“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.
Kept
Stolen Jars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said take me instead, we can follow the seas around
And I know my head is gone, spends days in worried dreams sometimes
But if it seems I'm gone for long, just know that its with you in mind
There's this time in my head where I'm building in days
I write five notes and I know the sound of
The second you made me a part of the way you hold
There's a inside
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
Keep your warmth with mine
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
And nights that we were lost in caves
I wouldn't trade new tales (Stay, stay we'll live without names)
For another way home (We can pause the day)
We can pause the day, we can pause the...
And I know my head is gone, spends days in worried dreams sometimes
But if it seems I'm gone for long, just know that its with you in mind
There's this time in my head where I'm building in days
I write five notes and I know the sound of
The second you made me a part of the way you hold
Long tones are what keep us now
There's a inside
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
Keep your warmth with mine
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
But I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
No, I will not stray
There's this time in my head where I'm building in days
I write five notes and I know the sound of
The second you made me a part of the way you hold
Long tones are what keep us now
There's a inside
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
Keep your warmth with mine
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
There's this time in my head where I'm building in days
I write five notes and I know the sound of
The second you made me a part of the way you hold
Long tones are what keep us now
There's a inside
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
Keep your warmth with mine
Living takes time
Living takes time
Living takes time
In the song "Kept," the singer sings about being caught up in someone else's thoughts and needing to be close to them. The opening lines sound like a dream or a hallucination, where the singer's teeth are falling out and the other person says "take me instead." The rest of the lyrics seem to be about trying to hold onto a feeling of warmth and connection, even when things get difficult. There's a sense of passing time, and the need to slow down or "pause the day" to savor moments of intimacy.
The singer emphasizes the importance of "long tones" as a way to stay connected to someone else. This could refer to musical notes that are held for an extended period of time, or metaphorically to emotions or memories that linger. The repeated refrain of "living takes time" also emphasizes the need to be patient and to savor moments of connection.
Ultimately, the song suggests that even when things get difficult or confusing, the singer is committed to staying connected to this other person. The repeated refrain of "no, I will not stray" emphasizes this commitment and suggests that the singer will work to overcome any obstacles that come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
You got caught in my head, I was feeling my teeth fall out
You've been occupying my thoughts so much that it's causing me physical discomfort and anxiety.
You said take me instead, we can follow the seas around
You offered to join me on an adventure, exploring the world together.
And I know my head is gone, spends days in worried dreams sometimes
I struggle with anxiety and sometimes my thoughts spiral out of control, causing me to have bad dreams.
But if it seems I'm gone for long, just know that its with you in mind
If I seem distant or preoccupied, it's because I'm thinking about you and our connection.
There's a inside
There's something deeper within me that drives me towards you and our relationship.
Long tones are what keep us now
The foundation of our relationship is built on our shared experiences and deep emotional connection.
Keep your warmth with mine
Let's stay close and keep each other's love and comfort close at heart.
And nights that we were lost in caves
We've shared some deep, intimate moments together that have brought us closer.
I wouldn't trade new tales (Stay, stay we'll live without names)
I wouldn't trade our unique experiences for anything and I want to continue making new memories with you, even if they go undocumented.
For another way home (We can pause the day)
Even when lost or uncertain, we can always find our way back to each other and take the time to appreciate and enjoy our connection.
But I will not stray
No matter what challenges may come, I am committed to remaining devoted and staying true to the love we share.
There's this time in my head where I'm building in days
I'm always thinking about the future and planning ways for us to continue growing together.
I write five notes and I know the sound of
I can anticipate what our future will sound like based on our past experiences and present connection.
The second you made me a part of the way you hold
The moment you accepted and embraced me, I knew that we were meant to be a part of each other's lives.
Living takes time
Growth and change in our lives and relationship require patience and an acceptance of the passage of time.
Contributed by Christian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juancarlos Escalante
Wow... this is... beautiful. Like I really want to tear up right now. Just discovered you guys today. Beautiful song! Beautiful video!
Zuha Tanweer
I discovered this band very recently and honestly, I've explored all kinds of music but you guys are so very unique. I'm in awe of how good this music is, and how this band isn't as famous as it should be. So just going to go around and subscribe to yall everywhere and like all your vids. Keep being amazing and inspiring.
Stolen Jars
Thank you so much Zuha!! :-)
Memohuchin
WOW, Excelente cancion ❤ Saludos desde Mexico.
Weronika Szuplak
I'm such a lucky person! (I'm listening Stolen Jars before they are big!) greetings from Poland❤️
Weronika Szuplak
<3
ZuSz
+Weronika Szuplak you are not the only lucky one from PL ;)
Mark Verndick Cabading
+Weronika Szuplak me too!!
Mr. RK
wow, this is soooo good. Greets from Germany.
Aaron Basch
dope song