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"
The Queen of Lower Chelsea
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were your records all you had to pass the time?
Or maybe you were taken by the mysteries of New Orleans?
Or the uptight, rowdy girls of Lower Chelsea?
And we're hustling under but we live in the city
And we keep it down when we take a beating
Yeah, we keep it down with the radio on
And if you find a good man, don't take him home
When you're working full-time
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had,
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
Did you grow up a good girl,
You daddy's pride?
Did you make all the right moves,
Take all the right drugs right on time?
American girls, they want the whole world
They want every last little light in New York City
But we're hustling under and we're fast asleep
And we keep it down when we take a beating
Yeah, we keep it down with the radio on
And if you find a good man, don't take him home
When you're working full-time
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had,
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
Well they say these days,
Nothing comes cheap
And everything has a price
Everything has a price
Nothing is free
Not even me
When you're working full-time
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had,
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
When you're working full-time
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had,
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
The Gaslight Anthem's "The Queen of Lower Chelsea" explores the themes of nostalgia, loneliness, and the struggles of working-class individuals in a big city. The opening lines pose a series of questions about the listener's past, asking if they too have experienced loneliness and the solace of music or if they have been captivated by the mysteries of a place like New Orleans or the rowdy girls of Lower Chelsea. The song speaks to the feeling of being stuck in a routine and societal pressures and expectations, as seen in the lines "When you're working full-time and spending all of your nights never dancing like you did/ while the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had."
The titular figure of the "Queen of Lower Chelsea" is portrayed as a strong woman who remains resilient despite the challenges she faces. She is contrasted with the idealized American girl who "wants the whole world" but is ultimately unfulfilled. The song also touches on the topic of commodification and the idea that nothing comes free or cheap, even one's own identity.
Overall, "The Queen of Lower Chelsea" is a poignant reflection on the struggles and triumphs of everyday people trying to make it in a big city.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you grow up lonesome and one of a kind?
Did you have a childhood of isolation and individuality?
Were your records all you had to pass the time?
Did you spend most of your time listening to music?
Or maybe you were taken by the mysteries of New Orleans?
Did you find yourself fascinated with the secrets of New Orleans?
Or the uptight, rowdy girls of Lower Chelsea?
Or perhaps the rebellious girls from the Lower Chelsea area?
And we're hustling under but we live in the city
We're struggling to make ends meet, but we call the city our home
And we keep it down when we take a beating
We try to stay quiet when we're faced with difficult times
Yeah, we keep it down with the radio on
We use music to help us get through tough times
And if you find a good man, don't take him home
If you find a decent man, don't let him know where you live
When you're working full-time
When you're employed and working hard
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
And spending your evenings never enjoying yourself like you used to
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had
Despite all the things you thought were important, you're still stuck in your circumstances
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
Despite the hardships, the rebellious girls of Lower Chelsea will always reign supreme
Did you grow up a good girl, you daddy's pride?
Were you a well-behaved daughter, the pride of your father?
Did you make all the right moves, take all the right drugs right on time?
Did you follow all the rules and take all the socially acceptable drugs?
American girls, they want the whole world
American girls aspire to have everything
They want every last little light in New York City
They desire all the trappings of the city
But we're hustling under and we're fast asleep
We're working hard but exhausted
Well they say these days, nothing comes cheap
In modern times, everything is expensive
And everything has a price
Everything is valued and costs money
Nothing is free, not even me
Nothing comes without a cost or sacrifice, even oneself
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had
Despite all the things you thought were important, you're still stuck in your circumstances
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
Despite the hardships, the rebellious girls of Lower Chelsea will always reign supreme
When you're working full-time
When you're employed and working hard
And spending all of your nights never dancing like you did
And spending your evenings never enjoying yourself like you used to
While the gravity hangs on all the selling points you had
Despite all the things you thought were important, you're still stuck in your circumstances
She'll still remain the Queen of Lower Chelsea
Despite the hardships, the rebellious girls of Lower Chelsea will always reign supreme
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind