The Gaslight Anthem’s music embraces many elements of blues, classic rock, and punk rock. The band has described their sound as “Bruce Springsteen singing for a Cure cover band, with a tinge more aggression.” The group’s fondness for Springsteen, a significant influence on their music, is celebrated by fans and critics alike. Representative of such views, one critic wrote, “The Gaslight Anthem are like something out of speculative fiction: this is what pop music would be if Springsteen hadn’t listened to his producer, let the Ramones record ‘Hungry Heart,’ and launched the C.B.G.B.’ers into megastardom.”
The band released its first LP, Sink or Swim, in 2007 through XOXO Records, and toured with many reputable bands, including Against Me!, The Draft, Dead to Me, and Fake Problems.
The Gaslight Anthem’s second release, a 4-song EP entitled Señor and the Queen, was released on January 29th, 2008 by Sabot Productions.
Their second full-length, The ‘59 Sound, was released on August 19, 2008 on Side One Dummy Records. The album debuted at #70 on the Billboard top 200. It was produced by Ted Hutt, who has produced albums for The Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, and MxPx.
On August 6, 2008 they became the first band to ever appear on the cover of Kerrang! magazine without the publication having previously written a single word about them.
In Fall 2008, the band toured with Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, and Thrice.
On December 9, 2008, the Gaslight Anthem made their television debut on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, performing the song the “The ‘59 Sound.” On January 30, 2009, they appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, again playing “The ‘59 Sound.”
Their third full-length, American Slang, was released on June 15, 2010, on Side One Dummy Records. The Bring It On Songfacts reports that it finds the band moving away from the fictional lyrics and '50s-inspired sound of their previous records.
In 2010 they appeared on the main stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK along with Arcade Fire, The Libertines and Modest Mouse.
Their fourth full-length, Handwritten was released on July 23, 2012 in the UK, and on July 24 in the US. The lead single, "45", was aired for the first time worldwide as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World on April 30, 2012 on BBC Radio 1 and was released on iTunes on May 8, 2012. Handwritten was called by The Rolling Stone their "biggest sounding, most straightforward album"
07.The patient Ferris wheel
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey I, am on fire
I can't feel a single thing but the weight of the wires
Crackin' electric light
Remember baby, we were a stone
And we would sleep where we're fallin'
We'd fight about it (fight about it)
Then we laughed about it (laughed about it)
And we'd ride on, ride on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I never felt so strange
Standin' in the poundin' rain
Thinkin' about what my mother once said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Not tonight, not tonight
Honey I, am on fire
If we don't come through, they're gonna bury us alive
In this great abyss
Of just what might have been
Where we can take a seat at the bar with the other broken heroes
Where they talk about it (talk about it)
Just talk about it (talk about it)
And do nothin' 'bout it (nothin' 'bout it)
Right on, right on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the poundin' rain
Thinkin' about what my mother once said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what Wagin' Matty said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the poundin' rain
Thinkin' about what my mama always said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Carnival lights
Fourth of July
Boardwalk talks
In the dead of night
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
The Gaslight Anthem’s song “The Patient Ferris Wheel” can be interpreted as a reflection on the difficulties and uncertainties of life. The song starts with the singer being unable to feel much aside from the “weight of the wires” and being “on fire”. The stress and pressure of life are weighing on them heavily. The following lines introduce the metaphor of a Ferris wheel, which can be interpreted as a symbol of life’s ups and downs, as well as the cyclical nature of life. The singer claims that they and their partner were once like stones and would just sleep wherever they fell. However, the relationship wasn’t smooth, and they would fight about things, only to be able to laugh about them afterward. Life is hard and calls for fighting to overcome obstacles, but the good moments are always there to be found when the hardships are overcome.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on the advice of various people in their lives, juxtaposing it with their current emotional state. They express feeling “strange,” standing in the rain and contemplating advice given to them by an old man, their mother, and someone named Wagin’ Matty. The suggestion they proffer to themselves is to call an ambulance, maybe an acknowledgement of the fear of being overwhelmed by life’s difficulties. The song ultimately comes full circle, returning to the Ferris wheel metaphor, with the narraator suggesting that in the great expanse of “what might have been,” we can take a seat at the bar with other broken heroes and talk about our problems.
