A native New Yorker with a captivating voice and a clear gift for songwriting, Meredith began playing both piano and violin from an early age, switching to guitar through high school and college. She began playing solo shows in small venues around New England, and made a few cds to hand out at shows which proved incredibly popular. Word spread fast, and the 2006 heyday of myspace added rocket fuel to the fire. When we talked with her about working together after the Southpaw show, we had no idea that her songs had already sold 15,000 copies, had not seen the 17 pages of cover versions on youtube, and had never been to one of her (more common) solo shows.
The name Gregory And The Hawk was conceived in 2003, initially devised to avoid her being perceived or pigeonholed as a female singer-songwriter (though, perhaps ironically, when pressed for a list of influences Meredith cites Nick Drake, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey). Meredith remained playing alone under that name for a few years, until she met Mike McGuire in New York in 2005. The two played live shows together for several months before teaming up with bassist Jeff Ratner and drummer Adam Christgau (both of New York band Paper And Sand). The four of them recorded the 'Boats And Birds EP', which they self-released in 2006.
Soon after, the four friends moved apart, and so Meredith began playing live with just Jeff on upright bass, and herself on acoustic guitar and vocals. This was how she played most of the shows to support 'In Your Dreams,' the debut album, again self-released in 2007. The only players on 'In Your Dreams' were Meredith, Mike McGuire (who also engineered most of it), and Susan Ambrose. The recording of 'Moenie and Kitchi' was somewhat different; while Mike, Susan and a host of others contributed, many of the instruments were played by the album's producer Adam Pierce (Mice Parade).
The gentle, hook-laden songs of Gregory And The Hawk's mostly solo/acoustic sets have received much of their considerable attention through internet streaming and downloads, resulting in a groundswell of support that belies the fact that up until now, there has been no label, no manager, or indeed any other supportive network to help them on their way. Gregory And The Hawk have but one thing on their side - the ability to craft spellbinding, idiosyncratic pop songs, that sound at once suggestive, familiar, and yet very much of themselves.
‘Moenie and Kitchi’ was released in October 2008, with US and European tours embarked on in support of this.
Gregory and The Hawk are currently writing new material for an album set to be released in 2010. Leche is schedule for release on Nov. 9th in the US and Nov. 15th in the UK.
Discography:
Gregory and the Hawk (demo quality) - c. 2002; re-released 2005
8-track demos - 2005
Boats & Birds EP - 2006
In Your Dreams - 2007
Moenie and Kitchi - 2008 - Fatcat
Leche - 2010 - Fatcat
Come, Now - 2012
Stone (EP) - 2012
A Selection of Demos - 2014
On the Orange Mountain - 2017
Three Weeks No Songs - 2020
Texas Collectious - 2022
Singles:
Ghost - 2008 - Fatcat
Olly Olly Oxen Free - 2010
Some White Mountain - 2023
Bootlegs:
Live at Olives - 4/4/04
August Moon
Gregory and the Hawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A steady ready smile like His
Until it’s out of sight
Don’t undo the true chance that chooses you
Face to face with a new day
So simple it seems
You dare to dream impossibly
Black and blissful tumbling
Will wake, asleep
It feeds me
Fate will rule you, the heart
It fools you to lose your sanity
The lyrics of "August Moon" by Gregory and the Hawk contain several metaphors that convey significant meanings. The opening line of "August Moon made just for you" could refer to the beauty of nature that exists solely for our enjoyment. The moon's light is a reminder that peace exists even in the darkest of moments, and this peace is available to everyone. The line "A steady ready smile like His" refers to a divine smile that exists inside every person and is always ready to be shared with others. It is the smile that could bring light and joy to someone in their darkest hour.
The lyrics also speak of the importance of taking chances and having the courage to dream, even if those dreams seem impossible. The line "So simple it seems, you dare to dream impossibly" highlights the idea that often, the most significant successes in life come from doing what others thought was impossible. The lyrics also hint that there will be challenges along the way, as the line "Risking in its rarity I'm bound to it now" suggests. In other words, the more unusual a goal or a dream, the more obstacles one might face, but staying true to one's beliefs is critical to achieving that dream.
The final lines of the song "Fate will rule you, the heart it fools you to lose your sanity" reflect the idea that change is inevitable, and the heart may muddle what the mind knows is best, leading to difficult life choices. The heart's deep passions might be the path to one's destiny, but those passions may also lead to wrong decisions if they are not tempered with sound reasoning.
Line by Line Meaning
August moon made just for you
The moon in August seems to be shining for you alone, casting a special glow on everything around you.
A steady ready smile like His
You wear a constant smile, like that of a divine being.
Until it’s out of sight
You keep the smile on your face until the moon disappears from view.
Don’t undo the true chance that chooses you
Don't ruin the opportunity that has come your way, which is meant for you alone.
Face to face with a new day
You are greeted with a new day, with all its possibilities and challenges.
So simple it seems
The tasks ahead might seem straightforward and uncomplicated.
You dare to dream impossibly
You are bold enough to envision and pursue even the most far-fetched dreams.
Risking in its rarity im bound to it now
Despite the unlikelihood of success, you are unshakably committed to pursuing your dreams now that you've started.
Black and blissful tumbling
You experience a mix of dark and joyful emotions, as though you were tumbling through space.
Will wake, asleep
You will be awakened to new possibilities, even as you feel drowsy and tired.
It feeds me
Your pursuit of your dreams sustains and nourishes you.
Fate will rule you, the heart
Your heart's desires and destiny will shape the course of your life.
It fools you to lose your sanity
But the pursuit of impossible dreams can also drive you to madness.
Contributed by Julia L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.