Lindsey Jordan released her self-recorded solo EP Sticki in 2015 and played several live shows with her new band as Snail Mail. She was joined by Ryan Vieira playing bass and Shawn Durham on the drums. After completing one short DIY tour in 2016, Jordan released the EP titled Habit on Sister Polygon Records, which gained traction after being featured on several major US music sites, and they signed with Ground Control Touring. Pitchfork added the EP's opening track "Thinning” to their Best New Track series.
Snail Mail, with bassist Alex Bass and drummer Ray Brown, toured North America extensively 2017 supporting Priests, Girlpool, Waxahatchee and Beach Fossils. Jordan signed with Matador Records in September 2017 and the group's debut full-length album Lush was released on June 8th, 2018. The Snail Mail band played their first headliner tour in the beginning of 2018.
In 2019, Habit was rereleased via Matador Records along with the song “The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl In The World”.
On November 5, 2021, Snail Mail released their second studio album, Valentine, via Matador Records. The album hit number 61 on US Billboard charts and number 35 on UK and Australian charts and it was nominated for two Libera awards in 2022.
On her 2018 debut album Lush, seventeen-year-old Lindsey Jordan sang “I’m in full control / I’m not lost / Even when it’s love / Even when it’s not”. Her natural ability to be many things at once resonated with a lot of people. The contradiction of confidence and vulnerability, power and delicacy, had the impact of a wrecking ball when put to tape. It was an impressive and unequivocal career-making moment for Jordan.
On Valentine, her sophomore album out November 5th on Matador, Lindsey solidifies and defines this trajectory in a blaze of glory. In 10 songs, written over 2019-2020 by Jordan alone, we are taken on an adrenalizing odyssey of genuine originality in an era in which “indie” music has been reduced to gentle, homogenous pop composed mostly by ghostwriters. Made with careful precision, Valentine shows an artist who has chosen to take her time. The reference points are broad and psychically stirring, while the lyrics build masterfully on the foundation set by Jordan’s first record to deliver a deeper understanding of heartbreak.
Current accompanying band
Alex Bass – bass
Ray Brown – drums
Benjamin Kaunitz - guitar, backing vocals
Madeline McCormack - guitar, keyboards
Past members
Ryan Vieira – bass
Shawn Durham – drums
Heatwave
Snail Mail Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spending every weekend so far gone
Heat wave, nothing to do
Woke up in my clothes having dreamt of you
Swirl in the white evening sun
Tell me that I'm the only one
And I hope I never get a clue
And I hope whoever it is
Holds their breath around you
'Cause I know I did
And otherwise
If only sometimes
Would you give it up, green eyes?
Passing phases wear you thin
Same old world that you’ve been sleeping in
And I hope it never spends you up
Green eyes, what could ever be enough?
And I hope the love that you find
Swallows you wholly
Like you said it might
And otherwise
If only sometimes
Would you give it up, green eyes?
I’m feeling low
I’m not into sometimes
And I’m feeling low
I’m not into sometimes
I’m feeling low
I’m not into sometimes
And I’m feeling low
I’m not into sometimes
The song "Heat Wave" by Snail Mail is a melancholic reflection on unrequited love. The first stanza sets the mood with the singer expressing their fatigue with constantly trying to move on from a failed relationship. They spend every weekend trying to distract themselves from their true feelings, but they are unable to shake the memory of the person they still long for. The heat wave, symbolic of both the physical and emotional heat between the singer and their beloved, only adds to their restlessness. The line "woke up in my clothes having dreamt of you" is a poignant reminder of how much the singer's love for this person has infiltrated their subconscious.
The second stanza depicts a moment of fantasy where the singer imagines their beloved telling them that they are the only one for them. It's a moment of pure bliss, but they quickly return to the reality that they're clueless about how their beloved really feels. The line "green eyes, I don't know what to do" is a metaphor for how the singer feels trapped in their love for this person. They don't know how to move forward because their emotions are so intense.
The chorus is a plea for the person who may potentially be with the singer's beloved to recognize how special they are. The line "I hope whoever it is holds their breath around you, 'cause I know I did" is an acknowledgement of the fact that this person they love has a special quality that makes them worth holding onto. The second half of the chorus repeats the request for the person with green eyes to give up their love for the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "Heat Wave" are a portrayal of how intense the longing for someone can be. The singer is clearly struggling with their emotions, not knowing how to end their love for someone who may not feel the same way. The song is a reminder that unrequited love can be all-consuming and that it takes time to heal from it.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m so tired of moving on
I am exhausted from constantly trying to move on from past hurts and relationships.
