In the summer of 2010, Harrington and Wright were playing for spare change in Bostonโs Faneuil Hall Marketplace. In two short years since, Tall Heights has headlined packed listening rooms across New England, toured down to Austin, TX to showcase at South By Southwest Music Festival, and performed alongside national acts like David Wilcox, Ryan Montbleau, and Andrew Belle.
For the duoโs debut full-length effort, Man of Stone (May, 2013), Tall Heights returned to the home studio, sinking deeper into the vast world theyโve meticulously built for two. The title track and first single, Man of Stone, recalls a time when cavemen documented day-to-day existence on the walls of their stone-sheltered dwellings. โEmblems of cavemen they taught me / the importance of typing in bold,โ contextualizes the rest of the record and challenges a careful listener to view each song as a vital documentation of what is both banal and extraordinary. The record exists in a fire-lit, shadowy space for their growing army of fans to inhabit. After two powerful EPs, Rafters (2011) and the Running of the Bulls EP (2012), there has been a growing cry for more from these young artists, and Tall Heights delivers with an LP of grand vision and scale.
RECENT PRAISE
โTall Heightsโs delicate melodies and gentle harmonies create a rare public space where the people can slow down, even stop, and suspend the chaos of city life in exchange for some really great music.โ-Meghna Chakrabarti, NPR
โif you still remember how happy your ears were when you first listened to Bon Iver or Arcade Fire and realized youโd stumbled into singer/songwriter oblivionโฆ you can trust me when I say this show is worth seeing.โ โ Boston Magazine
โโฆbeautiful harmonies, exquisite musicianship, intricate songwriting. I love it when the bar is set so highโ โDavid Wilcox
Not Like It Was
Tall Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
Living in the sunrise is a hell of a drug
We've entered on the darker side
I'm just a mirror
I'm afraid of the slope to climb
I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
Stayed off the sinking, cleared off the rust
We've entered on the darker side
I'm just a mirror
I'm afraid of the slope to climb
I'm just a mirror
I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
I know, I know it's not like it was (I know, I know, I know)
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
The lyrics of Tall Heights' song "Not like It Was" describe the singer's acknowledgement of the fact that things have changed from a previous time in their life. However, they also express that they are not giving up just because things are different now. The opening lines of the song "I know, I know it's not like it was, that don't mean I'm just hanging it up" convey the idea that although the singer recognizes the changes, they are still willing to move forward and face them head-on.
The line "Living in the sunrise is a hell of a drug" paints a picture of the singer's current situation, perhaps one in which they have recently experienced something good or hopeful. The following verse continues to describe the changes that the singer has experienced since that time, implying that things have become darker or more difficult. The line "I'm just a mirror, I'm afraid of the slope to climb" suggests that the singer is uncertain and lacks confidence in their ability to navigate these changes alone. The chorus repeats the idea that things are not the way they used to be, but this doesn't mean that the singer is giving up, especially not on the connection they have with someone else: "I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side."
Line by Line Meaning
I know, I know it's not like it was
I acknowledge that things have changed from what they used to be.
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
However, I refuse to give up and move on completely.
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Instrumental interlude
Living in the sunrise is a hell of a drug
Embracing positivity can be addictive and provide a sense of high.
We've entered on the darker side
Now, we are facing a more difficult and challenging phase.
I'm just a mirror
I'm reflecting the emotions and experiences of the other person.
I'm afraid of the slope to climb
However, I admit that I am scared of the obstacles we may have to overcome.
I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side
I cannot bear the thought of losing you and it would drive me insane.
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Instrumental interlude
Stayed off the sinking, cleared off the rust
We managed to avoid sinking and are now scrubbing off the damage.
I know, I know it's not like it was
Again, I recognize that things have changed.
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
But I am determined to keep fighting and not give up.
I know, I know it's not like it was (I know, I know, I know)
Repeated reminder of the changed situation.
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
Repeated determination to keep trying and not give up.
Writer(s): PAUL WRIGHT, TIM HARRINGTON
Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnneywoodstock5035
I know, I know it's not like it was
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
Living in the sunrise is a hell of a drug
We've entered on the darker side
I'm just a mirror
I'm afraid of the slope to climb
I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
Stayed off the sinking, cleared off the rust
We've entered on the darker side
I'm just a mirror
I'm afraid of the slope to climb
I'm just a mirror
I, I'll go crazy if you leave my side
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
I know, I know it's not like it was
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
I know, I know it's not like it was (I know, I know, I know)
That don't mean I'm just hanging it up
@mattl0987
This song is incredible.
@thehazelworld
How are there not more comments on how amazing this song is?
@spacesheriff5646
bravo for this song.
@krisibell1
I'm absolutely in love with this band ๐๐ฅ
@sophiapaul9843
What a beautiful song๐ญ๐
@Parapraxis1980
You're going places guys.
@ABoudrow01
Yet another amazing song by an equally fantastic band... If you don't love these guys you are just wrong... Lol
@LC-hq1vx
Was awesome seeing you guys in Missoula, must have been fun working with Cake and Ben Folds. Would love to see you guys back in town sometime!
@LandGamer24
Saw you Guys open for Judah and the Lion. You guys did so good and gave a performance that was breath taking. You guys are the best.
@robertalter3186
Watching this because it's my friend Bree's birthday. Happy birthday, Bree!