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.
Milkcrate Mosh
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we were smoking to the drinking songs off talking songs for walking. waving marlboros like magic wands. listen up closely to the lit tips of your cigarettes. can't you hear the serpent hiss? saying sweet baby suck on this. the white wine was the nectar. the oldies made me feel like phil spector. is charlemagne your main man or is he just your sad protector?
you know you look so good together. but sometimes i get a feeling that you're a little bit restless. it's a small scene already and it gets dirty on the fringes. you sucked through his defenses.
she said i usually wouldn't do this. but i couldn't help but notice. you had that text across your t-shirt. it said: what would judas do? he had those punching rings. he smoked the camel filter kings. we went back behind the building. he did a brisk little business. his party favors were party saviors. otherwise we might have never made it. went down in the springfield slums and woke up in the sugar mountain pines. only to find that what you put into your mouth always gets into your mind.
The lyrics of "Milkcrate Mosh" by The Hold Steady carry a lot of weight and are open to interpretation. The song seems to tell the story of a group of friends going out, getting drunk, and doing drugs. The references to gin, kings, and babylon allude to biblical stories and suggest that the song is about more than just a night out. The jester jacking off could be interpreted as a symbol of something being lost or wasted. The nervous cough that keeps repeating seems to suggest that there is a sense of unease or discomfort that permeates the night.
The lyrics are full of contrasting images and juxtapositions. The singer talks about feeling free from fears that you can never put your finger on, but then also mentions feeling a little bit restless. The white wine is described as nectar, but then the oldies make the singer feel like Phil Spector. The references to Charlemagne and Judas add to the complexity of the song, as they both have very different connotations.
Overall, "Milkcrate Mosh" presents a vivid snapshot of a night out with friends. The lyrics are full of nuance and symbolism, and the song leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
the gin was just like gideon.
The gin was strong and potent, like the biblical figure Gideon who was a powerful warrior.
the kings were just like solomon.
The people in power were wise and wealthy, like the biblical King Solomon.
the bashes were like babylon.
The parties were wild and indulgent, like the ancient city of Babylon known for its excesses.
the jester kept on jacking off.
The entertainer was vulgar and inappropriate, constantly engaging in crude behavior.
nervous cough, nervous cough, nervous cough and now we're off.
There was an awkward pause before they left, marked by a nervous cough.
went down on the denver slums and she woke up in the rocky mountain dawn.
They traveled to a poor, urban part of Denver before waking up to the beautiful sunrise in the Rocky Mountains.
felt all freed up from the fears that you can never put your finger on.
They felt liberated from vague, unidentifiable fears that had been weighing on them.
finger on finger on finger on and now were gone.
They left quickly, feeling empowered and uninhibited.
we were smoking to the drinking songs off talking songs for walking.
They were smoking and listening to music, specifically songs meant for drinking and conversing while walking.
waving marlboros like magic wands.
They were dramatically waving their cigarettes, as though casting spells with magic wands.
listen up closely to the lit tips of your cigarettes.
They were paying close attention to the glowing ends of their cigarettes, perhaps drawn in by the hypnotic effect.
can't you hear the serpent hiss? saying sweet baby suck on this.
They were indulging in harmful habits, as though being tempted by a snake to continue sinning.
the white wine was the nectar.
The white wine was sweet and delicious, like nectar from a flower.
the oldies made me feel like phil spector.
The old songs made them feel powerful and important, like the famous music producer Phil Spector.
is charlemagne your main man or is he just your sad protector?
They were questioning whether they truly admired the historical figure Charlemagne, or if they were just using him as a symbol of protection and stability.
you know you look so good together.
The two people together looked attractive and compatible.
but sometimes i get a feeling that you're a little bit restless.
They sensed that one of the people in the pair was feeling unsettled or discontented.
it's a small scene already and it gets dirty on the fringes.
The community they were in was small and tightly-knit, but there were also unsavory elements present on the outskirts.
you sucked through his defenses.
One of the people successfully overpowered the other's barriers, whether emotionally or physically.
she said i usually wouldn't do this.
One of the people was hesitant or apprehensive about what was happening.
but i couldn't help but notice.
Despite reservations, they couldn't resist the temptation.
you had that text across your t-shirt. it said: what would judas do?
The other person was intrigued by a thought-provoking message printed on the first person's shirt.
he had those punching rings.
One of the people had rings typically used for punching or fighting.
he smoked the camel filter kings.
The other person smoked a specific brand and type of cigarettes.
we went back behind the building.
They went to a secluded location behind a building.
he did a brisk little business.
One of the people was involved in some sort of transaction, possibly illegal or immoral.
his party favors were party saviors.
The items he provided for the party were enjoyable and saved the night from being boring or disappointing.
otherwise we might have never made it.
Without those party favors, the night might have been lacking.
went down in the springfield slums and woke up in the sugar mountain pines.
They traveled to a poor area of Springfield and later woke up in the beautiful Sugar Mountain Pines.
only to find that what you put into your mouth always gets into your mind.
They realized that what they consume not only affects their body, but also their mental state.
Contributed by Lucas H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.