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"
Mulholland Drive
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do I ever cross your mind and do you ever think of me?
When you think about your life are there things you would reverse?
I still remember holding you, just out of sight of her
In the deep, dark parking lot pressed up against my car
With your hands around my neck I felt the pounding of your heart
And the summer night was giving in to the lure of Autumn's sway
I can't seem to forget that night or how I heard you say
That I'd just die if you ever took your love away
Oh and I'd just die if you ever took your love away
Would you miss me if I was gone and all the simple things were lost?
Would you ever wait on me to say
Oh that I'd just die if you ever took your love away
And I can still recall the hour when you first let down your walls
I thought I might've died right there floating up above it all
But it scared you love, to need someone, so you killed it all instead
But in the mist up on Mulholland, I could've sworn I heard you say
That I'd just die if you ever took your love away
Oh and I would just die if you ever took your love away
Did you miss me when I was gone and the simple things we lost?
I was aching to hear you say
Oh that I'd just die if you ever took your love away
That I'd just die if you ever took your love away
Yes and I would just die if you ever took your love away
Did you miss me when I was gone and the simple things we lost?
I was aching to hear you say
Oh that I'd just die if you ever took your love away
And did you miss me when I'm gone?
And the simple things we used to rely on?
Who came to wipe your tears away?
Who came to bring back your dignity baby?
And who came to drive you around this town
Like I used to drive you all around with the radio on
Through the mist on Mulholland, through the mist on Mulholland, through the mist on Mulholland
The Gaslight Anthem's "Mulholland Drive" is a narrative of a relationship that could have been but wasn't meant to be. The song opens with the singer questioning if the person he's addressing has slept last night and if she remembers her dreams. He further questions if she thinks of him and if there are things in her life she would reverse. It's clear that the memory of their relationship haunts him, and even though they were hiding in the deep, dark parking lot away from prying eyes and hands around his neck, he heard her say that she would die if he ever took his love away. The song is a haunting reminder of what could have been and what never will be.
In the second verse, the singer recalls the moment when she first let her guard down, and he thought he would die right there because of how overwhelmed he felt by his emotions for her. However, she was scared to need someone, and so she killed their relationship instead. The mention of Mulholland and how he could have sworn he heard her say that she would die if he ever took his love away signifies the moment when they were closest to making it work but ultimately fell apart.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reminder of all the relationships that could have been but never materialized. It's a song that speaks to those who have lost someone that they thought they would spend the rest of their life with, but it didn't work out, and they can't seem to forget or move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you sleep last night and do you remember dreams?
Did you get any rest last night and if so, do you remember any dreams?
Do I ever cross your mind and do you ever think of me?
Do you ever think about me and wonder what I'm up to?
When you think about your life are there things you would reverse?
When you reflect on your past, are there things you regret and wish you could change?
I still remember holding you, just out of sight of her
I still remember when we were together but had to hide it from someone else.
In the deep, dark parking lot pressed up against my car
In a secluded and unlit area, we were intimately close against my car.
With your hands around my neck I felt the pounding of your heart
While you held onto me, I could feel your heart racing with excitement.
And the summer night was giving in to the lure of Autumn's sway
As summer came to an end, the fall season was starting to take over with its own allure.
I can't seem to forget that night or how I heard you say
That particular night has remained vivid in my memory, especially when I recall how you said...
That I'd just die if you ever took your love away
You said that losing your affection would be too much for me to bear, possibly even deadly.
Would you miss me if I was gone and all the simple things were lost?
If I were to leave and all the small details of our relationship disappeared, would you feel my absence?
Would you ever wait on me to say
Would you anticipate me saying something to you first?
And I can still recall the hour when you first let down your walls
I can still remember the moment when you finally opened up to me and became more vulnerable.
I thought I might've died right there floating up above it all
It was such an overwhelming feeling that I felt like I could have died and risen above it all.
But it scared you love, to need someone, so you killed it all instead
However, the idea of depending on someone else frightened you and so you destroyed our relationship instead.
But in the mist up on Mulholland, I could've sworn I heard you say
But up on Mulholland Drive, amidst the fog, I could have sworn I heard you say...
And did you miss me when I'm gone?
Do you ever think about me when I'm not around?
And the simple things we used to rely on?
Do you miss the little things we used to rely on in our relationship?
Who came to wipe your tears away?
When you were upset, who comforted you and wiped away your tears?
Who came to bring back your dignity baby?
Who helped you regain your self-respect and confidence, my dear?
And who came to drive you around this town
Who drove you to places and explored the town with you?
Like I used to drive you all around with the radio on
Just like how I used to drive you everywhere with the radio on.
Through the mist on Mulholland, through the mist on Mulholland, through the mist on Mulholland
Through the foggy atmosphere of Mulholland Drive, I reminisce on these times as I drive through it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nikki Brischetto
One of my favorite songs ever written. Just knowing there’s more from this band makes me so happy!
JB Mac
One of my favorite songs as well! Whenever it gets to the 3 min mark it always gets cranked even louder. It just gets me
Vlad Finn
What a great band. I am getting more and more into them, within each song of theirs I listen...
JutSin
Saw these guys live last week they opened with this song it was the greatest
Randy Olsen
love this song... dont loose the dream boys. keep making music
kazieka
Awesome job with the lyrics, thank you so much for posting!
Chris
the lead guitar at the end is magnificent.
David Cockreham
"Who came to drive?" and then the guitar kicks in. We love to hear it.
budibausto
By far the best song in the album
Robert Sanasi
one of my favourites songs off this amazing album!! guys this is the band I was looking for...up TGA!