After self-releasing 2007's All Lies and 2008's Lullaby Death Jams EPs to little attention, the band was effectively broken up by the end of 2008. In January 2009, Japandroids signed to Unfamiliar Records for the release of their debut LP Post-Nothing, deciding to continue on temporarily. The album quickly and unexpectedly rose to wide critical acclaim after its April release. King and Prowse were subsequently signed to Polyvinyl and toured extensively throughout 2009 and 2010, playing more than 200 shows in 20 countries and earning praise for their extremely energetic live performances. A compilation of Japandroids' self-released EPs, entitled No Singles, as well as a series of three 7" singles, "Art Czars," "Younger Us," and "Heavenward Grand Prix" were released in the meantime. The tour ultimately concluded on October 27, 2010.
After working on new material throughout 2011, Japandroids announced in March 2012 that their second LP, Celebration Rock, would be released internationally on June 5, prefaced by the single "The House That Heaven Built" on May 15. Similarly to its predecessor, Celebration Rock was also widely acclaimed by critics.
Darkness on the Edge of Gastown
Japandroids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wears too much neon
Tell her
It's hanging off her bones
Tell her
That's all she is
New ways to wear old clothes
That I'm staying thin
Tell her
That I'm staying inside
Tell her
When I think about her, whoa
Tell her
That I can see the future
Tell her
That her future is bleak
Tell her
That I'm the future
Tell her I'm still alive
Tell her I'm still in love
Tell her to come pick me up
Tell her I'm downtown
In the darkness on the edge of Gastown
Darkness on the edge of Gastown
Tell her I'm still alive
Tell her I'm still in love
Tell her to come pick me up
Tell her I'm downtown
In the darkness on the edge of Gastown
Darkness on the edge of Gastown
Tell her I'm still alive
Tell her I'm still in love
Tell her to come pick me up
Tell her I'm downtown
In the darkness on the edge of Gastown
Darkness on the edge of Gastown
Tell her I'm still alive
Tell her I'm still in love
Tell her to come pick me up
Tell her I'm downtown
In the darkness on the edge of Gastown
Darkness on the edge of Gastown
The lyrics of Japandroids' "Darkness on the Edge of Gastown" tell the story of a person reaching out to someone they love in hope of being rescued from the darkness of their current situation. The singer urges this person to come to their aid, claiming that they are still in love and still alive, despite the bleakness of their current surroundings. The chorus repeats the plea for rescue, set against a backdrop of the titular Gastown, an area of Vancouver known for its bars and nightlife.
The song paints a picture of someone trapped in a cycle of despair, struggling with addiction or depression, reaching out for a lifeline to the person they love. The neon-bathed streets of Gastown serve as a symbolic manifestation of this inner turmoil, a liminal space on the edge of light and darkness where the singer feels trapped. The repeated refrain of "tell her" conveys a sense of desperation and urgency, as the singer implores their loved one to come save them.
Overall, "Darkness on the Edge of Gastown" presents a powerful depiction of inner turmoil and the hope of redemption through the power of love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell her
Addressing a third party to relay a message
She wears too much neon
The subject wears an excessive amount of bright colors
It's hanging off her bones
The subject is very thin and therefore the clothing hangs loosely
That's all she is
The subject's identity is solely based on fashion
New ways to wear old clothes
The subject is continuously trying to reinvent their style while using the same clothing
That I'm staying thin
The singer is intentionally keeping their weight low
That I'm staying inside
The singer is isolating themselves from the outside world
When I think about her, whoa
The artist has strong feelings towards the subject when they come to mind
That I can see the future
The artist has a sense of foresight
That her future is bleak
The artist believes that the subject's future is not positive
That I'm the future
The singer sees themselves as the future for the subject
Tell her I'm still alive
The artist wants the third party to inform the subject that they are alive
Tell her I'm still in love
The singer wants the third party to inform the subject that they still have feelings of love for them
Tell her to come pick me up
The singer wants the third party to inform the subject to come and retrieve them physically
Tell her I'm downtown
The singer wants the third party to inform the subject of their current location
In the darkness on the edge of Gastown
The artist is in an area of Gastown, Vancouver that has a negative connotation
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian King, David Prowse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n,vkghvkj
Love this band, really want to see them in France.
jeekabnieks
There's kind of a Deftones vibe going on. I love it.
I was a Radio.
@lelephantvolant they'll probably be too busy french kissing french girls.
Masked Guitar Lessons
I don't know if this was a Bruce Springfield reference, but these guys are way better than THE BOSS.
Keith McClanahan
Blasphemy!..... May you forever rot in hell for writing these words
Taylor Gray Moore
No, he clearly means Bruce Rickfield.
Vaff angool
mothertheresalovesan
Do you mean Bruce Springfield?
mothertheresalovesan
Don't be stupid. It's clearly a Rick Springsteen reference.