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"
High Lonesome
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They took your pulse and packed up your things
And the papers read
Some boys forget what the heartache brings
And the pounding in the street
Was your heart in four-four time
And the taste of defeat
And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand
I always kinda sorta wished I looked like Elvis
And in my head there's all these classic cars and outlaw cowboy bands
I always kinda sorta wished I was someone else
So gravity came
And stole the temple that the schoolboys praised
And the crowd shuffled in
You're getting drinks for the same boys who once bought you everything
And the powder on the bar was just this one time
The patter on the bar was just this one night
And only to get by
And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand
I always kinda sorta wished I looked like Elvis
And in my head there's all these classic cars and outlaw cowboy bands
I always kinda sorta wished I was someone else
There was "Southern Accents" on the radio as I drove home
And at night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
It's a pretty good song, baby you know the rest
Baby, you know the rest
And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand
Always kinda sorta wished I looked like Elvis
And in my head there's all these classic cars and outlaw cowboy bands
I always kinda sorta wished I was someone else
When our boots they hit the ground
They made a high and lonesome sound
When our boots they hit the ground
They made a high and lonesome sound
When our boots they hit the ground
They made a high and lonesome sound
When our boots they hit the ground
Down from the clouds
They made a high and lonesome sound
The Gaslight Anthem's song "High Lonesome" represents a story about a broken-hearted boy who is seeking for a change and always had a fascination with musicians and historical figures like Elvis Presley or any country cowboy outlaw bands. The song portrays someone who is not happy with their current situation and always wishes he could be someone else. It talks about how this boy has lost everything and the feeling of being defeated is always in his mind. In the first verse, the ambulances come which indicates either someone has passed away or someone is hurt. The lyrics read, "They took your pulse and packed up your things, and the papers read some boys forget what the heartache brings." It seems like this boy has lost someone or ended a relationship and the newspapers read that some boys forget what heartache brings.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that the theme of the story is about being swept away by change. He had everything, but eventually, he lost everything, and he came to this bar to forget everything. "And the crowd shuffled in, You're getting drinks for the same boys who once bought you everything, And the powder on the bar was just this one time, The patter on the bar was just this one night, And only to get by," suggests that now he is a bartender serving drinks to people he used to know, but he has lost all his money, and there is nothing left.
Overall, the song is about a boy who seems never to be satisfied with his life and always wishes he could be someone else. He is going through a tough time, and the only thing he can do is drink and forget everything.
Line by Line Meaning
So the ambulances came
Emergency vehicles arrived
They took your pulse and packed up your things
The responders checked your vital signs and gathered your belongings
And the papers read
Newspapers reported on the situation
Some boys forget what the heartache brings
Some people don't remember the pain of heartbreak
And the pounding in the street
The noise outside was similar to a rhythmic drum beat
Was your heart in four-four time
Your heart was beating rapidly in time with the music rhythm
And the taste of defeat
The sensation of losing or failing was never far from your thoughts
Was never too far from your mind
You couldn't stop thinking about it
And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand
A woman named Maria arrived with a bag in hand from a different location
I always kinda sorta wished I looked like Elvis
You sometimes fantasized about resembling the iconic musician, Elvis Presley
And in my head there's all these classic cars and outlaw cowboy bands
You imagine driving vintage vehicles and listening to a rebellious style of music
I always kinda sorta wished I was someone else
You occasionally desired to be a different person
So gravity came
The force that pulls things down affected the situation
And stole the temple that the schoolboys praised
The gravity took away the building that the children admired
And the crowd shuffled in
Many people entered the area, likely a bar or club
You're getting drinks for the same boys who once bought you everything
You were serving drinks to the same men who used to buy things for you
And the powder on the bar was just this one time
The white substance on the counter only occurred once
The patter on the bar was just this one night
The sound of glasses hitting the surface was a temporary moment
And only to get by
You did it just to survive or make ends meet
There was 'Southern Accents' on the radio as I drove home
A specific song called 'Southern Accents' was playing on the radio during your drive back
And at night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
You experience frequent nightmares or intense anxiety that causes you to sweat while you sleep
It's a pretty good song, baby you know the rest
The track mentioned earlier has positive qualities, and you don't need further explanation
When our boots they hit the ground
The sound that took place when footwear touched the floor
They made a high and lonesome sound
The noise had a haunting or sorrowful quality to it
Down from the clouds
Descending from above
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kevo3985
This song never gets old
@NickyLaurienzo
This is my new favorite song 👌🏻
@scottsoykin1304
I always kind of sort of wish I was someone else
@kathyjacques2688
Outlaw cowboy bands what's not to love?
@willettabiggins9838
im new to the songe
@fubarusdilligaficus3096
Does anyone else think it sounds like he says "outlaw cowboy pants"? So far, my niece and my boyfriend can hear it too..
@kimsmith2593
Does Adam Duritz know that they borrowed his line Maria came from Nashville....??
@storrnwalker
thanks. didn't know Counting Crows 'till now :)
@jkh350
Also, "At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet" is a line from Bruce Springsteen's I'm On Fire. And "Southern Accents" is a Tom Petty song/album.
@janwillems666
Hey should feel honored...