Overall, “The Patient Ferris Wheel” can be seen as an empathetic reflection on the challenges of leading a happy and fulfilled life. Life can be difficult and overwhelming at times, but it ultimately always turns back up again. It’s up to each of us to find the support we need to ride the ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Not tonight, not tonight
Tonight is not the night for us to face our problems
Honey I, am on fire
I am overwhelmed and burning inside
I can't feel a single thing but the weight of the wires
I am numb to everything except the pressures weighing me down
Crackin' electric light
The harsh light is exposing our problems
Remember baby, we were a stone
There was a time when we were strong, but now we are not
And we would sleep where we're fallin'
We used to be carefree and unburdened
We would fight about it (fight about it)
We argued and disagreed about our issues
Then we laughed about it (laughed about it)
But we would always find a way to make light of the situation
And we'd ride on, ride on
We kept going despite our challenges
Ferris wheel lights on
Our problems are still present, but we keep moving forward
I'd never felt so strange
I've never felt so lost and uncertain
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Amidst the rain and chaos of life
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Reflecting on the words of someone with more life experience
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Perhaps I need help and intervention to deal with my problems
If we don't come through, they're gonna bury us alive
If we don't overcome our issues, they will eventually consume and destroy us
In this great abyss
In this vast emptiness and unknown territory
Of just what might have been
Of all the different paths our lives could have taken
Where we can take a seat at the bar with the other broken heroes
We can join the ranks of others who have been through similar struggles
Where they talk about it (talk about it)
We can commiserate and share stories
Just talk about it (talk about it)
But we never actually take action to improve our situations
And do nothin' 'bout it (nothin' 'bout it)
We are content to stew in our problems instead of seeking solutions
Right on, right on
We continue along our current path
Carnival lights
The bright lights of the carnival represent temporary joy and escapism
Fourth of July
A holiday that represents American ideals of independence and freedom
Boardwalk talks
Casual conversations that take place in a leisurely setting
In the dead of night
During the darkest and loneliest hours
Always made you smile
Despite our difficult circumstances, these small pleasures could temporarily brighten our moods
Always made you smile
We held onto these simple joys as a source of comfort and familiarity
Always made you smile
It's important to find joy and comfort, no matter how small, in difficult times
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sava_carterslade11
Not tonight, not tonight
Honey, I am on fire
I can't feel a single thing but the weight of the wires
Crackin' electric like
Remember baby, we were a stone
And we would sleep where we're fallin'
We would fight about it
We'd fight about it
Then we laughed about it
And we'd ride on, ride on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I never felt so strange
Standing in the poundin' rain
Thinking about what my mother once said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Not tonight, not tonight
Honey, I am on fire
If we don't come through, they're gonna bury us alive
In this great abyss
Of just what might have been
Where we can take a seat at the bar with the other broken heroes
Where they talk about it
Just talk about it
And do nothin' about it
Right on, right on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I never felt so strange
Standing in the poundin' rain
Thinking about what mama always said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Carnival lights
4th of July
Boardwalk talks
In the dead of night
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
@user-hx4lq5ok7l
My favourite song from 59 sound!!
@williamdonahue7869
Is that Dicky Barrett I hear in the background?! That brings back the high school memories!
@rocker4life318
My favourite song from 59 sound
@Bkesal14
Definitely gaslight's best song
@crk140
Drive
@saiko_1
I still prefer Handwritten, but this is a great song.
@thomasneilly5466
Gashlights best song. Soo soo good live
@kiel1653
Hi im from indonesia..
@sava_carterslade11
Not tonight, not tonight
Honey, I am on fire
I can't feel a single thing but the weight of the wires
Crackin' electric like
Remember baby, we were a stone
And we would sleep where we're fallin'
We would fight about it
We'd fight about it
Then we laughed about it
And we'd ride on, ride on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I never felt so strange
Standing in the poundin' rain
Thinking about what my mother once said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Not tonight, not tonight
Honey, I am on fire
If we don't come through, they're gonna bury us alive
In this great abyss
Of just what might have been
Where we can take a seat at the bar with the other broken heroes
Where they talk about it
Just talk about it
And do nothin' about it
Right on, right on
Ferris wheel lights on
I'd never felt so strange
Standin' in the Jersey rain
Thinkin' about what an old man said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
I never felt so strange
Standing in the poundin' rain
Thinking about what mama always said
Maybe I should call me an ambulance
Carnival lights
4th of July
Boardwalk talks
In the dead of night
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
Always made you smile
@rocket12920
as much as I love this song, I'm still unsure as to how it got its title.