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"
Red In The Morning
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't say a single world, get back inside
Let me drive, let me drive, disappear in the night
Like I was a ghost in your dreams
And it was all completely wrong, Virginia
You were much too much for me
I was a boy on the lawn, with his eyes to the sky
And it was Saturday, September, and fire
It was a backdrop set in your smile
It was all I could want in the sway of the song
I was haunted for so many years
Let it ride, let it ride, let it roll off your mind
Don't say a single world, get back inside
Let me drive, let me drive, disappear in the night
Like I was a ghost in your dreams
Say goodbye, say goodbye, give a kiss and a sigh
Never, never, never bring me back to your mind
Let it slide, slide, roll off your mind
Like I was a movie you'd seen
And it was all just a crime, Virginia
Let your fire be mercy to me
I was a boy in your arms, safe in your arms
And you swore like a promise to me
That I would never, never, never leave your heart
No I would never, never, never leave your heart
But where are you now, I can still feel you now
And I hear all your songs in the breeze
Let it ride, let it ride, let it roll off your mind
Don't say a single world, get back inside
Let me drive, let me drive, disappear in the night
Like I was a ghost in your dreams
Say goodbye, say goodbye, give a kiss and a sigh
Never, never, never bring me back to your mind
Let me slide, slide, roll off your mind
Like I was a movie you'd seen
Let it ride
The Gaslight Anthem's song "Red In The Morning" is a reflective piece that is filled with nostalgic sentiments. The first verse sees the singer urging someone to let go of their troubles and relax. He offers to drive and promises to make them disappear "like a ghost in your dreams." However, the second verse reveals how things went wrong with Virginia, who was "much too much" for the singer. He saw her "smoke and deceit" while she was all he ever wanted. It is clear that she had an impact on him as he talks about being haunted for many years.
The chorus is both sad and soothing, with the singer telling Virginia to let go and move on. He doesn't want to be remembered, like a movie that someone has already seen. The last verse reveals that he was safe in her arms once, but it was only a fleeting moment, and she couldn't keep her promises. He can still feel her presence and hears her songs in the breeze, but he wants to disappear like a ghost once more.
Overall, the song is about the bittersweet memories of a love that once was. The singer realizes that it is time to let go and move on. He wants Virginia to do the same and forget about him, like he never existed. It is a beautiful but melancholic message that speaks to anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Let it ride, let it ride, let it roll off your mind
Forget about it, don't dwell on it, move on from the past.
Don't say a single word, get back inside
Keep quiet and don't express your feelings, hide them inside.
Let me drive, let me drive, disappear in the night
I'll take control and make us disappear, like a ghost.
Like I was a ghost in your dreams
I'm a reminder of something that haunts you, a haunting spirit.
And it was all completely wrong, Virginia
The relationship was not right, and it didn't work out with this person named Virginia.
You were much too much for me
You were someone who was overwhelming, bigger than they could handle.
I was a boy on the lawn, with his eyes to the sky
I was naive and innocent, looking up and dreaming big.
You were Garbo, smoke, and deceit
You were a master of disguises, creating an illusion, keeping people guessing.
And it was Saturday, September, and fire
A specific moment in time, full of passion and intensity.
It was a backdrop set in your smile
Everything about it was fake, staged even.
It was all I could want in the sway of the song
It felt so right, the rhythm of the song encapsulating the feeling of the moment.
I was haunted for so many years
The memory of this person and moment had stayed with me for a long time, haunting me.
Say goodbye, say goodbye, give a kiss and a sigh
End it all in a dramatic way, with a kiss and a heavy exhale.
Never, never, never bring me back to your mind
Don't let yourself think about me again, erase me from your memory.
Let it slide, slide, roll off your mind
Don't let it bother you, forget it completely.
Like I was a movie you'd seen
I was just a character in a story you watched, nothing personal.
And it was all just a crime, Virginia
What you did to me was wrong, it was a form of emotional harm to me.
Let your fire be mercy to me
Let the anger and intensity you have towards me be forgiven.
I was a boy in your arms, safe in your arms
I felt protected and cared for when I was with you.
And you swore like a promise to me
You made a commitment to me and swore to keep it.
That I would never, never, never leave your heart
You promised that I would always be a part of you.
But where are you now, I can still feel you now
You've moved on, but I'm still stuck reeling from the past.
And I hear all your songs in the breeze
I'm reminded of you everywhere I go, even in the smallest of moments.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind