Their self-released debut album, Remember Who I Am, sold 5,000 copies before it was re-released by Daemon Records, the independent record label run by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. Their folk-rock musical style is heavy on close harmony.
Before the three came together as Girlyman, Nate was an award-winning singer-songwriter, and Doris and Ty (best friends since second grade in Princeton Junction, NJ) were the award-winning duo The Garden Verge. Later, they played and clicked with old friend, JJ, gagged her, and threw her in the Girlyvan.
Members:
Ty Greenstein (vocals, guitar, mandolin and percussion)
Doris Muramatsu (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo)
Nate Borofsky (vocals, baritone guitar, bass guitar)
JJ Jones (drums)
I Know Where You Are
Girlyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The towers and tanks all lit up like Christmas
As we crossed the still black water into Delaware
The blinking red sign said welcome, three dollars, pass with care
You were always asleep
Even when the car ground into second
And flooded with the smell of foggy river air
I know where you are
And I wish that I could
Wish for you to
Come back home again
We hit the stretch south of Rehoboth
The Atlantic Ocean came into sight
There was nothing on the radio but old Joni Mitchell
And I said, 'lean your seat back, just close your eyes, and I'll drive'
I'll bring you home and carry your shit to the house
How else can I say this?
I never really tried
I was always afraid that the world would end in ice
Chorus
We were careless and mistaken
To drive so far at night
There's so much we never could see past the headlights
We could have passed through the beautiful country and never even known it
We could have passed through the beautiful country and never even known it
Chorus
The lyrics to "I Know Where You Are" by Girlyman paint a vivid picture of a nighttime road trip, featuring specific landmarks and sensory details. The singer describes passing by the Cogen plant at night, with its illuminated towers and tanks, as they cross the Delaware water. The blinking red sign indicating a toll payment and urging caution creates a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, which is juxtaposed against the peacefulness of the sleeping passenger. Despite the foggy river air and the feeling of being lost in the dark, the singer knows where their companion is and wishes they could come back home again.
As they continue their journey south towards Rehoboth and the Atlantic Ocean, the singer reflects on the fact that they never really tried to express their feelings towards their companion, perhaps out of fear that the world would end in ice. The Joni Mitchell song on the radio provides a comforting soundtrack to the drive, and the singer promises to bring their passenger home and carry their belongings to the house. The final lines of the song offer a commentary on missed opportunities and the fleeting nature of life, suggesting that there is much to be discovered beyond the reach of the headlights.
Overall, "I Know Where You Are" is a poignant and wistful song about the beauty and fragility of life, and the importance of savoring each moment with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
We always passed the Cogen plant at night
We drove past the power plant every night
The towers and tanks all lit up like Christmas
The power plant was beautifully illuminated with its tall structures and tanks glowing like Christmas lights
As we crossed the still black water into Delaware
As we drove over the calm black water entering the state of Delaware
The blinking red sign said welcome, three dollars, pass with care
The sign welcomed us to Delaware, warning us to drive carefully and pay the three dollars toll
You were always asleep
You always slept during the drive
Even when the car ground into second
Even when the car shifted into second gear with a rough sound
And flooded with the smell of foggy river air
Filled with the smell of the misty river air
Chorus: I know where you are
I know where you are
And I wish that I could
Wish for you to
Come back home again
The singer knows where their partner is, but wishes they could bring them back home
We hit the stretch south of Rehoboth
We drove south of Rehoboth
The Atlantic Ocean came into sight
We saw the Atlantic Ocean in the distance
There was nothing on the radio but old Joni Mitchell
They couldn't find any stations playing current music, and resorted to listening to old Joni Mitchell songs
And I said, 'lean your seat back, just close your eyes, and I'll drive'
The singer suggested that their partner relax by tilting their seat and closing their eyes, and promised to drive them safely home
I'll bring you home and carry your shit to the house
The singer promised to take their partner home and help them with their belongings
How else can I say this? I never really tried
The singer admits they haven't put in enough effort to express their emotions
I was always afraid that the world would end in ice
The singer was always worried that something disastrous would happen and ruin everything
Chorus
Reiteration of the singer's wish to take their partner back home
We were careless and mistaken
The singer acknowledges that they were reckless and made mistakes
To drive so far at night
It was risky to drive such a long distance during the night
There's so much we never could see past the headlights
They missed out on seeing many things beyond what the car's headlights illuminated
We could have passed through the beautiful country and never even known it
They could have driven through stunning countryside without realizing it
Chorus
Closing reiteration of the singer's wish to bring their partner back home
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Neison
Absolutely one of my favorite bands. These guys are freakin' phenomenal live - brought tears to my eyes. This song is one of my favorites. It really kicks ass at the end. These guys, in addition to being amazing songwriters and musicians, are .... obviously... pure harmonic perfection.
rad1009
Thanks for posting. Their harmonies are so perfect...