In 2010, the five Wisconsinites that now make up Horseshoes & Hand Grenades found themselves in a living room in the college town of Stevens Point, WI, holding acoustic instruments and enjoying a hodgepodge of fermented beverages. Music and revelry ensued that evening and, while many of the party guests eventually bid their goodbye well into the morning hours, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades wasn’t ready to let the get-together fade. Five years later, the music still hasn’t stopped and the party is still going strong, from the mountain west to the river towns of the Midwest that the quintet calls home.
While strongly rooted in bluegrass, old-time, and folk music, the band produces a sound that draws on the vaults of music collectively and individually enjoyed throughout the course of their lives thus far. The music doesn’t lend itself well to categories or boundaries. One could probably be formed, but the boys seem to generally prefer fishing a river, or enjoying the company of friends and barley beers.
Yet with their music well-defined or not, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades has begun to form a place in the Midwest music scene, gaining recognition on both a regional and national scale. The band took 3rd place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s Band Competition in 2012 and has since shared the stage with Trampled By Turtles, The Travelin’ McCourys, Railroad Earth, Merle Haggard, The Infamous Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain String Band, Marty Stuart, and many more. The group’s third full-length Middle Western was released in March of 2015. Being mostly inspired by rivers, valleys, good friends, and good drink, this five-piece is as sturdy as any Midwest riverbed and makes your toes tap from sundown to sunrise.
http://hhgmusic.com/
This Must Be The Place
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pick me up and turn me ′round
I feel numb, born with a weak heart
I guess I must be havin' fun
The less we say about it, the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground, head in the sky
Nothing's wrong, we′ve got plenty of time
Hiyooo, you′ve got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money, always for love
Cover up and say goodnight
Ooh, say goodnight
Home, is where I want to be
But I guess I′m already here
I came home, she lifted up her wings
I guess that this must be the place
And I can't tell one from the other
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time before we were born
If someone asks this is where I′ll be
Where I'll be
Heyooo, we drift in and out
Heyoo, sing into my mouth
And out of all those kinds of people
You′ve got a face with a view
I'm just an animal, looking for a home
To share the same space for a minute or two
And you'll love me ′til my heart stops
You love me ′til I'm dead
Eyes that light up
Eye′s that look through you
Cover up the bright spots
Hit me on the head
Now, OoooOooooh
The song "This Must Be The Place" by Horseshoes & Hand Grenades is about finding a sense of belonging and comfort in one's own home. The lyrics express a desire to be picked up and turned around to face be able to face the challenges ahead, despite feeling numb and weak-hearted. The singer seems to find solace in the fact that talking too much about their feelings may not be the best approach and is content with making things up as they go along.
The chorus highlights the idea that the singer is happy with where they are and their sense of belonging - with their feet on the ground and head in the sky, they know that nothing is wrong and they have plenty of time. They feel safe with their lover standing beside them, enjoying the passing of time, always doing things not for money but for love. As the chorus ends, the singer bids goodnight by saying 'cover up and say goodnight' and feels they have found a place that feels like home.
The second verse hints at a predestined meeting - 'And I can't tell one from the other, did I find you, or you find me?' - and the idea that the place they have found together is where they have always belonged. The lines 'we drift in and out, sing into my mouth', further add to this poem-like romanticism. In the last few lines, the singer acknowledges that in a world full of people, everyone seems to be looking for a home, to share the same space for a few moments with other lost souls. Knowing that their lover will love them until they are dead, 'eyes that look through you, cover up the bright spots', the singer breathes out an 'OoooOooooh'.
Line by Line Meaning
Home, is where I want to be
I feel most comfortable in a familiar place
Pick me up and turn me ′round
Change my perspective or help me see things in a different way
I feel numb, born with a weak heart
I am emotionally vulnerable and easily affected by situations
I guess I must be havin' fun
I may be struggling, but I'm trying to enjoy the moment
The less we say about it, the better
It's best not to dwell on certain topics or issues
Make it up as we go along
We are improvising and figuring things out as we move forward
Feet on the ground, head in the sky
I am grounded and realistic, but also have an optimistic outlook
It′s okay, I know nothing's wrong
I am content and not worried about anything at the moment
Nothing's wrong, we′ve got plenty of time
We are not in a rush; we have all the time we need
Hiyooo, you′ve got light in your eyes
You seem happy and full of life
And you're standing here beside me
We are sharing a moment together
I love the passing of time
I appreciate the beauty and inevitability of change
Never for money, always for love
I prioritize love and connection over material gain
Cover up and say goodnight
It's time to end the day and go to sleep
Ooh, say goodnight
A playful way to end the day or interaction
But I guess I′m already here
I may have been searching, but I realize I am already in a good place
I came home, she lifted up her wings
I returned to a welcoming and nurturing environment
I guess that this must be the place
I feel like I belong here
And I can't tell one from the other
It's hard for me to distinguish between different aspects or experiences
Did I find you, or you find me?
I am unsure how we came together or if it was fate
There was a time before we were born
There was a period of history before we existed
If someone asks this is where I′ll be
I will proudly declare where I am and what I'm doing
Heyooo, we drift in and out
Our connection and presence may fluctuate or change
Heyoo, sing into my mouth
A playful and affectionate request for closeness and intimacy
And out of all those kinds of people
In a world full of variety, you stand out to me
You′ve got a face with a view
Your expressions and emotions are clear and easy to read
I'm just an animal, looking for a home
I am a living being with a need for safety and shelter
To share the same space for a minute or two
I crave connection and proximity with others, even if it's brief
And you'll love me ′til my heart stops
You will love and care for me deeply, until the end of my life
You love me ′til I'm dead
Affirmation of a love that transcends death and time
Eyes that light up
Bright, lively and expressive eyes
Eye′s that look through you
Gaze that reveals insight or understanding
Cover up the bright spots
Protection from the potential negativity of success or happiness
Hit me on the head
A playful yet insistent request for attention or affection
Now, OoooOooooh
Expressive sound to convey emotion or mood
Writer(s): David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.