While Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson are proud of their successful first effort, they are excited to have teamed with producer Josh Leo (Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) on their RCA effort. "We love performing" says Stephen. "The way we are recording now is the way our influences made records: live with a band. It's a lot more organic.".”
Eric’s earthy voice is the perfect complement to Stephen’s high-altitude tenor. The guys happily share lead vocals, harmonize like a church choir, and bolster their band with their own guitar work. “Stephen and I have always been on the same page as far as the vision for Love and Theft and what we want it to be,” says Eric. “We feel like we have made the record we’ve always wanted to make.”
The result is a nod to the duo’s varied influences. “She’s Amazing” evokes the brilliant harmonies of the Eagles. The seductive “Amen” channels all the yearning of Roy Orbison. And the rollicking first single “Angel Eyes” brings to mind Elvis Presley’s “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise.”
While Johnny Cash and Orbison are both enormous influences, it might surprise fans to learn who the duo’s favorite artist is. “Hands-down, Elvis,” says Stephen. “My dad was really into him, so I got into him. I was all over Elvis growing up.”
Coincidentally, both Stephen and Eric—who didn’t meet until they were in their early 20s—were raised as pastors’ kids, and their respective fathers fed them a steady diet of gospel, oldies and country. “Our parents didn’t want us listening to secular music that much. But they’d let us listen to Elvis, Roy, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…,” says Eric. “It was cool to grow up that way, and that’s still my favorite kind of music.”
It isn’t lost on the guys that they’re now recording for the very label that released some of their hero’s biggest hits. “We’re excited to be on RCA, the same label Elvis was on,” Stephen says with a smile.
Perhaps it was some divine intervention that led the friends to this point in their career. Eric and Stephen, after all, will be the first to tell you that their shared spirituality is a cornerstone of Love and Theft. In fact, both used to lead worship at their churches.
“That’s how we got our start playing music. Our faith is a huge part of our lives,” says Eric, pondering the fate of it all. “I feel like it was meant to be this way from the beginning. Our journey over the past four years was preparing us for where we’re at now.”
Which is squarely at the doorstop of a prosperous career in country music. With a young, vibrant sound, a captivating live show, and a passionate fan base, Love and Theft are poised to become the genre’s next great duo.
http://www.loveandtheft.com/
Can't Stop Smiling
Love and Theft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hell a hurricane’s kinda like floatin’ on a breeze
People wanna know why I’m lookin’ like this
Maybe it’s her laugh
Maybe it’s her walk
Maybe it’s her kiss
But I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
No, I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I like it
No I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I love a little more of it
'Cause I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I caught myself lookin’ at the sunset a little longer
Just for fun I’m pourin’ my drinks a little stronger
I ain’t gonna lie I think that I could get used to this
I can’t keep my eyes off of her eyes
My lips off her lips
But I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
No, I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I like it
No I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I love a little more of it
'Cause I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
Since you came in my world
It’s like I’m walkin’ on a different planet
Don’t know where you came from, girl
But ever since you landed
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
But I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
No, I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I like it
No I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
But I love a little more of it
'Cause I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
Love and Theft's song "Can't Stop Smiling" is a joyous ode to being in love. The song's opening lines compare cloudy days to blue skies, suggesting that the singer's newfound happiness has transformed his perception of the world around him. He likens a hurricane to a gentle breeze and admits that people are noticing his happiness and asking why he's so thrilled. He explains that it's likely due to his partner's infectious humor, confident stride, and tender kisses.
The chorus repeats the song's title phrase and emphasizes the singer's inability to contain his joy. He admits that he doesn't quite understand why he feels so exhilarated but that he loves it and wants more. The second verse finds the singer reveling in everyday pleasures, such as lingering to watch the sunset and pouring stronger drinks for himself. He conveys a sense of shameless abandon, declaring that he cannot tear his attention away from his lover's eyes and lips.
The bridge features a change in perspective, with the singer acknowledging that his world has been transformed since he met his partner. He cannot pinpoint her origin or place of "landing," but he knows that her presence in his life has him "walking on a different planet." The chorus repeats twice more before the song fades out on a high note.
Line by Line Meaning
Cloudy days been lookin’ like blue skies to me
Even when things seem gloomy, everything seems bright and colorful now
Hell a hurricane’s kinda like floatin’ on a breeze
Even the most difficult things feel easy and effortless now
People wanna know why I’m lookin’ like this
Others are noticing a change in me and are curious about it
Maybe it’s her laugh
Her infectious laughter is making me happy
Maybe it’s her walk
The way she moves is captivating me
Maybe it’s her kiss
The way she kisses me is making me feel amazing
But I can’t stop, can’t stop smiling
I am constantly grinning from ear to ear
No, I don’t know what she’s doin’ to me
I don't understand how she's making me feel so happy
But I like it
But I am loving every minute of it
But I love a little more of it
But I want more of it and I can't get enough
I caught myself lookin’ at the sunset a little longer
I am finding beauty and joy in simple things now
Just for fun I’m pourin’ my drinks a little stronger
I am feeling carefree and indulgent, and I'm not afraid to live a little
I ain’t gonna lie I think that I could get used to this
I don't want this feeling to ever go away
Since you came in my world
My life has been turned upside down since meeting her
It’s like I’m walkin’ on a different planet
I feel like I'm living in a whole new world and nothing is the same
Don’t know where you came from, girl
I don't even know how I got so lucky to have her in my life
But ever since you landed
But now that she's here, I never want her to leave
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DALLAS DAVIDSON, ERIC GUNDERSON, STEPHEN BARKER-LILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind