Psychedelic pop combo Guards came together after Richie James Follin of the… Read Full Bio ↴Psychedelic pop combo Guards came together after Richie James Follin of the band Willowz began writing and recording with his sister Madeline Follin's band, Cults, as a side project between tours. In 2010, after receiving booking offers from songs he'd posted online, he formed a permanent lineup to join his vocals and guitar in Kaylie Church on keyboards/vocals and Loren Humphrey, also of Willowz, on drums. The same year, they signed with 3 Syllables Records and released an eponymous debut EP. After working on new material, the band released the song "Silver Lining" in 2012, and it was soon licensed for a U.S. collegiate Big Ten Conference public service ad. Loaded with reverb and big choruses, their debut LP, In Guards We Trust, was released in early 2013 on Black Bell Records. In late 2014, they released the lush "Nothing More" off their sophomore album expected in 2015.

Biography by Marcy Donelson

Nightmare
Guards Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was lost without you
I felt the strenght why couldn't you
I escaped no thanks to you
Don't be afraid , we'll get out too

Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot

Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Nobody knows
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot
Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Just close to shore

I was there, I'm only just
What only gained , just spread the news

Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot
Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Nobody knows
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot
Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Just close to shore

Somewhere, somehow
I'll be around
I know I see you
For you
There's too
I did it all for you
I'll lose you

Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot
Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Nobody knows
Oh it's hot
Yeah it's hot there
Oh it's hot
Feels like a nightmare
Oh it's hot

Yeah it's hot there
Just close to shore

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Guards's song "Nightmare" describe a situation where the singer was lost and felt weakened without someone, but managed to escape from it without their help. The song seems to be about a difficult, almost unbearable experience that the singer went through. The repeated refrain "Oh it's hot, yeah it's hot there, feels like a nightmare" reinforces the infernal nature of the experience that the singer is depicting.

The verse "Nobody knows" adds to the feeling of isolation and despair, suggesting that the singer feels like they are going through this experience on their own. However, the bridge of the song ("Somewhere, somehow, I'll be around, I know I see you, for you, there's too, I did it all for you, I'll lose you") hints at a deeper meaning of the lyrics, suggesting that the experience is related to a relationship that the singer had with the person they are addressing in the song. It could be interpreted as a situation where the singer went through a challenging time in the relationship, perhaps due to the other person's neglect or indifference, and had to find the strength to move on without them.

Overall, "Nightmare" is a poignant and introspective song that explores themes of isolation, loss, and strength in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

I was lost without you
I was confused and directionless after you were gone

I felt the strenght why couldn't you
I had the ability to carry on but you did not

I escaped no thanks to you
I managed to leave the difficult situation without your help

Don't be afraid , we'll get out too
Do not worry, we will also escape

Oh it's hot
The temperature is high

Yeah it's hot there
The place we're in is quite warm

Feels like a nightmare
It is similar to a terrible dream

Nobody knows
No one is aware of our situation

Just close to shore
We are close to safety

I was there, I'm only just
I was present, but barely so