By the time he reached eleventh grade, he decided school was not for him and left. He spent a little over a year living dangerously and upsetting all those close to him until he met a girl who would then change his life. "It was a really tumultuous romantic relationship that lasted on and off for a few years," he says. "Then it just sort of fizzled out. I started writing songs the first time I figured out how to pinpoint that feeling of loss. I guess I was just waiting to make music until I had something to say. From then on, I realized I could write songs that really meant something to me."
The result was One By One, which Francis recorded at a friend's recording studio and released in August 2007 on Aeronaut Records. It didn't sell much, but it earned positive reviews from critics who compared Francis to a young Townes Van Zandt. The attention led to a record deal with Atlantic Records, which is releasing Before Nightfall.
Written over the summer of 2008 and recorded in March 2009, Before Nightfall is a snapshot of where Francis is now. "When people listen to the album, I want them to feel happy," he says. "I feel uplifted when I hear these songs; they don't bring me down. I hope people will be able to relate to them and feel as though whatever is going on in their lives is going to be okay."
!! There is other Robert Francis, author of cd: The Sitting Bull Suite
Hallways
Robert Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We drove out where the winds blew.
For what we did those nights, we'd lose what was inside you.
I took my parents' car, and you slept the whole way.
I paid up in cash, how much I loved you those days.
Too mixed up to pass on, we were pretty with the worst genes.
I'd just 'bout lost my mind by the time that you turned eighteen.
Almost drank myself to death... So I could look down, on her.
I know that I am young, but I will love another.
And I know that I'll have fun, fun enough to bother, All the places I would go where no one else could follow, in the long hallways of my life.
All the places we would go, where no one else could follow,
In the long hallways of my life.
The lyrics to Robert Francis's song 'Hallways' are an emotional and introspective reflection on the singer's journey through life, love, and loss. The song begins by describing a road trip with a loved one, driving through the desert and mountains where the winds blew. It is unclear what happened on those nights, but the singer implies that they lost something important. The next lines suggest that there was a sense of reckless abandon, and that the singer was willing to do anything for this person. They took their parents' car, paid cash, and loved fiercely.
The second verse is more turbulent and conflicted, as the singer reveals that they were both "too mixed up to pass on," and that they were "pretty with the worst genes." This suggests a dark family history or background that the two of them shared. The singer also reveals that they nearly drank themselves to death, which could be interpreted as a manifestation of their inner turmoil and self-destructive tendencies. There is a sense of regret and loss, as the singer reflects on what they had and what they destroyed.
The chorus offers a sense of hope and possibility, as the singer states that they are young and will love again. They will have fun and explore new places that no one else can follow, in the long hallways of their life. This suggests a sense of growth and personal discovery, a willingness to move on and find new experiences that are uniquely their own. The repetition of "all the places we would go, where no one else could follow" emphasizes the idea that the singer is forging their own path and creating a life that is authentically theirs.
Overall, 'Hallways' is a poignant and evocative song that offers a glimpse into the singer's inner world. It touches on themes of love, loss, family, and personal growth, and is ultimately a hopeful and optimistic reflection on the journey of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Desert, mountains, life.
Life is filled with diverse landscapes like deserts and mountains.
We drove out where the winds blew.
We went on a journey to wherever the wind took us.
For what we did those nights, we'd lose what was inside you.
We engaged in activities that caused you to lose a part of yourself.
I took my parents' car, and you slept the whole way.
I used my parents' car to travel and you slept throughout the journey.
I paid up in cash, how much I loved you those days.
I expressed my love for you by paying for our trip in cash.
Too mixed up to pass on, we were pretty with the worst genes.
We were confused about our identity and had undesirable traits.
I'd just 'bout lost my mind by the time that you turned eighteen.
I was on the verge of losing my sanity by the time you reached the age of eighteen.
Destroyed what I had left, some different kind of monster.
I ruined what little I had left and turned into a monstrous version of myself.
Almost drank myself to death... So I could look down, on her.
I almost killed myself with alcohol to spite someone.
I know that I am young, but I will love another.
I am aware that I am still young and will find love elsewhere.
And I know that I'll have fun, fun enough to bother,
I am confident that I will have an enjoyable life worth living.
All the places I would go where no one else could follow,
I will visit places that are inaccessible to others.
in the long hallways of my life.
Throughout my life's long, continuous journey.
All the places we would go, where no one else could follow,
We went to places that were exclusive to us.
In the long hallways of my life.
Throughout all of my life's journeys.
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.