The Frames have been together since 1990 and are a survivor of Dublin's prolific early 90's rock and roll scene. They have also been essential in the development of the current crop of emerging Irish rock bands, such as Turn. The Frames have toured with various other Irish artists, including Damien Rice and Bell X1. In December 2004, Hansard appeared on stage in a collaboration with singer songwriter Paddy Casey.
The name The Frames reportedly arose from Hansard's habit, at a young age, of fixing the bicycles of many of his friends. The large number of bicycle frames lying around his house led neighbours to dub it the "house with the frames".
Their new, 6th studio album, The Cost, is available in Ireland since 22 September 2006 and worldwide since 20 February 2007.
Lead singer Hansard recently collaborated with Czech musician Markéta Irglová, which led to the solo album "The Swell Season". Glen and Markéta also star and perform in the John Carney movie Once (www.oncethemovie.com). The movie received several awards including the World Cinema Audience Award - Dramatic at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival as well as an Oscar for best Song for the track "Falling Slowly".
On several occasions the members of The frames appear on stage during the Swell season gigs.
www.theframes.ie
Pavement Tune
The Frames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's got me right under the thumb
I don't know where I want to be
This doesn't make no sense at all
You're quoting every single line
I spoke too much but I was old before my time, you told me
I want my life to make more sense
I want my life to make more sense to me
This road is crooked cracked and wrong
They got the odds staked nice and high
I don't know how they get along
me, I just internaize
You can imagine what they'd say
Given the choice if I could fight or walk away, I'm walking
You see I want my life to make more sense
I want my life to make amends
I want my life to make more sense to me
I want my life to make more sense
I want my life to make more sense to me
So let me take you by the hand
And lead you through this troubled mind
You said yourself we had a plan
To get us all back to the line
We talk about it everyday
But we keep forgetting what it was we Came to say
Now don't we
I want my life to make more sense
I want my life to make amends
I want my life to make more sense to me
My life to make amends
The Frames' Pavement Tune speaks about feeling lost and trapped in a situation that is not making any sense. The first stanza indicates that the singer is being suffocated by his circumstances, and he has no idea where he wants to be. The second stanza talks about the odds being against the singer and how he feels he can't fight them. He has to walk away from the battle. There is a sense of resignation as he says, "me, I just internalize" and "this road is crooked cracked and wrong."
However, the chorus of the song shows that the singer is not content with feeling lost and defeated. He wants his life to make more sense, and he wants to make amends. He wants things to fall back into place and find the normalcy he used to have. The final stanza has an optimistic tone as the singer says, "let me take you by the hand/And lead you through this troubled mind." He believes he has a plan to get back on track and make sense of his life. The song ends with him affirming, "I want my life to make more sense," and he wants to make amends.
Overall, the song's message is one of internal struggle but also hope. It highlights the need to find a purpose and the desire for things to make sense again.
Line by Line Meaning
This situation's killing me
I am struggling with my current circumstances
It's got me right under the thumb
I feel powerless and controlled by my situation
I don't know where I want to be
I am unsure about my goals and direction in life
This doesn't make no sense at all
My situation seems illogical and confusing
You're quoting every single line
You are criticizing and analyzing everything I say
I spoke too much but I was old before my time, you told me
You have told me that I am overly mature for my age and talk too much
I want my life to make more sense
I desire clarity and direction in my life
I want my life to make amends
I want to fix the mistakes I've made and reconcile with others
This road is crooked cracked and wrong
My path in life is difficult and flawed
They got the odds staked nice and high
The odds are not in my favor
I don't know how they get along
I am uncertain about how others succeed in similar situations
me, I just internalize
I keep my struggles and emotions to myself
You can imagine what they'd say
You can predict the criticism and judgment of others
Given the choice if I could fight or walk away, I'm walking
I would avoid conflict and confrontation if I had the choice
So let me take you by the hand
Let me guide you through my thought process
And lead you through this troubled mind
I need help navigating my internal struggles
You said yourself we had a plan
You previously suggested a solution to our problems
To get us all back to the line
To get us back on track with our goals
We talk about it everyday
We discuss our issues frequently
But we keep forgetting what it was we came to say
We lose sight of our original plan and lose focus
Now don't we
Isn't that the truth?
My life to make amends
I want to make things right in my life
Contributed by Leah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jock Tamson
@MinstrelOfTheKeys Good band been listening to them for days now This track has a Idlewild vibe to it