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"
Little Fires
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They try to hold you, but you cut them when they pull you in
You take in love, and then you push all of the love away
Are you hurting now?
The wind is howling like the wolves that wait outside the door
I've gotten used to them but you're supposed to be my blood
And when you come to crash we never seem to see the wave
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
I'd like to see the sun, I do not feel myself today
I never thought, though I suspected things might go this way
I kinda feel like you and I are different planets now
A million light years away
It seems like everywhere you go, there are these little fires
You turn and hide it but I see you crack a little smile
You call for me and then you tell me I should go away
Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I ain't afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
And you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
But I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And you were young and beautiful
And I was dumb and beautiful
And in the end we all burned, little fires
In the end we all burned, little fires
In the end we all burned, little fires
In the end we all burned, little fires
The lyrics to "Little Fires" by The Gaslight Anthem convey a sense of confusion and frustration in a relationship, as well as a willingness to move on and stand strong. The first verse reflects the singer's inability to comprehend the negative thoughts and attitudes that seem to consume their partner. The metaphor of a bitter seed inside the brain represents the self-destructive tendencies and defensiveness that the partner exhibits when confronted with love and support. The question "Are you hurting now?" suggests concern and empathy for the partner's pain.
The second verse further emphasizes the divide between the singer and their partner. The howling wind symbolizes the external challenges they face, while the metaphor of being blood implies a deep bond and closeness. However, despite expecting support from their partner, the singer feels a sense of disappointment. The crashing wave represents the partner's moments of emotional turmoil, which seem to come unexpectedly and impact both individuals.
The chorus reveals a bittersweet acknowledgment that the partner will always hold a place in the singer's heart, even though the relationship may be unsustainable. The singer is not afraid to let go and move forward independently. The repetition of "I don't wait around" reflects the determination to establish their own stability and not rely solely on the erratic actions and emotions of their partner. The rooms of the house symbolize the singer's emotional boundaries, which are built to withstand the trials and challenges that may arise.
In the third verse, the singer's longing for happiness and a sense of self is expressed. They feel disconnected from their partner, as if they exist on different planets. The mention of a million light years away signifies an immense emotional distance. The presence of little fires everywhere represents the small issues and conflicts that arise constantly, while the partner tries to hide their true emotions behind a smile. The question posed, "Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?" suggests the destructive nature of their relationship and the potential desire to self-destruct.
The final chorus reinforces the idea that the partner will always have a lasting impact on the singer, yet they are not afraid to let go and move on. The repetition of "I don't wait around" once again highlights the singer's resolve to establish their own stability and not be dependent on the erratic actions of their partner. The line "I built the rooms of this house to stand ground" signifies the determination to create emotional boundaries and withstand the challenges that come their way.
The last line of the song, "And you were young and beautiful, and I was dumb and beautiful, and in the end we all burned, little fires," suggests an acceptance of the imperfections and mistakes made by both individuals in the relationship. It implies that despite their beauty and passion, the relationship ultimately met its demise. The repetition of "in the end we all burned, little fires" serves as a somber reminder of the destructive nature of their connection, emphasizing that both individuals played a role in its downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I just don't understand the bitter seed inside your brain
I can't comprehend the negative thoughts and emotions that consume you
They try to hold you, but you cut them when they pull you in
People try to support you, but you push them away with your defensive actions
You take in love, and then you push all of the love away
You accept affection but then reject it, afraid of getting hurt
Are you hurting now?
Do you currently feel pain and anguish?
The wind is howling like the wolves that wait outside the door
The harsh reality is becoming louder and more apparent
I've gotten used to them but you're supposed to be my blood
I've grown accustomed to difficult situations, but I expected more from you
And when you come to crash we never seem to see the wave
When you face a crisis, we fail to recognize the warning signs
But we feel it comin'
Yet, we sense it approaching
And I know, I know, I know
I am fully aware, completely certain
You'll keep a part of me forever
You will always hold a special place in my heart
But you know, you know, you know
However, you are aware, completely certain
I'm not afraid to go without
I am not fearful of being alone or without your presence
And I don't wait around
I'm not going to linger or stay in anticipation
No, I don't wait for you now
No, I won't continue to wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
I constructed the different parts of this relationship
To stand ground
To remain strong and stable
I'd like to see the sun, I do not feel myself today
I wish to experience joy and happiness, but today I feel lost
I never thought, though I suspected things might go this way
I never expected, although I had doubts, that things would turn out like this
I kinda feel like you and I are different planets now
I sense a significant distance and disconnect between us
A million light years away
We are incredibly far apart, metaphorically speaking
It seems like everywhere you go, there are these little fires
It appears that wherever you go, there are hidden conflicts or problems
You turn and hide it but I see you crack a little smile
You try to conceal it, but I can perceive a small sign of amusement or satisfaction
You call for me and then you tell me I should go away
You reach out to me, but then you push me away
Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?
