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"
1000 Years
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems as though she yearns for me and calls me by my name.
Sometimes she says come to me, kiss me while it's late.
And other nights she's just hanging with the stars.
And I've seen her waiting from all her mistakes
And what if he never comes when you call?
"Once upon a time I lived a perfect night.
Hey, hey in another life," she says,
"In a dream of mine from a thousand years ago."
"Don't look back," I heard a voice, in velvet I couldn't see.
The pictures then were black and white, and the details were in between.
I heard about a woman once, who did everything ever asked of her.
She died last week and her last words were, "It wasn't worth it."
And I've seen her patience through all her mistakes
And who's gonna save you now?
And, "Hey, hey it's alright," she says,
"Once upon a time I lived a perfect night.
Hey, hey in another life," she says,
"In a dream of mine from a thousand years ago."
"Hey, it's alright," she says,
"Once upon a time I lived a perfect night.
Hey, hey in another life," she says,
"In a dream of mine from a thousand years ago."
"Hey, hey it's alright," she says.
"Hey, in another life," she says.
Way back when, when we became friends, I was you, you were my defense.
And quiet was the night.
You showed me that bridge, and it brought you home.
You told me about it and I never let it go,
And I guess I might've been doing the same.
Anyhow, quiet was the night.
The Gaslight Anthem's song "1000 Years" is a melancholic reflection on the past and the things that could have been different, with the moon serving as a recurring symbol throughout the song. Throughout the verses, the moon is personified as a seductive entity that calls to the singer, sometimes insisting that he "come to me, kiss me while it's late." However, the moon is also depicted as lonely, "just hanging with the stars," and waiting for someone who may never come. The singer seems to identify with the moon's sense of waiting and yearning, as he too has seen "her waiting from all her mistakes" and wonders who will save him now.
The chorus of the song serves as a reassurance from a woman's voice, telling the singer that "hey, hey it's alright." This voice recalls a perfect night from another life in a dream from a thousand years ago, offering a sense of escapism and comfort from the present. The bridge of the song takes on a more nostalgic tone, as the singer remembers a past friendship where they both relied on each other for defense and shared a quiet night together.
Overall, "1000 Years" paints a picture of a protagonist who is stuck between his past and present, unsure of how to move forward. The moon serves as a symbol of his own yearning and longing, as well as a representation of the ephemeral nature of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the moon I know, in the town I live, is steady as she waits.
The singer describes the moon in his hometown as constant and waiting for him. It seems like the moon calls out his name and sometimes asks him to give it attention.
It seems as though she yearns for me and calls me by my name.
The moon appears to long for the singer's presence and beckons him by calling out his name.
Sometimes she says come to me, kiss me while it's late.
Occasionally, the moon invites the singer to embrace it and share a kiss during late hours.
And other nights she's just hanging with the stars.
On other occasions, the moon enjoys spending time with the stars.
And I've seen her waiting from all her mistakes
The singer has witnessed the moon patiently waiting despite its mistakes.
And what if he never comes when you call?
The singer ponders the possibility of the moon calling for him and him not responding.
And, "Hey, hey it's alright," she says,
According to the moon, everything is okay.
"Once upon a time I lived a perfect night.
The moon recounts a time in the past when it enjoyed a perfect night.
Hey, hey in another life," she says,
In another life, the moon believes things could have been different.
"In a dream of mine from a thousand years ago."
The moon talks about a dream from a long time ago.
"Don't look back," I heard a voice, in velvet I couldn't see.
Someone unknown warns the singer not to look back and the voice is soft and low.
The pictures then were black and white, and the details were in between.
In the past, pictures were not colored, and they were not entirely clear either.
I heard about a woman once, who did everything ever asked of her.
The singer narrates the story of a woman who listened to and followed all instructions given to her.
She died last week and her last words were, "It wasn't worth it."
Unfortunately, the woman died with regrets and expressed that it was not worth following all the instructions she was given.
And I've seen her patience through all her mistakes
The singer has observed the woman's patience despite the errors she made.
And who's gonna save you now?
The singer poses the question of who will rescue the woman now that she has passed away.
"Hey, it's alright," she says,
Someone reassures that everything is okay.
"Once upon a time I lived a perfect night.
In the past, everything was perfect, and there were no problems to speak of.
Hey, hey in another life," she says,
Again, there is a reference to another life where things may have been different.
"In a dream of mine from a thousand years ago."
This dream is from an extremely long time ago.
"Hey, hey it's alright," she says.
Once more, someone reassures everything is okay, and there is no need to panic or worry.
"Hey, in another life," she says.
There is a reference to another life, which highlights the idea of how things might have been different.
Way back when, when we became friends, I was you, you were my defense.
The singer recounts an earlier time when he befriended someone, and they trusted each other completely.
And quiet was the night.
The night that they became friends was peaceful and serene.
You showed me that bridge, and it brought you home.
The friend showed the singer a bridge that had sentimental value, which helped the friend feel at home.
You told me about it and I never let it go,
The singer kept the story of the bridge and friend close to his heart and never forgot about it.
And I guess I might've been doing the same.
The singer acknowledges that he does the same thing with things that are precious to him.
Anyhow, quiet was the night.
The verse ends with another reference to how calm and peaceful the night was when the singer became friends with the other person.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexa Saltz
Often overlooked and terribly underrated... Gaslight Anthem is absolutely incredible. To have experienced them live was mind blowing. Brian Fallon is my hero.
Mike Lackey
Underrated album, too from these guys.
LJ Hepp
First time I ever saw them, they were the first band on the bill. We actually missed part of their set bc of traffic. Sooo many shows after that. One of the more memorable was when they opened for The Bouncing Souls on the boardwalk, inside the arcade at convention hall.
Chris Haughton
@Mike Lackey it's one of those albums that as time passes will be appreciated more. They don't have a bad album. Get Hurt doesn't have a bad song at all.
Casper Sky
This band... I don't think "thank you" will ever do enough.
Christophe Carpentier
Indeed. They basically taught me music.
roni claros
*****
burnedparadise7
People change, bands evolve, but there is NO OTHER BAND I would rather see right now than Gaslight Anthem. I love everything they do. F*cking great music.
Vindictive Design
I miss this band so much, what an experience it was to have seen them live
David Cockreham
I like to remember this as The Gaslight Anthem swan song. Brian has continued to release great albums, but the way the lead guitar colors, and the licks add to the emotion of his writing, is Gaslight-only material. I love Gaslight. I love Brian. I love music.