Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
Can You Please Crawl out Your Window?
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Preoccupied with his vengeance
Cursin' the dead that can't answer him back
You know he has no intentions
Of looking your way, unless it's to say
That he needs you to test his inventions.
Please crawl out your window
How can you say he will haunt you
You can go back to him any time you want to.
He looks so truthful, is this how he feels
Trying to peel the moon and expose it
With his business-like anger and bloodhounds that kneel
If he needs a third eye he just grows it
He just needs you to talk or to hand him his chalk
Or pick it up after he throws it.
Please crawl out your window
Use your arms and legs it won't ruin you
How can you say he will haunt you
You can go back to him any time you want to.
He looks so righteous while your face is so changed
Are you frightened of the box you keep him in
While his genocide fools and friends rearrange
Their religion of the little ten women
That backs up their views but your face is so bruised
Come on out the dark is beginning.
Please crawl out your window
Use your arms and legs it won't ruin you
How can you say he will haunt you
You can go back to him any time you want to.
The Hold Steady's song "Can You Please Crawl out Your Window?" is a mysterious and poetic piece that seems to be alluding to some sort of toxic or abusive relationship. In the first verse, the singer describes a man who is sitting in their room with "a fist full of tacks," seemingly preoccupied with his own vengeance and cursing the dead who can't answer him back. The singer acknowledges that this man has no intentions of looking their way unless he needs them to test his inventions. It's unclear what these inventions are, but the overall sense is that they're somehow dangerous or harmful.
The chorus urges the singer to crawl out their window and escape this situation. Despite the fear the singer may feel about leaving, the lyrics posit that doing so won't ruin them, and it's suggested that the man won't actually haunt them if they try to get away. The second verse adds more details about the man's behavior, suggesting that he's trying to "peel the moon and expose it" with his anger and obsession. The singer is called upon to pick up his chalk and talk to him, yet it seems clear that this will only lead to more pain.
Line by Line Meaning
He sits in your room, his tomb with a fist full of tacks
He is confined within your room, his own personal grave, clutching onto tacks (symbolizing his desire to pin something down) with a self-righteous anger.
Preoccupied with his vengeance
He is entirely consumed with seeking retribution for a perceived slight or offense against him.
Cursin' the dead that can't answer him back
He rages against those who have already passed on, unable to reciprocate or respond to his anger.
You know he has no intentions
It is evident that he does not harbor any meaningful or positive intentions towards you.
Of looking your way, unless it's to say
He has no interest in acknowledging your presence or existence, unless he needs something from you.
That he needs you to test his inventions.
He relies on you to validate his own ideas or inventions.
Please crawl out your window
Escape from this situation as soon as possible.
Use your arms and legs it won't ruin you
Don't be afraid to take physical action in order to remove yourself from danger.
How can you say he will haunt you
Why would you believe that he would continue to pursue or torment you after you leave?
You can go back to him any time you want to.
It is ultimately your choice whether or not to return to this harmful situation - but it is not necessary.
He looks so truthful, is this how he feels
He presents himself as honest and sincere, but is this a genuine reflection of his innermost feelings and motivations?
Trying to peel the moon and expose it
He is attempting to unveil the hidden truths or underlying nature of things, even if they are beyond his grasp or comprehension.
With his business-like anger and bloodhounds that kneel
He is extremely angry, but channels this fury in a calculated, efficient manner - as well as relying on others to do his dirty work for him.
If he needs a third eye he just grows it
He can create or evolve new ways of seeing or understanding things, even if they seem impossible or surreal.
He just needs you to talk or to hand him his chalk
He requires you to fulfill a supporting role in his schemes, either by providing him with information or material goods.
Or pick it up after he throws it.
He expects you to clean up the messes he makes or the problems he causes.
He looks so righteous while your face is so changed
He appears virtuous and upstanding, while you have been damaged or traumatized by his actions.
Are you frightened of the box you keep him in
Do you feel trapped by the situation or the dynamics of your relationship with him?
While his genocide fools and friends rearrange
He and his associates are capable of committing acts of great cruelty or destruction, while justifying their actions through various means.
Their religion of the little ten women
Their belief system or ideology revolves around exploiting or subjugating a specific group of individuals.
That backs up their views but your face is so bruised
Though they have their own sources of validation or support, you have been physically or emotionally harmed as a result of their actions.
Come on out the dark is beginning.
It is time to leave this oppressive, harmful situation and seek a healthier, safer environment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: B. DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind