Little Joy is formed by Binki Shapiro, Rodrigo Amarante and Fabrizio Morett… Read Full Bio ↴Little Joy is formed by Binki Shapiro, Rodrigo Amarante and Fabrizio Moretti, three friends who dropped their routine at their respective hometowns to make a record in Los Angeles, California in 2007.

Through a chance encounter at a Portuguese festival in Lisbon (Lisboa Soundz 2006), where both Amarante (Singer/Guitarist of Los Hermanos) and Moretti (drummer of The Strokes) had performed, the two chatted well through the night and into the morning by the side of the river, humoring the idea of working together on music that had no affiliation to their particular bands.

A year later, Amarante traveled to the United States to record with Devendra Banhart on his Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon album. On the off hours of an arduous recording process, Amarante would meet with Moretti to discuss anything but music.

Binki Shapiro, musician and native of Los Angeles, was introduced to the pair through mutual acquaintances and became a fast friend, encouraging the two to focus on the music they had spoken of long before. Through the process of late night “show-and-tell” the three developed and arranged songs Moretti had begun and soon after started writing original music for the group as a band.

A couple of months later they all moved into a house in Echo Park to demo songs and soon after, with the help of producer Noah Georgeson, who had recorded Banhart’s album, they finished their self-titled debut, Little Joy, named after the cocktail lounge just down the street from their home.

Little Joy was released worldwide by Rough Trade Records, a division of The Beggar’s Group, on Nov. 4th, 2008.

With Strangers
Little Joy Lyrics

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I bet you're wondering how I knew
That this would come to an end
He stole your heart from you
So you tossed me out to the wind

I keep pretending not to care
Oh the winter scent in her hair
Compels my hands to do

The things my heart wouldn't dare

I'll keep holding on to you
See no use perfecting lives with strangers
If only you, if only now

And in the twilight of this hour
When fools are mistaken for men
This shadow suits me well
My regrets are faced in the end

I'll keep holding on to you
See no use perfecting lives with strangers
If only you, if only now

I'll keep holding on to you

See no use perfecting lives with strangers
If only you, if only now

Overall Meaning

The song "With Strangers" by Little Joy tells the story of heartbreak, regret, and holding on to somebody despite the pain they caused. The opening lines of the song address the subject of betrayal, with the singer suggesting that they knew the relationship would come to an end because their lover was stolen away by somebody else. However, even though they were left behind, the singer simply cannot let go of their former flame, and they struggle with their feelings, while the winter scent in her hair compels his hands to do things his heart wouldn't dare.

In the middle section of the song, the singer reflects on the futility of trying to find new love and perfecting lives with strangers. They suggest that there is no use in trying to move on because they are still holding on to the hope that they might somehow reconcile with their former lover. In the end, the singer acknowledges their regrets and mistakes, but they still can't help but hold on to the memory of the past.

The lyrics of "With Strangers" are beautifully crafted, with poetic and insightful phrases that capture the essence of heartbreak, longing, and regret. The melody is soft and melancholic, creating a mood that perfectly matches the emotional content of the lyrics. Overall, this song is a powerful expression of the complexities of human relationships, and it showcases Little Joy's talent for creating poignant and meaningful music.

Line by Line Meaning

I bet you're wondering how I knew
I can imagine that you are curious about how I was aware of what was going to happen

That this would come to an end
That us being together would come to a conclusion

He stole your heart from you
Another man has taken your affections away from yourself

So you tossed me out to the wind
You let go of me without much regard

I keep pretending not to care
I'm acting like it doesn't matter but deep down it does

Oh the winter scent in her hair
The smell of her hair reminds me of the season of winter

Compels my hands to do
It urges me to take action

The things my heart wouldn't dare
To take actions that my feelings wouldn't normally allow me to do

I'll keep holding on to you
I'll keep trying to keep our connection alive

See no use perfecting lives with strangers
I don't see the point in trying to find fulfillment with people we don't know

If only you, if only now
I wish it could be just you and me, and that it could happen soon

And in the twilight of this hour
As the sun begins to set, and it gets darker outside

When fools are mistaken for men
During a time where people who think they are wise, reveal themselves to be foolish

This shadow suits me well
The darkness fits my mood

My regrets are faced in the end
I will eventually come to terms with the mistakes that I've made

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FABRIZIO MORETTI, JORDANA SHAPIRO, RODRIGO AMARANTE NEVES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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