Formed initially by members Alex Church (bass), Steven Scott (guitar) and Brian Canning (guitar), Irving began as a thrown-together rock outfit to accompany a friendβs art opening. Within a month, Brent Turner (drums) joined, and the group began working in earnest on the songs that would eventually appear on its first album, Good Morning Beautiful. The release of GMB in 2002 showcased the bandβs penchant for writing witty pop songs with whimsical backup vocals and upbeat melodies.
By the yearβs end, Aaron Burrows (keyboards) signed on, and the band was back in the studio. The I Hope Youβre Feeling Better Now EP, released in 2003 to critical acclaim, exhibited Irvingβs unrelenting willingness to experiment with pop song structures, and highlighted the innate strengths of a band in which all five members are songwriters.
In the two years since the release of the EP, Irving has opened for such notables as Franz Ferdinand, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and The Polyphonic Spree. The bandβs songwriting has also taken a noticeably more thoughtful turn. While the innate pop sensibilities continue to stand out above all else, Irvingβs songwriting has maturedβthe sounds and structures more intricate, the subject matter more thoroughly realized.
"Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers" is the result of five musicians and their distinct influences, bound by an uncanny knack for melody and harmony. With production and engineering help from Phil Ek (The Shins, Modest Mouse), as well as Aaron Espinoza (Earlimart) and Jim Fairchild (from Grandaddy), Irving corrals its many distinct influences into a clear vision. From the oblique percussive start of the title track, to the psych-pop chaos of βSituationβ to the so-bizarre-it-works background breathing on βI Want To Love You In My Room,β the band pulls unforgettable hooks out of the most unlikely places.
In 2007, Church left the band to form his own band, Sea Wolf, while the remaining members put Irving on hold to form a new band with singer Claire McKeown, Afternoons, not to be confused with (or sure to be confused with) the Welsh pop band The Afternoons.
I Can't Fall in Love
Irving Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
outside the window helicopters circle in the air
the birds are calling loudly to make up for all the noise
but the morning traffic's stronger as it drowns out all their cries
here inside, my darling sleeps
the clock ticks on, I lie awake
the grey turns white and shadows grow
I can't fall in love
it's a monday in december, all the people go to work
try to make some money just to buy a better car
they'll see her in a magazine they'll buy on their way home
and think of her on beaches as the snow comes down outside
here inside my darling sleeps
the clock ticks on, I lie awake
the grey turns white and shadows grow
and all I think is
I can't fall in love
here inside, my darling sleeps
the clock ticks on, I lie awake
the grey turns white and shadows grow
the birds go quiet, an alarm goes off
now take the shower, still half asleep
mind slips away, the morning shave
the coffee cup, the kiss goodbye
I go to work and all I think is
The lyrics of "I Can't Fall in Love" by Irving paint a dreary picture of a cold and foggy morning in Silverlake. The singer is lying awake next to his loved one while helicopters circle outside and traffic roars by. Despite the chaos outside, the birds are calling loudly, but their cries are drowned out by the noise. The singer is unable to fall in love, even though his darling sleeps soundly beside him.
The lyrics suggest that consumerism and the pressures of modern life have left the singer feeling numb and disconnected, unable to connect with his emotions or form meaningful relationships. The people go to work on a dull Monday morning in December, trying to make money just to buy a better car. They see images of the ideal woman in magazines and fantasize about her, while the snow falls outside.
The repetition of the chorus, "I can't fall in love," reinforces the singer's feelings of emptiness and inability to connect emotionally. The song's melancholic tone, accompanied by a mournful guitar and gentle piano, perfectly captures the singer's despair and resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a cold and foggy morning in the hills of silverlake
The weather is cold and foggy in the region of Silverlake.
outside the window helicopters circle in the air
Helicopters are hovering around outside the window.
the birds are calling loudly to make up for all the noise
The birds are chirping loudly to compensate for the surrounding noise.
but the morning traffic's stronger as it drowns out all their cries
Unfortunately, the loud morning traffic is overpowering the birds' chirping sounds.
here inside, my darling sleeps
My loved one is sleeping here with me.
the clock ticks on, I lie awake
I am lying awake, listening to the sound of the clock ticking.
the grey turns white and shadows grow
The sky is changing colors from grey to white, and the shadows are becoming more noticeable.
and all I think is
My only thought is
I can't fall in love
I am unable to fall in love.
it's a monday in december, all the people go to work
It's a Monday in December, and everyone is off to work.
try to make some money just to buy a better car
They tirelessly work to earn money, with the goal of buying a better car.
they'll see her in a magazine they'll buy on their way home
On their way back home, they will buy a magazine with her picture in it.
and think of her on beaches as the snow comes down outside
While the snow falls outside, they will daydream about her on the beach.
the birds go quiet, an alarm goes off
The birds stop chirping, and an alarm goes off.
now take the shower, still half asleep
Now I take a shower, still half asleep.
mind slips away, the morning shave
My mind starts to wander as I shave in the morning.
the coffee cup, the kiss goodbye
After having a cup of coffee, I kiss my loved one goodbye.
I go to work and all I think is
While I am working, my only thought is
I can't fall in love
I am unable to fall in love.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING KAHAL, SAMMY FAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind