Stolen Jars fits parts into wholes. The songs on Kept, their upcoming album… Read Full Bio ↴Stolen Jars fits parts into wholes. The songs on Kept, their upcoming album, loop and build until each element feels inseparable from those that surround it. Its orchestration is at once disorienting and complimentary. “Waves,” the album’s opener, loops agile guitar melodies, bass notes sliding underneath to give each iteration an entirely different mood. On the second single, “Kept,” singers Cody Fitzgerald and Molly Grund ebb in and out of phase before coming together for each chorus.
“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.

Waves
Stolen Jars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Go back, say I'm not alone
I've stayed the day
In garden homes, where
Warm hands tell me that it's true
The snow has gone
I'll find with you again
again again again

in green we go and over eminence
find up close the limbs they hid from us
crawl on four to reach, but reckless
makes him flow on soil, we finger dust
hole by hole, we wait for red to pass
when some earth turns, his eyes shine in the grass
think to grab out just to feel his skin
when the newt crawls right into my hand
no i'm not so old but I know to hold him close my fingers feel his warmth like

hers now touch my throat

When you came it had all gone away been locked up in my head
I gave it different names to go by
And outside bright light smoldering
our legs with wood beneath
when I was bound to leave in no time

Then I'm gone -
I thought I'd settled on what this was going to be - a bit of time we'd have now to keep
and hold then leave
Is it gone - but why does this old night feel more mine

When you came it had all gone away been locked up in my head
I gave it different names to go by
And outside bright light smoldering
our legs with wood beneath
ni I'm not going to leave you this time.

so
hold me safe

Overall Meaning

The song "Waves" by Stolen Jars is a beautiful, introspective piece that explores themes of memory, connection, and the fleeting nature of time. The first verse speaks of finding comfort in the presence of others after feeling alone, and the sense of familiarity and warmth that comes with being welcomed back into a space you once occupied. The repetition of "again" at the end of the verse reinforces the cyclical nature of life and the idea that everything comes full circle eventually.

The second verse takes us out into nature, where the singer and their companion are exploring the world around them. The imagery of crawling on all fours to discover hidden treasures, and the excitement of discovering new life (the newt crawling into their hand), speaks to the childlike wonder and curiosity still present in the singer, even as they grapple with the weight of their own mortality.

The third verse is where the song gets the most personal, as the singer reflects on their own past and the ways in which they have compartmentalized and renamed their own memories in order to make sense of them. The line "when I was bound to leave in no time" suggests a sense of impermanence and transience, and the final plea to "hold me safe" emphasizes the importance of connection and human touch in a world that often feels unsteady and uncertain.

Overall, "Waves" is a poignant and evocative song that touches on a wide range of emotions and experiences, from the joy of discovery to the pain of loss and the deep longing for human connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Go back, say I'm not alone
Return to me and reassure me that I am not alone.

I've stayed the day
I have spent the day contemplating my thoughts and feelings.

In garden homes, where
In the place of comfort and solace that I call home.

Warm hands tell me that it's true
Kind gestures and affectionate touches confirm the truth of our bond.

The snow has gone
Signifying the end of winter and the beginning of renewal and regrowth.

I'll find with you again, again again again
The reassurance that I will continue to find hope and solace in our connection, time and time again.

in green we go and over eminence
We journey towards growth and success with positivity.

find up close the limbs they hid from us
Discovering the hidden aspects of ourselves and the world, which were previously unknown.

crawl on four to reach, but reckless
Taking risks and exploring new paths, no matter how challenging and difficult they may be.

makes him flow on soil, we finger dust
The feeling of letting go and embracing the unknown, while feeling grounded in the present moment.

hole by hole, we wait for red to pass
Patience and resilience in the ever-changing nature of life.

when some earth turns, his eyes shine in the grass
Celebrating the small moments of joy and beauty in everyday life, despite the struggles we may face.

think to grab out just to feel his skin
The desire to connect with others and feel their warmth and love.

when the newt crawls right into my hand
The unexpected moments of connection and joy that life brings, often when we least expect it.

no i'm not so old but I know to hold him close my fingers feel his warmth like hers now touch my throat
Despite the challenges of life, there is always room for love and connection, and the warmth of one person can bring us comfort in times of need.

When you came it had all gone away been locked up in my head
The transformative power of love and human connection, which can help us break free from our own mental barriers and limitations.

I gave it different names to go by
The ability to redefine ourselves and our experiences through the lens of love and compassion.

And outside bright light smoldering our legs with wood beneath when I was bound to leave in no time
The fleeting nature of life and the moments of joy and renewal that we often take for granted.

Then I'm gone - I thought I'd settled on what this was going to be - a bit of time we'd have now to keep and hold then leave
The realization that life is unpredictable and that even our best-laid plans can be disrupted by unexpected events.

Is it gone - but why does this old night feel more mine
Even in times of confusion or uncertainty, we can find comfort in the familiar elements of our lives and in the connections we have built with others.

ni I'm not going to leave you this time. so hold me safe
The promise to stay and support one another, even in the face of life's greatest challenges.

Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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