Philadelphia band Restorations have managed to both attract and defy labels… Read Full Bio ↴Philadelphia band Restorations have managed to both attract and defy labels since their humble origins in 2008. Formed by singer/guitarist Jon Loudon and guitarist Dave Klyman following the breakup of their post-hardcore band Jena Berlin, the two casually assembled a new band with little more ambition than having a reason to get together once a week and play. It took a couple of years to get going, but by 2010 Restorations had begun a string of releases that would garner them ardent critical praise for their marriage of post-rock, punk, Americana, folk-rock, and anthemic indie. Their self-titled 2011 debut album was preceded by a handful of singles and an EP. Clearly the floodgates had been opened and the rapid progression showed a versatile and constantly evolving band. Their efforts were aided by collaborator/producer Jonathan Low (the War on Drugs, the National), whose adventurous spirit helped bolster the new, more grandiose sounds of their second album, 2013's LP2. The band continued to gain fans and momentum and eventually landed a deal with established L.A. indie SideOneDummy Records. In October 2014 Restorations delivered their third album, the vast heartland rocker LP3.

New Old
Restorations Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Enough of the old-times eyes
Enough of the same old reprise
So ugly
So tired
So bored
So true
I don't know what do with you
Now number three on the side has been giving me the eye

Like somehow I'm the one who's crossed the line
And you?
Your songs write themselves
And you?
You're no better

You know, this place will wear you down
Ain't much left to do but wait for some good news
You in the corner shaking just staring at your phone
Singing "I gotta get outta here. I gotta go home."

I'm trapped in a sea of debris
I am five
I am fifty
I am fifteen
She spins around and says "so, what's your theme?"
Says she wants to know what is it I mean

To maintain a distance I no longer occupy
The ongoing joke I continue to choke down

Overall Meaning

The song "New Old" by Restorations has a deeply introspective message that addresses the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of monotony, longing for change, and struggling to break free. The lead singer expresses his frustration with the old and tired ways of life, emphasizing the need for something fresh and exciting. He acknowledges that he doesn't know what to do with himself because he feels like he's trapped in a familiar pattern that offers no escape. The lyrics "enough of the old-times eyes, enough of the same old reprise, so ugly, so tired, so bored, so true" reveal his desperation for change.

The song then continues with the lead singer witnessing a colleague giving him a look that suggests he's crossed a line, and he's questioning whether he's better than anyone else. He acknowledges that this place will wear him down, leaving him anticipating good news as a beacon of hope. The lyrics "you in the corner shaking just staring at your phone, singing 'I gotta get outta here. I gotta go home'" reveal his dissatisfaction with his environment, and his desire to be somewhere else.

Towards the end of the song, the lead singer expresses his feeling of being lost in a sea of debris and experiencing different emotions associated with being five, fifty or fifteen. He meets a woman who asks him about his theme, wanting to understand what drives him. He admits that he needs to maintain a distance because he no longer occupies that space. The ongoing joke he continues to choke down reveals his inner turmoil that he cannot escape, despite the humor.

Line by Line Meaning

Enough of the old-times eyes
I am tired of constantly looking at things in the same old way

Enough of the same old reprise
I am tired of hearing the same old things being repeated

So ugly
Everything seems unattractive and unappealing

So tired
I am exhausted and drained by the monotony of my life

So bored
I am uninterested and uninspired by everything around me

So true
Sadly, everything that I am feeling is accurate and honest

I don't know what to do with you
I am unsure how to handle this situation or problem I am facing

Now number three on the side has been giving me the eye
A person at a nearby table is staring at me in a way that makes me uncomfortable

Like somehow I'm the one who's crossed the line
I feel as though I am being judged unfairly or accused of doing something wrong

And you? Your songs write themselves
You are not putting any effort or creativity into your work

And you? You're no better
You are also struggling and are not in a position to judge me

You know, this place will wear you down
This environment is draining and exhausting

Ain't much left to do but wait for some good news
There seems to be no other option besides waiting for something positive to happen

You in the corner shaking just staring at your phone
You are nervous or anxious and constantly looking at your phone

Singing "I gotta get outta here. I gotta go home."
You are expressing a desire to leave and go back to a place where you feel more comfortable

I'm trapped in a sea of debris
I feel as though I am surrounded by a chaotic and confusing mess

I am five, I am fifty, I am fifteen
I am feeling both young and old, experiencing a range of emotions and perspectives

She spins around and says "so, what's your theme?"
A person is asking me what my underlying message or purpose is

Says she wants to know what is it I mean
This person is interested in the deeper meaning behind my words or actions

To maintain a distance I no longer occupy
I am trying to keep my distance from something or someone that I am no longer involved with

The ongoing joke I continue to choke down
I am forcing myself to deal with a situation or problem that I find difficult or uncomfortable

Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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01D3:56

02Let's Blow Up The Sun3:59

03Civil Inattention4:12

04Kind Of Comfort2:53

05In Perpetuity Throughout The Universe5:04

PT3M41S

09Adventure Tortoise5:59

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Comments from YouTube:

Hadley Fowler

3y↑1

truly sad, I wasn't apart of this in 2013. fantastic!

Jordan Hall

11y↑2

These guys are fantastic. So glad I stumbled across 'LP2'

flagemdown66

10y↑3

I heard this band's music being played in Tunes over in Mt. Laurel, it was an instant hit with me... just really great stuff... hits the spot. Here the bass player is playing THE BASS... and he's playing what's probably my favorite type of bass... but I haven't been able to get/find/buy that bass yet. GREAT! KEEP GOING!!!!! YOU GOT THE RIGHT IDEA!!!!!! THANK YOU!