The Gadjits were a mix between rocksteady and modern punk rock, fitting in… Read Full Bio ↴The Gadjits were a mix between rocksteady and modern punk rock, fitting into the 3rd-wave ska genre with such bands as Reel Big Fish and Mad Caddies. The band released their first demo in 1995 on JoCo Ska Records, then encountered some issues when their debut 1996 full-length, Da Gravy On Yo Grits, was released by the same label as a bootleg, causing the band to not receive royalties and therefor boycott their own release. Following this and a handful of EPs and compilation appearances, they released At Ease on Epitaph Records (Hellcat Records for vinyl) in 1998, followed by 1999's Wish We Never Met on Hellcat. They were then picked up by THICK Records, at which point they released 2001's Yes I Are EP (VMS Records), 2001's Someday Driver EP, and 2002's Today is My Day. In 2003 they were signed and then subsequently dropped by RCA Records, but not before recording a session titled Our Time To... that remains unreleased. It was at this point that the band began to morph into what has now become known as The Architects, though they didn't officially take the moniker until 2004. The brothers Phillips can be seen often playing in their reggae, ska and rocksteady cover band The Sex Police along with an ever-revolving cast of area music alumni such as Mike Walker (Olympic Size, Doris Henson), David Gaume (Aerialuxe, The Stella Link), Jimmy Sullivan (30 Minute Recess), Rob Veatch (Parlay, The Hearers), among others.

The core lineup of the band:
Brandon Phillips - guitar, lead vocals
Zach Phillips - bass, lead vocals
Adam Phillips - percussions

past members for both The Gadjits and the early years of The Architects:
Heidi Blobaum - keyboard
Hilary Allen - keys/organ, backup vox
Ehren Starks (The Belles, The Roseline) - keyboard
Adrianne Verhoven (The Anniversary, Dri) - keyboard

Wise Up
The Gadjits Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

I'll sit forever if it takes you that long
To realize that we might be all wrong
I'll never say what you've suspected all along
I'm the part of you that does not belong

When you wise up, I'm out the door
You can't live this lie anymore
I've seen you around with some other guy

Suspecting vaguely that you're going all the way
I'd die if I saw his car outside your place
Whoever I'm with from now on I'll look upon and see your face

People cry all the time

Hell, I do it every night
How can you ask me what makes these

Overall Meaning

tears fall
When you don't listen to me at all?

The lyrics to The Gadjits's song, Wise Up, express a sense of disillusionment and despair in a failing relationship. The opening line, "I'll sit forever if it takes you that long," suggests a willingness to endure and wait for change, but also a frustration and sense of hopelessness. The second line, "To realize that we might be all wrong," highlights a fundamental difference in perspective between the two parties. The singer implies that they have reached a point of self-awareness and reflection, but the other person is still in denial.

The chorus, "When you wise up, I'm out the door, you can't live this lie anymore," perfectly encapsulates the theme of the song. The singer has come to the realization that the relationship is built on lies and cannot continue as it is. The third stanza adds an element of jealousy and mistrust, as the singer suspects that their partner is cheating on them. The line, "Whoever I'm with from now on I'll look upon and see your face," conveys the lasting impact of a failed relationship on future ones.

Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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