The band consists of Adam Gardner and Ryan Miller on guitar and vocals and Brian Rosenworcel on percussion. Multi-instrumentalist and backup vocalist Joe Pisapia played with the band from 2003-2010. Luke Reynolds took Pisapia's place to tour with the band for their 2010 album, Easy Wonderful, and has remained with the band since. The band is noted for its catchy, poppy melodies, and the distinctive hand-drumming on percussion. They are also known for their humor, including a joke album released in 2003, The Meowstro Sings: Guster's Keep It Together, wherein the lyrics are replaced with (off-melody) meowing.
The band has released eight studio albums which are, in chronological order, Parachute, Goldfly, Lost and Gone Forever, Keep It Together, Ganging Up On the Sun, Easy Wonderful, Evermotion, and their most recent, Look Alive, which was released on January 18th, 2019. In addition, they have released a total of eleven live albums, spanning the years 2003-2015.
Mona Lisa
Guster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fake a smile and you sigh
Don't fear the future
In years to come
You'll learn, you'll learn
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all in your head
When do we begin?
Although he so sad
Discovered things never had
It makes you wonder
A life alone
You'll learn, you'll learn
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the strength then
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
When do we begin?
When do we begin?
You'll learn, you'll learn, you'll learn
Don't fear the future
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the strength then
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
When do we begin?
The lyrics of "Mona Lisa" by Guster seems to convey a message of hope to someone who might be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. The first verse addresses a person who wakes up feeling down and lost, assuring them that the future will bring clarity and understanding. It encourages them to keep going and not give up hope. The following verse speaks about personal struggles and self-doubt, emphasizing that everything that holds us back is only in our head. The chorus repeats the theme of hope, urging the listener to learn and grow from experiences rather than fearing the future.
The phrase "Mona Lisa" is not mentioned in the song, but the music video features a comical animation of Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting. This could suggest a metaphor about the complexities and mysteries of human emotions, much like the enigmatic smile on the Mona Lisa's face. The song's acoustic guitar melody and the harmonizing vocals create a soothing, uplifting atmosphere that reinforces the message of hope and optimism.
Overall, "Mona Lisa" by Guster is a positive message of encouragement for anyone struggling with inner turmoil and self-doubt. The song's uplifting melody and reassuring lyrics convey a sense of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
If in the morning you look up
When you wake up in the morning and feel lost or uncertain, don't be discouraged.
Fake a smile and you sigh
Although you may feel sad or uncertain, it's important to put on a brave face and keep moving forward.
Don't fear the future
Don't be afraid of what the future may bring, because you will learn and grow from your experiences.
In years to come
Over time, as you gain knowledge and experience, you will come to understand things that may seem confusing or uncertain now.
You'll learn, you'll learn
Through experience and time, you will gain knowledge and understanding that will help you grow and improve.
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
In the past, I would sit and dwell on negative thoughts or emotions.
I used to wish to be back home again
I used to wish for the comfort and security of home, when life was simpler and easier to understand.
Hadn't the strength then
At that point in time, I didn't have the emotional or mental strength to move past my negative thoughts and emotions.
Hadn't the chance to reveal
I didn't have the opportunity to express or share my feelings with others, which may have helped me process them more effectively.
But it's all, it's all in your head
Many of our negative thoughts and emotions are self-created and exist only in our own minds.
Although he so sad
Even though he felt sad or depressed at times,
Discovered things never had
He was able to learn and discover things about himself and the world around him that he never knew before.
It makes you wonder
Experiencing new things and gaining fresh perspectives can be exciting and thought-provoking.
A life alone
In times of difficulty or uncertainty, it can be lonely or isolating to feel like you are the only one going through it.
When do we begin?
When do we start taking action to improve our lives and our situations? When do we begin to make positive changes?
You'll learn, you'll learn, you'll learn
No matter what happens or how difficult things may seem, you will continue to learn and grow from your experiences.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM S. GARDNER, RYAN MILLER, BRIAN A. ROSENWORCEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
celtic745
If in the morning you look up
Fake a smile and you sigh
Don't fear the future
In years to come
You'll learn, you'll learn
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the strength then
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all in your head
When do we begin?
Although he so sad
Discovered things never had
It makes you wonder
A life alone
You'll learn, you'll learn
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the strength then
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
When do we begin?
When do we begin?
You'll learn, you'll learn, you'll learn
Don't fear the future
I used to sit and watch the pouring rain
I used to wish to be back home again
Hadn't the strength then
Hadn't the chance to reveal
But it's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
It's all, it's all, in your head
When do we begin?
Brenton Lengel
This song made such a difference to me. Guster came and played my boarding school as part of one of their first tours, and I liked them so much I bought the CD. That was a year of hell where for the first time in my life I didn’t have any friends.
This song and really the whole album got me through it—and every now and then I revisit it. Still just as meaningful as the first time I heard it.
Ariel L
Wow so like ‘94 or ‘95?
soFarLefTimPracticallyRight 1
This period of guster is eternal
Richard Diaz
I agree.
Seero Boarder
Possibly my all-time favorite Guster song, and certainly one of my all-time favorite songs ever. I love you guster!
Richard Diaz
Not sure why this song makes me sad, miss home, feel like new beginnings, or come to terms with a difficulty in my life. This album is timeless.
Rockesb888
These guys are so good, sooo underrated.
maddbees
Most songs from Parachute will always hold as Guster's greatest work. This song not excluded.
Finn Tallahassee HTF
Underrated band.
aaronsabin
One of the great, but unappreciated songs in my lifetime...