“I’m interested in hocketing—the way two riffs begin to sound together as one,” says Fitzgerald, who wrote the album in the two years following Stolen Jars’ self-titled debut. The process, like the compositions themselves, evolved slowly. Fitzgerald composed and layered parts in his bedroom, tinkering to ensure precision. With Grund, he built vocal melodies around the tracks. The lyrics are as much sonic as they are literary. It’s the sound of words that moves each track along. Once the album was finished, it was mixed by Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l, Nikki Nak, Deerhoof, WHY?) and mastered by Jeff Lipton (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, LCD Soundsystem).
Fitzgerald builds off the success of Stolen Jars, released in 2011. “Driving,” off that record, was featured in an iPad commercial, and the band played numerous shows along the Eastern seaboard. On Kept, Fitzgerald worked to expand the fidelity, instrumentation, and scope. It’s a larger, deeply ambitious record.
As Stolen Jars lock in, their sound continues to evolve. Guitarist Greg Nissan, drummer Will Radin, vocalist Elena Juliano, and keyboardist Tristan Rodman render each part whole in a live show that pushes Stolen Jars’ sound to its largest and most energetic.
Glow
Stolen Jars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
away: miles
where counting days to make them mine awake, mistakes, the best of kind
my own as much you
and keep finding
displaced: I
can't | seem to keep your face to mine with distant drives
but still entwined kept
two
can I stall all my best hopes
can I stay the wave, hold my chest closed
patient days I'll wait
patient days I'll wait when
I'll call you days at any time
to sit again your side to mine
find "nothing" is more than it was and start to think I know it's cause
but I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet ––––
as places go, turn places been
I put myself in bonds i've seen,
but nothing is more than just us; still whose sense can I hope to trust when I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet
I am not full grown yet ––––
can I come home just to be in some half light where I'd see the length of your arm next to me on some colder night
now here as morning light folds
cracks through and shimmers in close
there from across the room glow
the tiny pieces you'd mold (ed)
and I in morning light know (come back)
that each shaped page I now hold (go back)
is true to me what it told (come back)
as the day that you formed it (go back)
can I stall all my best hopes
can I stay the wave, hold my chest closed
patient days I'll wait
patient days I'll wait
The song "Glow" by Stolen Jars is a beautiful and reflective track, exploring themes of distance, time, growth and the intricacies of relationships. The opening lines, "your faith –– fires, away: miles where counting days to make them mine," speak to the challenge of maintaining a connection with someone who is physically distant. The singer describes their mistakes and the mistakes of the other person as "the best of kind," implying that although they may not be perfect, these faults contribute to a deeper understanding and bond between them.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the idea of growing up and maturing, while feeling simultaneously bound to and disconnected from the other person. They repeatedly state that they are "not full grown yet," suggesting a lingering sense of insecurity and impermanence. However, despite this uncertainty, there is a sense of hope and perseverance in lines like "patient days I'll wait" and "can I stay the wave, hold my chest closed."
The final verse of the song is particularly poignant, as the singer describes seeing the "tiny pieces" that the other person has left behind in the form of shaped pages. There is a sense of nostalgia and longing in these lines, as the singer reflects on the memories that they share and the impact that the other person has had on their life.
Overall, "Glow" is a deeply introspective and emotional song, exploring the complexities of relationships and the human experience. Through its raw and vulnerable lyrics, it encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love, loss, and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
your faith –– fires
The intensity of your belief is burning brightly
away: miles
Even though we are separated by distance
where counting days to make them mine awake, mistakes, the best of kind
Even though every day feels like a struggle, I'm willing to embrace the mistakes as a necessary part of life
my own as much you
My personal journey is intertwined with yours
and keep finding
Despite the challenges, I continue to search for meaning and purpose
displaced: I
Feeling lost and uncertain of my place in the world
can't | seem to keep your face to mine with distant drives
Despite the distance between us, I can't help but hold onto your memory
but still entwined kept
Our connection remains strong, despite the physical separation
boxed just us
Our relationship is unique and special, and it's contained within the two of us
can I stall all my best hopes
Am I capable of delaying my own ambitions and desires?
can I stay the wave, hold my chest closed
Can I weather the storms of life without reacting impulsively?
patient days I'll wait
I'm willing to be patient and wait for what I truly need and desire
I'll call you days at any time
I know you'll be there for me, no matter what
to sit again your side to mine
I long to be in your presence once more
find "nothing" is more than it was and start to think I know it's cause
I'm discovering that sometimes something that seems insignificant can hold great meaning
but I am not full grown yet
I have more to learn and experience
as places go, turn places been
As I move forward in life, I can't forget the experiences that shaped me in the past
I put myself in bonds i've seen,
I'm aware of the ways in which I've limited myself and held myself back
but nothing is more than just us; still whose sense can I hope to trust when I am not full grown yet
Even though our connection is incredibly important, I know that I still have more to learn and more to discover about myself and the world around me
can I come home just to be in some half light where I'd see the length of your arm next to me on some colder night
I long to be in your embrace, to feel the warmth and comfort of your presence
now here as morning light folds
As a new day begins
cracks through and shimmers in close
The light from outside is beginning to fill the room
there from across the room glow
I catch a glimpse of something shining in the distance
the tiny pieces you'd mold (ed)
The small details that make up our relationship
and I in morning light know (come back)
I'm reminded of how much I miss you and long for your presence
that each shaped page I now hold (go back)
Our history together is an important part of who I am today
is true to me what it told (come back)
My memories of our time together are still deeply meaningful to me
Writer(s): Molly Grund, Cody Fitzgerald
Contributed by Nathaniel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.