Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired. Singer/guitarist Rhett Miller has released three solo albums and singer/bassist Murry Hammond released his first solo effort in April 2008. Ken Bethea plays lead guitar for the band and playing the drums/singing is Philip Peeples.
For photographs and additional information see the official website, www.Old97s.com.
What We Talk About
Old 97's Lyrics
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Well the hour is late for a quiet drunken talk
I don't begrudge you the anger in your voice
No I don't begrudge you anything at all
'Cause I know that the time is scarce in Laredo with your friends
You're on holiday, on a bender, in a daze
You find all night food in a diner full of noise
'Cause I know what this is, this is what we talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
Yeah I know what this is, this is what we talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
Well the city lights are on fuses that have blown
So the city sleeps, 'cause there's nothin' else to do
Well the couch is deep and the phone receiver's warm
I miss you much too badly to convey to you
'Cause I know what this is, this is what we talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
Yeah I know what this is, this is what we talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
I know what this is, this is what we talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
The lyrics to Old 97's song "What We Talk About" describe a late night conversation between two people discussing the complexities of love. As the hour is late, the scene is set for a visit on a whim, perhaps between two old lovers reuniting for a candid conversation. The singer doesn't begrudge their companion's anger in tone, recognizing that time is limited in Laredo, where they are on holiday, and feeling the effects of a bender. The diner full of noise and bad moods is the backdrop for the conversation, giving the lyrics a sense of urgency.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of longing for love, with a description of a city that sleeps because there's nothing else to do. The singer misses their companion deeply but can't convey it in words, highlighting the difficulty in communicating one's feelings when it comes to love. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I know what this is, this is what we talk about when we talk about love" several times, emphasizing the significance of the conversation taking place.
The lyrics of "What We Talk About" are an introspective exploration of love and the difficulties of communicating one's feelings. The song's setting in a lonely diner at night, combined with the raw emotion in the lyrics and vocals, provides a powerful and relatable representation of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the hour is late for a visit on a whim
It's too late to make an unplanned visit
I don't begrudge you the anger in your voice
I don't hold your anger against you
'Cause I know that the time is scarce in Laredo with your friends
I understand that time is limited for you in Laredo with your friends
You're on holiday, on a bender, in a daze
You're on vacation, partying hard, and feeling out of it
Where the bad mood walks like ants across your plates
The negative mood is pervasive, like ants crawling all over your food
Well the city lights are on fuses that have blown
The city is dark because of electrical issues
So the city sleeps, 'cause there's nothin' else to do
The city is quiet because there's nothing to do
Well the couch is deep and the phone receiver's warm
The couch is comfortable and the phone has been used recently
I miss you much too badly to convey to you
I miss you so much that I can't express it fully
'Cause I know what this is, this is what we talk about
This conversation is about what we typically talk about
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
Specifically, we're talking about love
Yeah I know what this is, this is what we talk about
I am aware that this is our usual topic of conversation
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
Again, we're talking about love
I know what this is, this is what we talk about
I understand that this is our typical conversation topic
When we talk about love, when we talk about love
And again, it's about love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KENDALL DEWAYNE BETHEA, MURRAY HAMMOND, PHILIP WAYNE PEEPLES, STEWART RANSOM MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind