The b… Read Full Bio ↴The Donnies The Amys are a lo-fi pop band from Echo Park, CA
The band formed in 2011, when singer/keyboardist Donnie Stemp and drummer/ producer Amy Wood crossed paths while working together on Donnie's previous project, The Outdoors. Amy suggested the two of them should record some songs in her Echo Park studio and they quickly realized that they had something special.
Amy has been a drumming fixture in Los Angeles since she was 14, and has played with many local and national acts including Fiona Apple, Big Black Delta and Conway. Donnie has been growing lettuce.
The pair recorded their self-titled debut over the summer of 2011 in the midst of a Frisbee golf obsession and released the album in January of 2012. The Donnies The Amys was very well-received. So well, in fact, that the album led to a slew of dates opening for Sea Wolf and TV placements on shows like Grey's Anatomy, Suits, Reign, 16 and Pregnant and many others. They have also been featured on KCRW, Revolt TV and college radio stations across the country.
The band rang in 2014 with the release of their Stay the Same EP. They plan to release a second EP later in the year.
tenderness
The Donnies The Amys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My luck's like a button
I can't stop pushing it
My head feels light
But I'm still in the dark
Seems like, without tenderness, there's something missing
Tenderness
Where is the
Where is it?
I don't know where I am, but I know I don't like it
I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful
Words are so cheap, but they can turn out expensive
Words like conviction can turn into a sentence
I held your hands
Rings, but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you're here
But next night you're not
It always leaves me searching for a little
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?
Whistling in the graveyard
Calling up your girlfriend
Just trying to make her understand
You're squeezing the telephone like it was her hand
No question (so many questions)
She's going to catch you out, boy
It all seems so underhand
Now she's the only thing that ever made you feel like a man, man
Madman, madman
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Tenderness
Tenderness
Where is it?
I held your hands
Rings, but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you're here
But next night you're not
It always leaves me searching for a little
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?
When you're sick to death of second best, pet
Why should the morning always find you unimpressed?
Is your love like a button?
You can't stop pushing it?
Oh, this all night longing can be such a long time
The Donnies The Amys's song "Tenderness" seems to explore the complexities of relationships and the longing for a deeper sense of connection. The lyrics suggest a sense of restlessness and uncertainty, as the singer grapples with the elusive nature of tenderness. The opening lines depict a sense of desperation and impulsivity, as the singer pushes their luck like a button and struggles to find their way out of the dark. Without tenderness, the singer suggests that something vital is missing, and the repetition of the word "tenderness" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of this quality.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more introspective, highlighting the challenges of communication and the tendency to say things that are hurtful or misleading. The singer describes their own struggle with this issue, opening their mouth and saying something spiteful without intending to do so. The line about how words like conviction can turn into a sentence is a clever wordplay that suggests the double-edged nature of language. The chorus returns to the theme of tenderness, emphasizing the singer's sense of loss and longing for a deeper connection with someone.
The final verse of the song moves into more surreal territory, as the singer describes whistling in a graveyard and calling up their girlfriend. The image of squeezing the telephone like it was her hand suggests a sense of desperation, as the singer tries to connect with someone who may not be there. The final lines of the song reinforce the idea of longing and the sense that time can stretch on endlessly when you're searching for something you may never find.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know when to start or when to stop
I have trouble knowing when to initiate or cease actions
My luck's like a button
My good fortune seems easily activated, like a button
I can't stop pushing it
I can't help but continue to pursue success
My head feels light
I feel confused and disoriented
But I'm still in the dark
I'm still unsure what to do or where to go
Seems like, without tenderness, there's something missing
It appears that my life lacks something important when devoid of tenderness
Tenderness
Expressing care and affectionate concern for others
Where is the
I can't find what I'm looking for
I don't know where I am, but I know I don't like it
I'm feeling lost and uncomfortable
I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful
I tend to speak harshly and without empathy
Words are so cheap, but they can turn out expensive
Although words are easy to say, they can have serious consequences
Words like conviction can turn into a sentence
Beliefs held too strongly can lead to confinement or punishment
I held your hands
I was physically close with you
Rings, but none on that finger
We were not engaged or married
We danced and danced
We moved together to the music
But I was scared to go much further with it
I was afraid to move our relationship to the next level
Just half a chance
With only a small opportunity
Make sure that one night you're here
Be present and spend time with me for at least one night
But next night you're not
But the next night, you're not around
It always leaves me searching for a little
This always makes me feel like I'm missing something important
Whistling in the graveyard
I'm doing something inappropriate or potentially dangerous to avoid thinking about my problems
Calling up your girlfriend
I'm reaching out to someone I care about for help or support
Just trying to make her understand
I'm attempting to communicate my feelings to her in a way she can comprehend
You're squeezing the telephone like it was her hand
I'm holding the phone tightly as if I were holding her hand
No question (so many questions)
I'm uncertain, with lots of doubts and apprehensions
She's going to catch you out, boy
She will discover my true motives or thoughts
It all seems so underhand
It feels sneaky or dishonest
Now she's the only thing that ever made you feel like a man, man
She's the only person who makes me feel confident and masculine
Madman, madman
I'm feeling crazy or irrational
When you're sick to death of second best, pet
When you're tired of mediocrity, dear
Why should the morning always find you unimpressed?
Why do you always feel disappointed or dissatisfied every day?
Is your love like a button?
Is your affection easily triggered?
You can't stop pushing it?
Do you constantly pursue love and attention?
Oh, this all night longing can be such a long time
The desire for love can feel never-ending and exhausting
Contributed by Lucy B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.