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"
Boomboxes And Dictionaries
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought about you
I thought about a friend who passed
And how much we just went through
I saw the sun shine off the hood of a Cadillac
I thought about some things I said
And some I would take back
And if you're scared of the future tonight
We'll just take it each hour one at a time
It's a pretty good night for a drive
So dry up those eyes, dry up those eyes
Because the radio will still play loud
Songs that we heard as our guards came down
Like in the summertime when we first met
I'll never forget, and don't you forget
These nights are still ours
I still love the way you smile
I still love the ocean
We should remember to slow down more often
And maybe we will
Now here's a lot of good things coming our way right now
A lot of bad has passed
But we survived the breakdowns
All is forgiven, water under bridges now
And if you're scared of the future tonight
We'll just take it each hour one at a time
It's a pretty good night for a drive
So dry up those eyes, dry up those eyes
Because the radio will still play loud
Songs that we heard as our guards came down
Like in the summertime when we first met
I'll never forget, and don't you forget
These nights are still ours
The Gaslight Anthem’s song Boomboxes and Dictionaries explores the theme of redemption and reconciliation after a breakdown. The singer of the song takes a drive while reflecting on his life and the people who have impacted it. While he thinks about a friend who has passed, he also acknowledges how fortunate he feels to be alive. The singer encourages the listener to take life one hour at a time and to not be scared of the future. The song’s message is that it’s never too late to start over and that good things are still to come.
One of the song’s most significant verses is, “I still love the way you smile/I still love the ocean/We should remember to slow down more often/And maybe we will.” Here, the singer shows a desire to focus on important things in life and to try and move slower. The bridge of the song is a reminder of the good things that the singer has experienced, and the songs he associates with those good times. Overall, Boomboxes and Dictionaries is a hopeful song that encourages listeners to let go of their anxieties and enjoy the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a drive today
I went out for a drive
I thought about you
I reminisced about you
I thought about a friend who passed
I recalled a friend who died
And how much we just went through
And remembered all we've been through
I saw the sun shine off the hood of a Cadillac
I noticed the sunlight reflect off a car
I thought about some things I said
I pondered things I've spoken
And some I would take back
And regretted some of those words
I thought about how fortunate I feel to be alive
I recognized how lucky I am to be alive
And if you're scared of the future tonight
And if you fear the future tonight
We'll just take it each hour one at a time
Then let's take it slow and steady
It's a pretty good night for a drive
It's a beautiful night to take a drive
So dry up those eyes, dry up those eyes
So stop crying, stop crying
Because the radio will still play loud
The radio will still be loud
Songs that we heard as our guards came down
Songs we felt close to as we let our guards down
Like in the summertime when we first met
Like that summer we first met
I'll never forget, and don't you forget
I'll always remember, and don't you forget
These nights are still ours
These memories still belong to us
I still love the way you smile
I still adore your smile
I still love the ocean
I still admire the ocean
We should remember to slow down more often
We should take more time to slow down
And maybe we will
And perhaps we can
Now here's a lot of good things coming our way right now
Right now, there are many good things ahead of us
A lot of bad has passed
A lot of bad things are behind us
But we survived the breakdowns
But we endured the hardships
All is forgiven, water under bridges now
We've forgiven and forgotten the past
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blair M
This album plays like a good book.
w/e
They played this for the first time in a while a few weeks back at a show I went to. I may or may not have accidentally injured myself/some other kids who may or may not have accidentally injured me doing the same thing when it got to the Against Me! part of the song. Was about the tenth time I'd seen these cats live and they've only played this one other time over the years I've seen them. Never a disappointment. THE best band ever, and if you argue that, you're a moron.
Heyooooo007
A great song, I can't say that enough
sean Decastro
one of the best raw songs from this band!
FordyA29
absolutely brilliant song... gonna have to buy there album now. should be good at leeds this year ^_^
Danny Ryan
I started listening to these guys years ago now... And every time I listen to them, they get better.
Alex Johnson
Favourite GLA song. It's musical perfection.
pra51
awsome song !
kallemydia grym
this is awesome stuff
Dario Luzzoli
These nights are still ours...couldn't agree more. We too often forget