The band released their third full length album, Mountains Beaches Cities, via BMG on September 10th, 2013. The project was self-produced by Moon Taxi’s own guitarist Spencer Thomson with the help of keyboardist Wes Bailey and was mixed by Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Fleet Foxes). Extensive touring with their raucous live show helped to land them debut performances on the Late Show With David Letterman and CONAN, plus major music festivals appearances at: Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees, Hangout, FireFly, Lollapalooza, Forecastle and more. Moon Taxi has previously toured with Matisyahu, and White Denim. The band’s songs have been featured in a number of TV shows and films including: ABC’s Nashville, MLB Network’s World Series 2013 show Path to the Championship, an HBO fight promo, plus the independent film Zero to 100.
Gunflower
Moon Taxi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes you’re just too proud to say
Oh, woman won’t you stay
With me… in Tennessee
I swear you got the best of me
And I ain’t got no home sweet home
Coz it’s easy living
But hard when you’re dieing on your own
But there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’
(there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’)
All this time
And maybe give you some of mine
Ooh in this crazy state of mind
Oh and it’s gotta be Tennessee
I swear you got the best of me
And I ain’t got no home sweet home
Coz it’s easy living
But hard when you’re dieing on your own
And you can run away
But there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’
(there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’)
But there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin
The lyrics of Moon Taxi's "Gunflower" suggest the complex emotions of an individual dealing with loneliness and feeling lost. The opening lines, “It’s a lonely way, sometimes you’re just too proud to say,” indicate that the person is struggling with interpersonal relationships due to emotional barriers. The person addresses a woman, asking her to stay with him in Tennessee, indicating that he is seeking a sense of belonging and a place he can call home. The words "I swear you got the best of me" portray that he is willing to make a connection with this woman, but later on, he says he has no home sweet home, emphasizing the fact that the individual is struggling with his identity and understands he cannot create a home away from himself for long.
The person acknowledges that it is easy to live in isolation, but it is difficult to suffer alone. The words "It’s easy living, but hard when you’re dying on your own" suggest that he is finding it challenging to maintain a life of loneliness. The last few lines "And you can run away, but there’s no road that takes you where you’re going" indicate that although the person is trying to escape the situation, he is aware that it will be difficult to break away entirely from his struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s a lonely way
Being alone can be a lonely experience.
Sometimes you’re just too proud to say
Admitting your emotions to someone can be difficult when you’re proud.
Oh, woman won’t you stay
Asking someone to stay with you can be a vulnerable thing to do.
With me… in Tennessee
Asking the person to stay specifically in Tennessee shows a desire for a particular place and maybe a shared experience together there.
I swear you got the best of me
The person means a lot to the artist and has maybe taken over their heart and mind.
And I ain’t got no home sweet home
The singer feels alone and unsettled without the person they are addressing.
Coz it’s easy living
Life is generally easy-going in the singer’s current state.
But hard when you’re dieing on your own
However, despite the ease, it can still be difficult to face struggles alone.
And you can run away
Someone can choose to leave a situation or relationship for the sake of their own well-being.
But there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’
However, leaving doesn’t always lead to the right path or destination.
All this time
The singer has had a lot of time to reflect on their feelings.
And maybe give you some of mine
They are willing to share their emotions with the person they are addressing.
Ooh in this crazy state of mind
The singer is in a chaotic emotional state.
Oh and it’s gotta be Tennessee
Again, Tennessee is a place of importance to the singer.
But there’s no road that takes you where you’re goin’
The closing line is a reminder that sometimes it’s hard to navigate and find the right path, even when feelings and places play such an important role.
Writer(s): Spencer Thomson, Wes Bailey, Trevor Terndrup, Thomas Putnam, Tyler Ritter
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oxertera
Moon taxi is so under-rated, I love their music so much <3 everyone in the band is so talented and I expecially love the main singers voice c:
Sadmin Durmishi
You Guys Rock!! Love your music, keep it up <3
Alecia Milner
You guys were really really great at Lockn. It was my first time listening to you, and I've been hooked!
D Littlefield
Great musicianship. Wishing you all the success your talents will bring...
Fran McLoughlin
Can't wait until your famous, you guys are amazing
Hunter McClin
I love this a lot.. heard of you guys today and you're gonna make it big. Lucky for me.... I will be able to say "I knew of them before you" haha just kidding (kinda)
Lindsey Gravel
They're so different♥ I love it. I saw them open for the Dirty Heads. The keyboardist....BEAAASSSTTT. Love them now.
J Lightning
One of the most beautiful songs
logan adams
One of the last songs that I got to hear with one of my really good friends. He wanted to see Moon Taxi so bad. And of course, less than a month after he passed, Moon Taxi came to perform. Miss you every day, Henley. July 3, 1991 - July 22, 2012.
Thurman
definitely my favorite song