After the release of some EPs and singles, the group signed with Merge Records who released their second album, Long Goodbye, in 2003. After a world tour, they headed back to the studio in fall of 2005 to begin work on their third album, Cannibal Sea, which was released in March of 2006.
Tinker
The Essex Green Lyrics
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But he was sneaky, he found another girl and now he's gone
She heard it second-hand
He's leaving off the land
Bye-bye, Tinker, goodbye...
But he left her hangin', yeah
He left her hangin', yeah
She's got the words to describe him, in her gossip column and he sure has it coming 'cause he found another girl and now he's gone
But with the news that she's making, she'll find another boy before too long, after he's gone she'll laugh that she had cried a tear at all
She hopes that he will stay on the coast of Monterey
Bye-bye, Tinker, goodbye...(bye-bye)
In "Tinker" by The Essex Green, the singer is reflecting on a failed relationship with a man named Tinker. She is lamenting the fact that he chose to leave even though he had a good thing with her. She is hurt that he found another girl and left her hanging. Despite this, the singer is strong and independent, disparaging Tinker in her gossip column and determined to move on and find another love.
Line by Line Meaning
She heard the news and she wondered how anyone could run so far away from a good thing, she wanted him to stay
Upon hearing that her partner has left her, she was perplexed at how anyone could leave something good like their relationship and really wanted him to stay.
But he was sneaky, he found another girl and now he's gone
However, he had other plans and found another person to be with and has now left her for good, showing his dishonest and disloyal nature.
She heard it second-hand
The news of his leaving was not even communicated to her directly, but rather through someone else, making her feel even more hurt and disrespected.
He's leaving off the land
He left the town or the place they lived together indicating that he didn't want to live in the same place as her anymore.
Bye-bye, Tinker, goodbye...
The chorus continues to say goodbye to the man, calling him by name, and emphasizing the finality of the break-up.
She only wanted the truth, and nothing more
She just wanted to know the truth about why he left her and nothing else from him.
But he left her hangin', yeah
He did not give any explanation or closure to their relationship and left her hanging with no answers.
She's got the words to describe him, in her gossip column and he sure has it coming 'cause he found another girl and now he's gone
She now has the right words to describe him in her gossiping and he deserves it as he lied to her, deceived her, and left her for another girl.
But with the news that she's making, she'll find another boy before too long, after he's gone she'll laugh that she had cried a tear at all
With the news of the break-up spreading, she'll soon move on and find another person to be with, and after some time, she'll even laugh at the thought of crying over him.
She hopes that he will stay on the coast of Monterey
However, she still has some wishes and hopes for him, probably to find peace and happiness in the future if not with her, at least on the coast of Monterey.
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.