Since 1999, Longwave has been one of the New York City’s leading exports. A… Read Full Bio ↴Since 1999, Longwave has been one of the New York City’s leading exports. After the success of Endsongs , their 2000 independent release, the band signed with RCA Records and began work with producer Dave Fridmann, known for his efforts with the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The resulting album, The Strangest Things, led to critical raves and tours across all parts of this earth with the likes of The Strokes and The Vines.

Longwave followed up on the success of The Strangest Things by entering the studio in 2004 with famed producer John Leckie, whose work with Radiohead and Pink Floyd endeared him to the critical taste of the band, and There’s a Fire was released in 2005.

With a return to the studio planned for late 2007, Longwave found itself on the list of indispensable listening for the first part of this millennium. Expect them to stay there. Longwave's latest album, Secrets are Sinister, was released in November 2008 on Original Signal Recordings.

Life of the Party
Longwave Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I missed you at the party,
All the lights were turned down low,
I thought about calling,
From the house to let you know

I missed you at Cali
Where the nights were so intense,
I wish you could see me,

Screwed up in a mess like

Every little thing I touch,
Every little thing can hurt me,
All the crutches that you keep,
None of them now are working,
Waiting for that day.

When you get back we'll
Go out late and paint that town,
Acting crazy,
Throw our money all around,

I missed you at the party,
All the lights were turned down low,
I could have done better,
But I didn't know that

Every little thing I touch,
Every little thing can hurt me,
All the reasons that you give,
None of them that now are working,
Waiting for that day,

Waiting for that day,
Waiting for that day.

Overall Meaning

The song Life Of The Party by Longwave is a melancholic reflection upon missing someone at a party. The opening lyrics convey the feeling of regret and sadness that the singer experiences upon not seeing the person they miss at the party. The lights being turned down low is a metaphor for the emotional darkness the singer feels without the presence of their loved one. The lines "I thought about calling, from the house to let you know" suggests that there may have been a missed opportunity to connect with the person; hence the singer took refuge in their thoughts instead.

The second part of the song goes on to describe a missed opportunity to spend time together in Cali, where the singer feels they were "screwed up in a mess." This suggests that the absence of the loved one has affected the singer in a profound way, leading to bad decisions and emotional disarray. The chorus "Every little thing I touch, Every little thing can hurt me" highlights the emotional fragility of the singer and how their experience with the person they miss has left lasting scars. The closing lyrics express hope and the longing for the day when they'll be reunited, and can act crazy, throw money around, and be the life of the party together.

Line by Line Meaning

I missed you at the party,
I regretted your absence from the party.

All the lights were turned down low,
The party venue was dimly lit.

I thought about calling,
I considered calling you.

From the house to let you know
To inform you of the situation from home.

I missed you at Cali
I longed for your presence in California.

Where the nights were so intense,
The nights in California were emotionally overwhelming.

I wish you could see me,
I wish you could witness my miserable state.

Screwed up in a mess like
I was messed up and in a chaotic state of mind.

Every little thing I touch,
Every action of mine has consequences.

Every little thing can hurt me,
I am vulnerable to even small setbacks.

All the crutches that you keep,
All the coping mechanisms that you rely on.