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"
Angry Johnny And The Radio
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
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I still believe it John, we lived those nights
Like we were dyin' on the long haul drives
For our Maria, with the ragged sails high
And the radio on
And I always have remembered, in case you're wonderin'
84 takes a lifetime but Bobby does it better
I don't drive nowhere without the radio on
And I'm still here singin', thinkin' 'bout the government
In my old man's shoes, and how you'd understand that
Are you hidin' in a basement mixin' up the medicine?
Every April Fools I say your name
I know your name
I still know your name
And I always have remembered, in case you're wonderin'
84 takes a lifetime but Bobby does it better
I still sing 'em ragged for you and Maria
I don't drive nowhere without the radio on
And on and on and on and on and on
And I always have remembered, in case you're wonderin'
84 takes a lifetime but Bobby does it better
I still sing 'em ragged for you and Maria
I don't drive nowhere without the radio on
We always loved the sad, sad songs
The Gaslight Anthem's "Angry Johnny And The Radio" is a song about nostalgia and the memories that music can invoke. The lyrics tell the story of the singer and his friend John, who drove long distances together with the radio playing, all for the sake of Maria. The singer reminisces about those times, singing "I still sing 'em ragged for you and Maria, I don't drive nowhere without the radio on."
The song also touches on the singer's thoughts about the government, his own mortality, and the passing of time. He wonders if his friend John is "hidin' in a basement mixin' up the medicine" and mentions how much he misses him – every April Fools' Day, he says his name.
Overall, "Angry Johnny And The Radio" is a song about memories and how important they can be. The singer is holding onto the past and the people who were important to him, while also realizing that life moves on and things change.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't think twice
Don't hesitate
I still believe it John, we lived those nights
I still believe in those moments we spent together, John
Like we were dyin' on the long haul drives
Like we were living our lives to the fullest on those long drives
For our Maria, with the ragged sails high
For our Maria, with the tattered sails flying high
And the radio on
And the music playing on the radio
And I always have remembered, in case you're wonderin'
And I have never forgotten, in case you're curious
84 takes a lifetime but Bobby does it better
It takes a long time to get it right, but Bobby is better at it
I still sing 'em ragged for you and Maria
I still sing those songs with all my heart for you and Maria
I don't drive nowhere without the radio on
I never drive without the radio playing
And I'm still here singin', thinkin' 'bout the government
And I'm still here singing, thinking about politics
In my old man's shoes, and how you'd understand that
In my father's place, and how you would have understood that
Are you hidin' in a basement mixin' up the medicine?
Are you hiding away and experimenting with drugs?
Every April Fools I say your name
Every April Fools Day, I say your name
I know your name
I remember your name
And on and on and on and on and on
And it continues endlessly
We always loved the sad, sad songs
We always loved the melancholy tunes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind