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"
Desire
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be the very thing he perceives would capture your heart?
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive, and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
What makes a woman believe in a man such as me?
Unworthy to sit at your foot or your crown
I can only let you down, I can only let you down
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
Up in desire, desire
And some men spend their lives
Chasing the accolades of pride
But that just never crossed my mind,
You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive, and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
Up in desire, desire
The Gaslight Anthem's "Desire" poses a question about the lengths a man would go for the woman he desires. The opening lines ask why a man would willingly change himself to fit the mold that he believes would appeal to the woman he desires. This can be interpreted as the singer questioning the idea of needing to change oneself to fit a certain standard to gain someone's affection. The following lines question if this desire and pursuit of love hurts or keeps the individual alive with passion. The repetition of "desire" emphasizes the intense longing and yearning of the singer.
The chorus continues to express the singer's want for the woman, proclaiming their willingness to do anything for her touch, and suggesting they would exist in this state of desire for years. The next verse flips the perspective, as the singer wonders why a woman would believe in someone like him. The self-deprecation in the line "I can only let you down" further emphasizes the singer's need for this woman's validation and affection. The chorus repeats, with the same intense longing described.
The final verse acts as a juxtaposition to the first, as the singer reflects on how some men spend their lives chasing pride and accolades, but the woman they desire was always at the forefront of the singer's thoughts. It completes the idea of selflessness and dedication to the person they desire, placing them above all else.
Overall, "Desire" is a poignant exploration of the lengths people will go to for the objects of their desire, with a focus on introspective musings on the emotions involved.
Line by Line Meaning
What makes a man do the things that a man does
What motivates a man to act the way he does?
To be the very thing he perceives would capture your heart?
Is it to win your affection?
What does it feel like inside?
How does it make you feel internally?
Does it hurt you at night?
Does it cause you pain when you're alone at night?
Or does it keep you alive, and set you on fire, on fire?
Or does it make you feel alive, passionate and driven?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
I would do anything to touch you
Yes, I would burn here for years
I'd suffer the consequences of my desire for you
What makes a woman believe in a man such as me?
Why do you have faith in me? What do you see in me?
Unworthy to sit at your foot or your crown
I don't deserve to be with you in the ways that you want
I can only let you down, I can only let you down
I'm afraid I'll disappoint you
And some men spend their lives, Chasing the accolades of pride
Some men are obsessed with success and recognition
But that just never crossed my mind, You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind
I never cared about that stuff; you were always my focus
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
I would do anything to touch you
Yes, I would burn here for years
I'd suffer the consequences of my desire for you
Up in desire, desire
Lost in my intense yearning for you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gnosticsam
What makes a man do the things that a man does
To be the very thing he perceives would capture your heart?
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive, and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
Up in desire, desire
What makes a woman believe in a man such as me?
Unworthy to sit at your foot or your crown
I can only let you down, I can only let you down
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
Up in desire, desire
And some men spend their lives
Chasing the accolades of pride
But that just never crossed my mind,
You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind
What does it feel like inside?
Does it hurt you at night?
Or does it keep you alive, and set you on fire, on fire?
I would give anything for the touch of your skin
Yes, I would burn here for years
Up in desire, desire
@wsakarshe8468
this is the best band ever
@michaeldeguerre7531
of the last decade or so at least yea
@rosswalker4461
Hope the guys get back together, Every album has a special place in my heart, Favourite band in the world.
@FamousAtticusJS
2021 and still hoping they get back together!
@beaterbikechannel2538
This time I will see them!
@TheDarrenMindham
new favourite band
@dave58s
Possibly my favourite off the album. Brian Fallon's voice, man.
@amyp4369
u can def tell he was a Springsteen fan growing up. the way he sings sometimes, sounds just like the Boss. 😉❤🎶
@Petrock508
Best song on the album by a good way.
@Disaenz10
i love the ending!