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.
Rise and Shine
Guster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They are stuck in the middle
Midnight rattling chains
Just like fireworks
Heading straight for the heavens
But explode on the way
Wake up, sweetheart
There are bones to bury
And bones to find
This place is coming to life
Just like dominoes
First one, then come the others
Long invisible lines
Restless prisoners
Damsels longing for lovers
Rhymers searching for rhymes
Wake up, sweetheart
Rise and shine
I hear music playing
Chorus lines
This place is coming to life
Speak up, sweetheart
We're wasting time
These are changed surroundings
Hold on tight
This place is coming to life
The song "Rise and Shine" by Guster is about the ghosts that are stuck in the middle, willing to move on but can't seem to find a way to do it. The ghosts are restless and keep banging chains at midnight, just like fireworks heading straight for the heavens but exploding on the way. The lyrics want the listener to wake up and see that there are bones to bury and bones to find, bringing life to the place that has been dead for so long.
The song continues to mention the domino effect, where one thing leads to another, and the long lines are invisible, just like the prisoners. The restless damsels are longing for their lovers, and the rhymers are still searching for their perfect match, representing how incomplete dreams and emotions can leave us feeling like we're still stuck and lost. When the listener is asked to wake up, it is clear that these ghosts and their emotions are a metaphor for our own lives and the things that hold us back.
In the end, the lyrics urge the listener to speak up and stop wasting time. These surroundings have changed, and we need to hold on tight to the new opportunities in life. The ghosts might still haunt us, but they are a reminder that life is still worth living. The song is uplifting, yet somber at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
There are ghosts in here
The atmosphere is haunting and eerie
They are stuck in the middle
The ghosts are unable to cross over to the other side
Midnight rattling chains
The ghosts are restless and manifesting their presence with sounds of chains
Just like fireworks
The ghosts' energy is explosive and exciting
Heading straight for the heavens
The ghosts are trying to ascend to a higher place
But explode on the way
The ghosts are unable to reach their destination and instead dissipate
Wake up, sweetheart
It's time to acknowledge and confront the haunting atmosphere
Rise and shine
Get up and start the day, ready to face the challenges ahead
There are bones to bury
There are past traumas and experiences that need to be laid to rest
And bones to find
There are unresolved issues that need to be addressed
This place is coming to life
By dealing with the ghosts of the past, the present is becoming more vibrant and full of energy
Just like dominoes
One issue leads to the next and so on, creating a chain reaction
First one, then come the others
Once the initial problem is addressed, others will emerge that also need attention
Long invisible lines
The issues have been hidden and brewing for a while
Restless prisoners
Those affected by the issues have been trapped and unable to move on
Damsels longing for lovers
Those affected by the issues are seeking resolution and closure
Rhymers searching for rhymes
The issues are complex and intertwined, requiring effort to connect and understand
I hear music playing
The process of addressing the underlying issues is rewarding and fulfilling
Chorus lines
People are coming together to work towards a common goal
Speak up, sweetheart
Communication is key to making progress and moving forward
We're wasting time
Inaction is holding us back from making a change
These are changed surroundings
By addressing the issues, the environment and people involved are transforming
Hold on tight
Change can be scary and difficult, but it's worth persevering
This place is coming to life
By addressing the ghosts and issues of the past, the present is becoming more vibrant and full of energy
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Gardner, Brian Rosenworcel, Joseph Pisapia, Ryan Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@czarpaul01
Honestly one of the most gorgeous pieces of music I have ever heard. The harmonies on the chorus are amazingly beautiful. Just a supremely talented band.
@robinstelitano5205
awsome ^^
@kaladin7487
:)