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"
We Did When We Were Young
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mailbox is full of bombs
Between you and the kooks on my block
I don't remember the good times
I wasn't there and you were kind
And my wife has some dogs in our yard
And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty girl
We were strangers many hours
When we were lions, lovers in combat
Faded like your name on those jeans that I burned
But I am older now
And we did it when we were young
I am older now
And we did it when we were young
There are no reasons to believe
I buried my faith on the block
With your heart and your clothes
When I find
I don't feel you or recall
I'll put your bones out in the yard
Someone else to be called and called by
And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty girl
We were strangers many hours
And I missed you for so long
When we were lions, lovers in combat
Faded like your name on those jeans that I burned
But I am older now
And we did it when we were young
I am older now
And we did it when we were young
In "We Did It When We Were Young", The Gaslight Anthem reflects on the past and acknowledges the changes that come with growing up. The first verse is about the singer's home life, which has become chaotic because of the kooks on his block and his own marriage. He feels overwhelmed and misses the good times, but recognizes that he wasn't present in the past. The reference to "every pretty girl" suggests a past full of romantic conquests that he can no longer keep up with. The second verse references burying his faith and heart, which implies a loss of innocence and optimism. Even so, he still feels the pull of memories of passion (lions, lovers in combat) and acknowledges that he's changed since those days.
The repeated refrain "And we did it when we were young" further emphasizes not only the distance between past and present, but the acceptance that what was once possible may no longer be feasible. The singer cannot "hold a candle for every pretty girl" anymore because he's changed and moved on from that time in his life. It's a bittersweet recognition of the joys and limitations of youth.
Overall, "We Did It When We Were Young" is a reflective and nostalgic song about accepting the passage of time and the changes it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't write me no more letters
Please refrain from sending me any further correspondence
My mailbox is full of bombs
My mailbox is filled with unpleasant or negative messages
Between you and the kooks on my block
With all of the strange and eccentric people in my neighborhood, including you
I don't remember the good times
I cannot recall the positive moments in our relationship
I wasn't there and you were kind
I was absent during a time when you were being considerate or generous
And my wife has some dogs in our yard
I am currently married and have pets
And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty girl
I cannot compare every attractive woman to you
We were strangers many hours
We were unfamiliar with each other for an extended period of time
And I missed you for so long
I longed for your presence for an extended period of time
When we were lions, lovers in combat
During a time when we were passionate and intense in our relationship
Faded like your name on those jeans that I burned
Our relationship memories have diminished or vanished, similar to how the name on some jeans fade over time
But I am older now
I have matured and aged since our past experiences
And we did it when we were young
Our past experiences were when we were youthful and inexperienced
There are no reasons to believe
There is no evidence or justification to support a particular belief or notion
I buried my faith on the block
I lost my belief or trust in something due to the difficulties and struggles encountered in my surroundings
With your heart and your clothes
Alongside your emotions and physical possessions
When I find
In the event that I discover something
I don't feel you or recall
I am unable to connect with or remember you
I'll put your bones out in the yard
I will dispose of any physical remains or memories associated with you
Someone else to be called and called by
I will seek out and communicate with other individuals
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: Fallon, Brian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Far From Breathless
This is getting played at my funeral. hands down best song ever
Megan Ellingburg
this song brings back childhood memories.
MLima Rosebud
I love this song sense seeing that episode of one tree hill had me totally in my feelings..
Mary Kathryn Rodgers
MLima Rosebud same! heard it last night and couldn't get it out of my head!
Emilia Arias
You should watch it also in covert affairs, that’s when I heard this masterpiece the first time 🥰 - season 2: episode 7
claussy20ten
Real good song.love it 2.:) best of ta album.
Natacha Fillon
J'ADORE 😍 💕💕💕 dommage je ne la trouve pas en traduction française...
Brett Henry
One of my faves
moninchow
This brings back strange feeling memories and memories of memories.
Lks Slbrr
Dieser Song wurde auf der Beerdigung meines Kumpels gespielt vor 10 Jahren und ich heule heute noch dem Lied ..