I know
You can't change somebody…
Twilight fades
Another day
Converted into memory
We discuss
The change in us
I've never been this happy
It took some time
To put it all together
But now I know…
You can't change somebody…
No matter how bright your star
No matter how fresh your scar
We are who we are…
The song "Who We Are" by Gathering Field speaks to the universal theme of self-acceptance and learning to let go of the idea that we can change others with our love. The opening lines of the song convey a sense of vulnerability as the singer admits to running and hiding, ultimately making themselves lonesome. However, the response they receive from their partner is understanding and kind: "Hey babe I'll catch you later." The song seems to suggest that even though we may feel flawed or unworthy, it's important to surround ourselves with people who accept us as we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know why
Unclear about one's own behavior or motivation
I run and hide
Avoiding confrontation or vulnerability
Make myself so lonesome
Feeling solitary and isolated
You just say,
Spoken response to previous actions or statements
"That's okay.
Acceptance or forgiveness of another's actions or behavior
Hey babe I'll catch you later."
Indicating a future meeting or interaction
It took a while
The passage of time needed to achieve something
To put it all together
Understanding or clarity after gathering information or experiences
You can't change somebody
Recognizing the limitations of one's own influence on others
With your love no matter
Acknowledging that love alone cannot change someone
How right your are
Belief in the moral correctness of one's own perspective
We are who we are
Acceptance of oneself and others for who they truly are
The sidewalks teem
Observing a crowded environment
With sunlight beams
Noticing the play of light in the environment
A thousand rainbow colors
Variety or diversity in the environment
Private parts
Intimate or personal aspects of oneself
Troubled hearts
Emotional pain or distress
All searching for the answer
A universal quest for meaning or understanding
Faded dreams
Unfulfilled aspirations or goals
And broken hearted laughter
Sorrow masked by humor or levity
But now I know
Arriving at a new perspective or understanding
Twilight fades
The end of day or a period of time
Another day
The passage of time
Converted into memory
Current experience becoming remembered past
We discuss
Dialogue between individuals
The change in us
Noticing personal or interpersonal growth
I've never been this happy
Exceptional feelings of positive emotions
No matter how bright your star
Regardless of outward success or achievement
No matter how fresh your scar
Regardless of past pain or trauma
We are who we are
Acceptance of oneself and others for who they truly are
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.