Straylight Run was the project of ex-Taking Back Sunday members John Nolan … Read Full Bio ↴Straylight Run was the project of ex-Taking Back Sunday members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper. The band formed in May 2003 shortly after John and Shaun left Taking Back Sunday due to personal differences with lead singer Adam Lazzara. John and Shaun had been writing songs while still in the old band that they felt didn't fit in with Taking Back Sunday's style, and the freedom of starting a new band gave them a chance to experiment with this new sound. The band is based in Baldwin, New York, United States, the hometown of most of the members. The band's name is taken from a chapter of William Gibson's novel "Neuromancer."

The band gained popularity early on through word of mouth after they released 6 demos available for download exclusively on their website. They then went on to release a self-titled full-length and more recently a 6 track EP Prepare To Be Wrong. The band currently consists of John Nolan (vocals, guitar, piano), his sister Michelle DaRosa (vocals, guitar, piano), Shaun Cooper (bass) and Will Noon (drums). The band recently added a new song titled "The Miracle That Never Came" on its myspace.

Straylight Run's latest album, The Needles The Space, was released on June 19, 2007.

On June 3, 2008, Michelle DaRosa announced on the band's myspace that she was officially leaving to pursue her own solo projects. Shortly after leaving Straylight Run, DeRosa formed the band Destry which includes Shaun Cooper from her former band and Sam Means of the defunct indie rock band The Format

On February 16th 2010, Straylight Run went on an indefinate hiatus.

In March of 2010 TBS announced the return of John Nolan, and Shaun Cooper rejoining TBS

The Tension And The Terror
Straylight Run Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the boys voices cracking
Oh, the moaning half-tones
Come summertime, we're all the same age here

All the tension and the terror
Thin limbed gorgeous green eyes smiling
And I'm going straight to Hell

All the possibility and promise just
Weighs on me so heavily
And I

Try, but I'm not convincing
Your lips, they pout and twist, and
I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you

You take in everything with
A certainty I envy
It's somehow all I need just keep me guessing, please

Darling, all of these awkward
Jump start, stalling conversations
Mean much more to me than anything

And it comes down to me and you, and
Whether we're supposed to or not, we still will
We're so much better off, than them

All the possibility and promise just
Weighs on me so heavily
And I

Try, but I'm not convincing
Your lips, they pout and twist, and
I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you

You take in everything with
A certainty I envy
It's somehow all I need just keep me guessing, please

A look, a laugh, a smile
A second passes by and I regret it
Words just aren't right

Sometimes I just can't explain
All the ways you devastate me
Always on my mind

I
Try, but I'm not convincing
Your lips, they pout and twist, and
I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you

You take in everything with
A certainty I envy
It's somehow all I need just keep me guessing

I try, but I'm not convincing
Your lips, they pout and twist, and
I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you

You take in everything with

A certainty I envy
It's somehow all I need just keep me guessing, please

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "The Tension And The Terror" by Straylight Run describe the tension and excitement of young love. The opening verses convey a sense of innocence and youth, with the boys' voices cracking and the mention of summertime making everyone the same age. The tension and terror that the title suggests come from the overwhelming feeling of possibility and promise that weighs heavily on the singer. The person they are interested in has a certainty and confidence that they envy, and it's all they need to keep guessing and trying.

The chorus repeats the idea that the singer is trying not to give in to their desire to kiss the person they're interested in. There is a sense of urgency and desperation in their voice as they talk about how they "die trying" to resist. The bridge conveys a feeling of missed opportunities, as the singer regrets not taking advantage of the moments they had with the other person.

Ultimately, the song is about the power that someone can have over you when you're in the throes of young love. The uncertainty and excitement can be overwhelming, and it's both thrilling and terrifying to feel so deeply about someone.

Line by Line Meaning

All the boys voices cracking
The sound of young men's voices breaking during a certain age of puberty

Oh, the moaning half-tones
A vocal expression that combines both moaning and a specific type of under-pitch singing sound

Come summertime, we're all the same age here
In this specific time of year, everyone appears to be in similar age due to similar experiences

All the tension and the terror
The strong feeling of both anxiety and fear

Thin limbed gorgeous green eyes smiling
A beautiful person with thin arms and attractive green eyes

And I'm going straight to Hell
The singer is being figurative in terms of going to hell, meaning things could end up horribly for them

All the possibility and promise just
The prospect of hopeful things to come is prominent

Weighs on me so heavily
The hope and promise is a heavy burden on the artist's mind

And I
This phrase starts off a sentence, suggesting continuation from the previous statement

Try, but I'm not convincing
The artist attempts to persuade but is unsuccessful in doing so

Your lips, they pout and twist, and
The other person's lips move in a way that changes shape, often expressing dissatisfaction

I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you
The artist's desire for physical affection from the other person is so strong that they struggle to refrain from kissing them

You take in everything with
The other person has an incredible ability to absorb and process information

A certainty I envy
The singer is in awe of the other person's confidence and surety

It's somehow all I need just keep me guessing, please
The constant mystery and intrigue surrounding the other person is what keeps the singer interested and wanting more

Darling, all of these awkward
The artist's pet name or term of endearment for the other person

Jump start, stalling conversations
Conversations that are either difficult to start or easily lose their momentum

Mean much more to me than anything
The singer places great importance on these awkward conversations

And it comes down to me and you, and
The focus of attention narrows down to just the singer and the other person

Whether we're supposed to or not, we still will
Despite any expectations or external factors, the artist and other person are destined to be together

We're so much better off, than them
The artist believes that they are in a more desirable situation than others

A look, a laugh, a smile
Three examples of nonverbal communication that can have a significant impact on the artist's emotions

A second passes by and I regret it
The singer feels remorseful for not seizing the opportunity to respond to the other person's nonverbal communication

Words just aren't right
The artist feels that using words to respond would not be as effective as nonverbal communication

Sometimes I just can't explain
On some occasions, the singer struggles to articulate their thoughts and feelings

All the ways you devastate me
The other person has a strong impact on the singer's emotions, sometimes causing great distress

Always on my mind
The other person is consistently occupying the singer's thoughts

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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