Do you simply desire to self-destruct and cause chaos?
And you were young and beautiful
In the past, you were youthful and attractive
And I was dumb and beautiful
I was naive and charming
And in the end we all burned, little fires
Ultimately, we all faced destruction and turmoil, like small flames
In the end we all burned, little fires
Eventually, we all succumbed to our own internal struggles, like small fires
In the end we all burned, little fires
Ultimately, we were all consumed by our individual conflicts, like small flames
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Michael Fallon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stezmutiny4667
I just don't understand the bitter seed inside your brain
They try to hold you, but you cut them when they pull you in
You take in love, and then you push all of the love away
Are you hurting now?
The wind is howling like the wolves that wait outside the door
I've gotten used to them but you're supposed to be my blood
And when you come to crash we never seem to see the wave
But we feel it comin'
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
I'd like to see the sun, I do not feel myself today
I never thought, though I suspected, things might go this way
I kinda feel like you and I are different planets now
A million light years away
It seems like everywhere you go there are these little fires
You turn and hide it but I see you crack a little smile
You call for me and then you tell me I should go away
Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And you were young and beautiful
And I was dumb and beautiful
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little
@lyineyes56
I just don't understand the bitter seed inside your brain
They try to hold you, but you cut them when they pull you in
You take in love, and then you push all of the love away
Are you hurting now?
The wind is howling like the wolves that wait outside the door
I've gotten used to them but you're supposed to be my blood
And when you come to crash we never seem to see the wave
But we feel it comin'
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
I'd like to see the sun, I do not feel myself today
I never thought, though I suspected, things might go this way
I kinda feel like you and I are different planets now
A million light years away
It seems like everywhere you go there are these little fires
You turn and hide it but I see you crack a little smile
You call for me and then you tell me I should go away
Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And you were young and beautiful
And I was dumb and beautiful
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little fires
@amandab7241
The vibes are immaculate. I love me a good tour clip montage and I love to see you guys enjoying yourselves again!
@crk140
Best music ive heard in 20 years
@Agt.Kraemer
Alex, Benny, Brian, Alex and Ian, no one can pull my heartstrings like you can… NO ONE!
Your music is my nirvana, mekka, heaven and safe place.
Thanky you so much.
You guys are my heroes, gods and living music legends.
Damn it is so good to be alive!
🧎♂️
@JaredHope
Just another great one. I was just happy to have TGA back, but it's double good that the new songs are just as fantastic as the older stuff.
@stezmutiny4667
I just don't understand the bitter seed inside your brain
They try to hold you, but you cut them when they pull you in
You take in love, and then you push all of the love away
Are you hurting now?
The wind is howling like the wolves that wait outside the door
I've gotten used to them but you're supposed to be my blood
And when you come to crash we never seem to see the wave
But we feel it comin'
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
I'd like to see the sun, I do not feel myself today
I never thought, though I suspected, things might go this way
I kinda feel like you and I are different planets now
A million light years away
It seems like everywhere you go there are these little fires
You turn and hide it but I see you crack a little smile
You call for me and then you tell me I should go away
Do you just wanna burn and burn and burn and burn down?
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And I know, I know, I know
You'll keep a part of me forever
But you know, you know, you know
I'm not afraid to go without
And I don't wait around
No, I don't wait for you now
I built the rooms of this house
To stand ground
And you were young and beautiful
And I was dumb and beautiful
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little fires
And in the end we all burned, little
@Freiheit1232
Probably my fav song on the record
@Brootis
So excited for the new album! Will forever love this band all that they do.
@stephaniepizor6418
You guys absolutely stole Riot Fest! Awesome video, love your new stuff 🤘🏻
@DouglasLJr
This is sounding like it's going to be a great album! Really looking forward to this release.
@erinkerkhoff2755
Absolutely love this song! I love seeing all the behind scenes in the video!