The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Rebecca
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Haven't seen you in over half of a decade and havent't talked since I moved
In the home town harmony's telling me you've been bad
Grieving over the fact that you're losing your baby's dad
But it's not just that, you're farther into the crack
Heard you're walking a track and marching into the trash
Fuck praying, 'cause I've been silent for years
I'm sick of trying to be a man about it; Hiding my tears
But when asked or confronted, imma shut down fast
And the truth is, girl I cry when I think of you
And write a million songs that imma never get to sing with you
Talk about the places imma never get to bring you to
Show you what it's like to build a life and learn a thing or two
What hurts me is that I love you, 'cause you're my older sister
The only girl that I can rock with
Mum shut's down when I ask and dad's so sad
That I don't know if he's ever gonna get past it
And really, I'm finding it hard for me to manage
Any close relationships without the fear of vanishing
All of this has been hard, I ain't denying it
I'm writing down this song as a product of my environment
So listen, they say that family is everything
It's more than just a house, two dogs and a wedding ring
It's blossoming life and standing up to anything
Trying to take the people that you love to what it's meant to be
Yeah, so then where'd you go?
Prisoner in your body quarantined from your soul
And I know those drugs got you out in the cold
Got you spitting in the mouth of those showing you hope
So if you'd ever come through to your senses
I'll be right here, waiting for Rebecca.
In the song Rebecca by Grieves, he talks about his older sister and the challenges that she has faced. He starts the song by saying that it's been a while since he spoke like a human, implying that he hasn't been in touch with his sister, Rebecca, for a while. He talks about how the town is telling him that Rebecca has been bad and that she's grieving over her baby's dad. It's evident that Rebecca is going through a tough time, and perhaps she's turned to drugs to cope with the pain. Grieves admits that he's been silent for years, but he's tired of holding back because he loves his sister, and he wants to release his emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been awhile since I spoke like a human
I haven't communicated like a sober and rational person in a long time
Haven't seen you in over half of a decade and haven't talked since I moved
I have not seen or spoken to you in more than five years since I left our hometown
In the home town harmony's telling me you've been bad
Everyone in our hometown is gossiping about your misfortune and recent problems
Grieving over the fact that you're losing your baby's dad
You are in sorrow because you are losing the father of your child
But it's not just that, you're farther into the crack
Your drug addiction is becoming more severe and uncontrollable
Heard you're walking a track and marching into the trash
I heard that you are engaging in risky and destructive behaviors associated with drug addiction
Fuck praying, 'cause I've been silent for years
I have lost faith in praying and have not reached out to you for a long time
I'm sick of trying to be a man about it; hiding my tears
I am tired of being strong and pretending that I am not hurting; concealing my emotions
And fuck the judgment, I've got a messed up past
I do not care about being judged because I have a troubled history
But when asked or confronted, Imma shut down fast
I become evasive and avoidant when questioned or criticized
And the truth is, girl I cry when I think of you
The reality is that I weep when I remember you
And write a million songs that imma never get to sing with you
I write countless songs about you that I will never sing with you
Talk about the places imma never get to bring you to
I lament about the locations I can never take you to
Show you what it's like to build a life and learn a thing or two
I wish I had the chance to demonstrate how to create a fulfilling and meaningful existence and teach you a few lessons
What hurts me is that I love you, 'cause you're my older sister
My love for you causes me pain because you are my elder sister
The only girl that I can rock with
You are the only girl that I can relate and connect with
Mum shut's down when I ask and dad's so sad
Mum becomes unresponsive and dad is very melancholic when I inquire about you
That I don't know if he's ever gonna get past it
I am uncertain if he can ever overcome his emotional struggle regarding your situation
And really, I'm finding it hard for me to manage
In truth, I am finding it tough to handle the stress and anxiety caused by your circumstances
Any close relationships without the fear of vanishing
I am afraid of losing any close relationship due to your situation
All of this has been hard, I ain't denying it
All of this has been difficult, and I do not deny it
I'm writing down this song as a product of my environment
I am composing this song as an expression of my surroundings
So listen, they say that family is everything
Listen, people say that family is the most important thing
It's more than just a house, two dogs and a wedding ring
It is more than just owning a home, pets, and a marital commitment
It's blossoming life and standing up to anything
It is about growing and thriving in life and facing any obstacle head-on
Trying to take the people that you love to what it's meant to be
The goal is to guide the people you care about towards what they are destined to become
Yeah, so then where'd you go?
So, where did you disappear to?
Prisoner in your body quarantined from your soul
You feel trapped in your flesh and isolated from your spirit
And I know those drugs got you out in the cold
I am aware that drugs have left you stranded and hopeless
Got you spitting in the mouth of those showing you hope
Drugs have made you reject the help and prospects offered by others
So if you'd ever come through to your senses
So if you eventually comprehend the gravity of your situation
Imma right here, waiting for Rebecca
I will be here, waiting for you, Rebecca.
Contributed by Brooklyn H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cocoa Leroy
every day when i was in rehab, i listened to this song. i let it sink in, it reminded me why i was there when i thought i was going to crawl out of my skin. i am now a year sober, and this song still has a special place in my heart
sLeeps
I’m in rehab right now. 47 days sober!
Just Some Slav Shit
Cocoa Leroy congratulations man
mostwanted1806
still sober ?
Eric Gallant
God bless you in your recovery!
Griffin Condon
I can very much relate, hope your well, stay strong
Jennie Melin
This song reminds me of how my brother thought of me at a time. Thank god I've been sober for over 2 years and we actually have a great relationship. But I know when I listen to this song the deep pain I gave him and its something I won't forget.
Rose Lana
Still lit in 2019
Just Some Slav Shit
Hello yeah man
HigherrConsciousness
I cry a lil bit every time I hear this.. Makes me think of my sister ive never met on the other side of the world.