The Times characterized The Lemon Twigs as "a modern-day band combining the melodic, harmony-rich soft rock of Wings and Supertramp, the underground cool of Big Star and the Ramones, and the theatricality of Broadway musicals." The Guardian cited the "humbling beauty of their songs" and their "sumptuous harmonies."
The band was signed to legendary British alternative music label 4AD in 2015. Their debut album, Do Hollywood, was released in October of 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. A number of iconic pop music figures have publicly expressed admiration for the Twigs, among them Elton John, The Zombies, Boy George, Laura Marling, Gilbert O'Sullivan, and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum.
Night Song
The Lemon Twigs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the grocery store
I walked through every aisle
And threw things on the floor
Floor
Well I see that's she's trying to get to me
Well I found that she's a liar, liar
It's in my eyes
Turn on the song
It's for the night time baby
Put on the night song baby
Put it on
Nothing lasts
Forever
Put on the night song baby
Turn it on
Nothing lasts
Forever
I took my short legged woman
To the dance last night
We watched the highway patrol
Take selfies with Nardwuar
Nardwuar
Well I see that's she's trying to get to me
Well I found that she's a liar, liar
God help me turn the light off
It burns my hands
Turn up the song
It's for the night time baby
Turn on the night song baby
Turn it on
Now, nothing lasts
Forever
Turn on the night song baby
Turn it on (Woah-oh-oh)
Nothing lasts
Forever
Put on the night, on the night song
We are the party police
Put your hands up
Put on the night song
Do the robot, do the other dances
And put on the night song
Cause we're the party police
Freeze!
The Lemon Twigs's song Night Song is a song that is filled with absurdity and chaos, depicting the point where in depression, one’s thoughts begin to unravel, and the only escape from their own minds is through music. The opening lyric, “I think I went a little nuts at the grocery store,” depicts a manic episode of going through every aisle and throwing things on the floor. The line sets a tone for the rest of the song where we see the character, played to life by Brian D’Addario, trying to find a way to escape his mind. He discovers a particular song that helps him get into the zone where he can block out the world and just exist, slowly letting go of his inhibitions. There’s also an underlying storyline about a relationship gone wrong, where he discovers his partner is a liar.
The lyrics' surreal imagery continues when he takes “his short-legged woman to the dance last night,” only to see the highway patrol taking selfies with Nardwuar, the famous interviewer always seen wearing a tartan hat. The bridge of the song features the band cheering themselves on, shouting “we are the party police” while demanding the listeners to dance, do the robot, and other eclectic dances, all the while expressing the song’s primary truth that nothing lasts forever. The Lemon Twigs have a way of weaving their lyrics, and Night Song is a prime example.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I went a little nuts
I behaved unusually at the grocery store
At the grocery store
The setting of the aforementioned event
I walked through every aisle
I roamed about every section
And threw things on the floor
I littered the ground with various items
Well I see that's she's trying to get to me
I have noticed that she has motives to harm me
Well I found that she's a liar, liar
I have discovered that she is not truthful
God help me turn the light off
I hope to remove myself from this situation
It's in my eyes
The light is causing me discomfort
Turn on the song
I aim to distract myself from the situation
It's for the night time baby
This song is suitable for the evening
Put on the night song baby
Play music that's appropriate for the night
Put it on
Start playing the music
Nothing lasts
Things eventually come to an end
Forever
For all eternity
I took my short legged woman
I attended a dance with my partner
To the dance last night
The time of said event
We watched the highway patrol
We observed law enforcement agencies
Take selfies with Nardwuar
The officers took pictures with a celebrity
Nardwuar
Name of aforementioned celebrity
It burns my hands
The light is causing me pain on my hands
Turn up the song
Increase the volume of the music
Now, nothing lasts
Everything is finite
Turn on the night song baby
Play music that fits the night
Turn it on (Woah-oh-oh)
Activate the music
We are the party police
We are the authority of celebration
Put your hands up
Raise your hands in the air
Do the robot, do the other dances
Engage in dancing, specifically robotic movements and other dance genres
Cause we're the party police
We are responsible for the festivities
Freeze!
Stop moving immediately
Writer(s): BRIAN D ADDARIO, MICHAEL D ADDARIO
Contributed by Sophie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dan Manes
I love them because they just dip into a lot of varying styles from really classic artists and make it work.
fernando perdomo
is it different? Yes Are these boys going to become legends? Hell yes
barkybarkbarkbark
@Je Ne Sais Quoi Je sais!
Je Ne Sais Quoi
One can only hope!
David Mallon
@Jake Mon Don't worry about these boys, they are going to play a massive part of a music revolution about to take place and people will wake up to it quickly. We are re entering an incredible age of music again, a kind of second coming of the 60's and 70's and soon all the "Macdonalds for the ears" will be sidelined and decommissioned so to speak. There will always be a place for it but for the most part, It will be irrelevant. Trust in this Brother that the cream always rises to the top!
mangotime?
fernando perdomo I hope they do.. I hope enough people will give them a chance
Jake Mon
Makes me sad how under rated good musicians like these are now days. Then you have shit in the mainstream what is awful, lemon twigs will never be mega huge selling stadiums what makes me really sad for music now days
blah2656
this is good but i think their live performances are a truer representation of their sound and what i actually prefer to listen to because dayum the kids are fukin talented and im consistently flabbergasted at their abilities, obviously studio versions will always be different to live bit i think theres a bigger gap here than usual i hope it doesnt prevent people from getting into them cause they deserve all the recognition they get
mangotime?
blah2656 This EP is made up of leftover songs they recorded themselves, at home in 2015. So that explains the slightly lower quality and why the songs have changed since then :)
Acme House of Music Acme House of Music
You are completely right about this. They should ditch the production flourishes and try to capture what they do live in the studio. They are off the hook live....and don't need the artifice. That Foxgene guy may have discovered them but it would be best if they went into hiding from him at this point. They are ten times better than his band and he is holding them back in the studio. IVO should get involved! Steve Albini would also be a great choice. Or just an engineer for that matter.