Spending every weekend so far gone
Every weekend feels like a blur, either because of partying or trying to forget something.
Heat wave, nothing to do
The hot summer weather makes everything feel dull and uneventful.
Woke up in my clothes having dreamt of you
Despite my attempts to move on, thoughts of you invade my dreams and prevent me from truly letting go.
Swirl in the white evening sun
The beauty of the sunset is a bittersweet reminder of happier times with you.
Tell me that I'm the only one
All I want is to be the only person in your life, but I know that is not the case.
And I hope I never get a clue
I am too afraid to find out if you truly love someone else now.
Green eyes, I don’t know what to do
Your beautiful green eyes still captivate me, even though I know I need to move on.
And I hope whoever it is
I hope the person you love now is deserving of your love.
Holds their breath around you
They are in awe of the amazing person you are and don't want to mess it up.
'Cause I know I did
I regret taking you for granted and not fully appreciating all that you are.
And otherwise
In any other situation or circumstance,
If only sometimes
If you could just be with me sometimes,
Would you give it up, green eyes?
Would you be willing to let go of whoever else you love and be with me?
Passing phases wear you thin
Life has been hard on you and you're starting to feel worn down by it all.
Same old world that you’ve been sleeping in
Your life feels like it hasn't changed in a while, and you're not sure how to break out of that rut.
And I hope it never spends you up
I worry that the world and all of its problems will eventually break you down, and I hope that never happens.
Green eyes, what could ever be enough?
I know that even if I were with you, I could never fully satisfy you or live up to your expectations.
And I hope the love that you find
I genuinely hope you find the love you deserve,
Swallows you wholly
A love that is all-encompassing and fulfilling,
Like you said it might
Like you always hoped it would.
I’m feeling low
I am currently experiencing a deep sense of sadness.
I’m not into sometimes
I cannot handle a relationship that is only partially present or only sometimes there.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Lindsey Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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I'm so tired of moving on
Spending every weekend so far gone
Heat wave, nothing to do
Woke up in my clothes having dreamt of you
Swirl in the white evening sun
Tell me that I'm the only one
And I hope I never get a clue
Green eyes, I don't know what to do
And I hope whoever it is
Holds their breath around you
'Cause I know I did
And otherwise
If only sometimes
Would you give it up, green eyes?
Passing phases wear you thin
Same old world that you've been sleeping in
And I hope it never spends you up
Green eyes, what could ever be enough?
And I hope the love that you find
Swallows you wholly
Like you said it might
And otherwise
If only sometimes
Would you give it up, green eyes?
I'm feeling low
I'm not into sometimes
And I'm feeling low
I'm not into sometimes
I'm feeling low
I'm not into sometimes
And I'm feeling low
I'm not into sometimes
Alejandro Aguilar
I think that Snail Mail, Car Seat Headrest, and some other bands out there are doing an indie-rock very representative of this age. The allusions with The Strokes and the 90's vibe are pretty strong and i love it. Thanks for this kind of music.
Crust Punk Jesus Christ
Snail Mail and Car Seat Headrest represent the new era of indie, which is incredibly lyrical and introspective. Long live indie
Ivanna
Love snail mail and car seat headrest:)
scor xx
This doesn't sound like the strokes, thank GOd
Club Astro Transcendental Motor
The Strokes released their music after 2001, not the 90's and this has no allusions to The Strokes. This just sounds like a sweeter Liz Phair.
Charlie5thumbs
Soccer Mommy is another great one.
shaun pilling
imagine being this fucking good at 18 years old. at 18 my greatest accomplishment was a c+ in chemistry.
Caine Deegan
that's not true shaun, you are remarkable in your own way. <3
Bluesy Vlogs
Three other names stand out at that age (17, 18). Fiona Apple, Soap&Skin (Anja Plaschg) and Alanis Morissette
xLeftSidex
Yeah... I wish that my parents could afford buying a freaking Johhny Marr Jaguar for me when I was 17 too, huh...