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
Two Faced Twin
Gregory and the Hawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two sides, simple as that
When aI look at my reflection
Do I see myself?
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you run away
You're a fish with two fins
When I go in for a kiss
Do I kiss him?
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you run away
Some hearts, some times, leave blind
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you run away
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you run away
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you
The song Two Faced Twin by Gregory and The Hawk is a deep exploration into the idea of duality present within oneself. The lyrics speak about a mirror that has two faces, two sides that are simple yet complicated, leaving the singer to question whether she sees herself when she looks at her reflection. The mirror is a representation of the singer's inner conflict of feeling like there are two versions of herself, perhaps struggling to reconcile the different facets of her personality. The metaphor of a fish with two fins swimming in opposite directions is another example of how the singer is conflicted and torn between two opposing sides of herself. She questions whether she should kiss one side of herself or the other, highlighting the difficulty she is experiencing in finding a sense of balance and harmony within herself.
The repetition of the phrase “Don't you run away” emphasizes the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing, and her plea to this two-faced twin not to abandon her. It is possible that the other side of her personality could be seen as something that could harm her if left unchecked. The singer acknowledges that there are times when certain aspects of oneself can leave one blind to important truths and realities. The lyrics are introspective and invite the listener to reflect on the theme of duality present within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a mirror with two faces
You are not always what you appear to be and have two different sides to your personality.
Two sides, simple as that
It is quite evident that you have two very different sides to your personality that reflect in your actions and behavior.
When I look at my reflection
When I take a step back and introspect, and try to understand what lies beneath your exterior facade.
Do I see myself?
Am I truly looking at myself or am I seeing a reflection of you? Are the aspects of my personality influenced by yours?
Don't you run away, don't you run away, don't you run away
Don't avoid confronting the reality of your dual nature and the potential impact it may have on our relationship. Let us face it together.
You're a fish with two fins
Similar to how a fish swims with two fins, you have two distinct aspects of your personality that work in different directions.
Swimming in opposite directions
Your two personalities seem to be in opposition to each other, creating conflicts and confusion in interpersonal relationships.
When I go in for a kiss
When I try to express my love or emotion towards you, which aspect of your personality will I encounter?
Do I kiss him?
Am I expressing my love for your true self or the facade that you project?
Some hearts, sometimes, leave blind
Some situations or people may lead to confusion or even deception, which in turn can mask one's true nature or intentions, rendering us blind and unaware.
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.