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"
Wooderson
The Gaslight Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's quieter than it's ever been
Honey, this town is a prison
With its four walls closin' in
And they got one pill to make you smaller
They got one pill to make you scream
Darlin' this heart is on fire
All right, all right
You see, this town pulls my heartstrings
I fell in love with the Shrewsbury stars
But there's far too many diamonds
In the backseats of borrowed cars
And I could never stop this burnin'
Honey, I can't tell no lies
I could never stand the weather
Darlin' this heart is on fire
All right, all right
Tonight, tonight, we're gonna ride like silver on the desolation moonlight
Tonight, tonight, we ain't comin' back until the morning light
Tonight, tonight, it's all right, all right
Tonight, tonight
All right, all right
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend
The Gaslight Anthem's Wooderson is a song that explores the feelings of boredom, restlessness, and frustration of living in a small town where there seems to be nothing much to look forward to. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a town that feels like a prison with its four walls closing in. The singer is drawn to the twinkling stars in the sky and the hope they offer, but he's also aware of the illusion of chasing after borrowed cars' diamonds. He knows deep down that he can't escape the all-consuming burning desire that drives him. It's a yearning that is likely fueled by the monotony of daily life and the urgent need to discover something that would make his existence feel worthwhile.
The first verse of the song takes a reflective tone, with the singer acknowledging the serenity of the coastline that he finds himself on. It's a contrast to the chaos that he's experiencing inwardly. The reference to the one pill that makes one scream and the other that makes one smaller is a nod to Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland." Carroll's story deals with the young protagonist Alice's journey of self-discovery and the strange, almost psychedelic world she finds herself in. The singer in Wooderson seems to be experiencing a similar journey, one that involves exploring the limits of his mind and the possibilities of the world around him.
The chorus of the song highlights the singer's burning passion, with the repeated all right, all right, serving as a sort of battle cry, urging him to push through the hardships and uncertainties he's facing. The bridge of the song is an outburst of sorts, with the singer yelling out that he's going to ride like silver on the desolation moonlight, defiantly declaring that he won't return until the morning light. It's a powerful moment of self-discovery and a declaration of the singer's refusal to be bound by the limitations of his current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
And tonight the coastline is quiet
The night feels unusually calm and peaceful by the seaside.
It's quieter than it's ever been
It is so silent tonight that one can hear every little sound.
Honey, this town is a prison
Even though this town can be charming, it can also feel like a place where one is confined or trapped.
With its four walls closin' in
The boundaries of this town can be suffocating and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
And they got one pill to make you smaller
The town has a way of keeping people down and making them feel insignificant.
They got one pill to make you scream
The town can also make people feel frustrated or angry to the point of lashing out.
Darlin' this heart is on fire
The singer's emotions are running high, and they are feeling deeply passionate about something (or someone).
And this life is but a dream
Life feels fleeting and temporary, like it is happening in a dreamlike state.
You see, this town pulls my heartstrings
Despite its flaws, the town has earned a special place in the artist's heart and emotions.
I fell in love with the Shrewsbury stars
The artist has a fondness for the stars in this town, particularly the ones visible from Shrewsbury.
But there's far too many diamonds
The town has too many shiny (and probably fake) things that people covet and care about.
In the backseats of borrowed cars
These materialistic objects are often found in cars that don't even belong to their drivers.
And I could never stop this burnin'
The singer's passion or desire for something cannot be easily tamed or extinguished.
Honey, I can't tell no lies
The singer is being honest and straightforward about their feelings, and won't sugarcoat anything.
I could never stand the weather
The singer cannot tolerate the conditions of this town (whether it be figurative or literal).
Tonight, tonight, we're gonna ride like silver on the desolation moonlight
The artist and their companions plan to ride radiantly and uninhibitedly under the stark, deserted moonlight.
Tonight, tonight, we ain't comin' back until the morning light
The artist intends to stay out all night, basking in the freedom and excitement of the moment.
Tonight, tonight, it's all right, all right
Tonight is going to be OK; everything will work out and the singer will enjoy themselves.
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
The singer is inviting someone to dance with them beneath the shimmering twilight.
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
This line is repeated to emphasize the invitation to dance with the artist in the moonlight.
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend the twilight
The final repetition helps to reinforce the romantic and nostalgic tone of the song.
Dance in my moonlight, my old friend
This final line is cut off abruptly, leaving the listener to speculate about how the artist wants to finish this sentence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN FALLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jabs77
Possibly the greatest intro ever! Whenever I hear this I feel like jumping through the roof!! Great, just great!
@crk140
Pure magic
@Hugo-xk2jy
I just love seeing Benny sing along as soon as the vocals kick in. Bet that guy can't sing at all, but he sure as hell knows how to play drums.
@benleopold5755
That intro...epic
@davep4211
I thought it was ass...song was awesome tho..."one man's trash s another's man's treasure"...i guess...cheers man!
@youtubeaccount697
Yeah seemed like filler to me too
@mwloos1
@@youtubeaccount697 You seem to be alone here.
@crk140
@@youtubeaccount697if you don't like that intro, something serious wrong with you dude
@themikeyrussell69
The intro is what makes this the best live performance I’ve ever seen
@valnaples
Awesome live version of a GREAT song!!!