The band formed in 1986 as an underground punk rock act. Their popularity grew during the following decade with the 1992 album It's A Shame About Ray, which was produced, engineered, and mixed by The Robb Brothers (Bruce Robb, Dee, and Joe), followed by a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which eventually became one of the band's most successful singles.
Throughout its various incarnations, recording and touring lineups of the band have included co-founders Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz, John Strohm (Blake Babies), Doug Trachten, Corey Loog Brennan, Byron Hoag, Ben Daughtry, Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies), Nic Dalton (Godstar, Sneeze, The Plunderers), Dave Ryan, Patrick "Murph" Murphy (Dinosaur Jr), Bill Gibson (Eastern Dark), Mark 'Budola' Newman, Kenny Lyon, Vess Ruhtenberg, Devon Ashley, Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson (Descendents), P. David Hazel and various others.
Cited as one of the most important alternative rock groups, The Lemonheads were active until 1997 and went on hiatus, but reformed with a new lineup in 2005 and released The Lemonheads in the following year. The band released its latest album, Varshons, in June 2009.
Hannah & Gabi
The Lemonheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out the window of a train
Easy sipping them just seeing it fly left to right
Pour the milk and I'll say when
I'm out wandering around.
You're but one thing I've found.
I don't mean to bring you down.
Kinda hoped you wouldn't blame me
I can't wake up every day and find the same me
You can scream but I'll just dream how you might disappear
All I know is it's never clear
I can't hold you near.
You just are not here.
Though it wasn't hard or far.
I walked you to your car.
Oh...
The Lemonheads’ “Hannah & Gabi” is a reflective indie rock song about one’s inability to stay in one place and the subsequent difficulties that arise in relationships as a result. The lyrics describe the singer watching the world go by outside the window of a train, while sitting with their partner, Hannah or Gabi. The singer is aware that their restless nature and inability to stay put could affect the relationship. This is clear in the lines, “I'm out wandering around. You're but one thing I've found. I don't mean to bring you down”, where the singer acknowledges that their partner is a stable aspect of their life, but their inability to stay still may cause trouble.
As the song continues, the singer expresses a fear that their partner may leave them, and that they aren’t sure how strong their connection truly is. In the lines, “You can scream but I'll just dream how you might disappear. All I know is it's never clear”, the singer is aware that their partner may be frustrated with their inability to commit, yet he can only imagine and dream about how the relationship may end.
Despite the song's somewhat dark lyrics, “Hannah & Gabi” features upbeat guitar riffs, lush harmonies, and a catchy chorus, contributed to by Evan Dando's vocals, and so the song has become a staple of The Lemonheads’ live setlist.
Line by Line Meaning
Got me watching your eyes watching things go by outside
I'm looking out the window alongside you, watching things pass by.
Out the window of a train
We're on a train and staring out of the window.
Easy sipping them just seeing it fly left to right
We're casually enjoying the view that's passing from left to right.
Pour the milk and I'll say when
I'll let you know when to stop pouring the milk.
I'm out wandering around.
I'm aimlessly walking and exploring.
You're but one thing I've found.
Of everything I've encountered, you're the only significant thing.
I don't mean to bring you down.
I apologize if I've made you feel sad or upset.
Kinda hoped you wouldn't blame me
I was hoping you wouldn't accuse me of anything.
I can't wake up every day and find the same me
I can't help but change from day to day.
You can scream but I'll just dream how you might disappear
Even if you yell, I'll just imagine how you could vanish.
All I know is it's never clear
I'm uncertain about what's happening.
I can't hold you near.
I can't hold you close to me.
You just are not here.
You're physically absent.
Though it wasn't hard or far.
Even though it wasn't difficult or far away.
I walked you to your car.
I accompanied you to your car.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EVAN GRIFFITH DANDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SirAreve
1995, my father and I were driving up brecon mountain going for some random walk, I was around 6-7. I don't remember a lot, but what I do remember, is my ol' man looking at me, smiling, singing this song. The Lemonheads have been a huge part of my memory, I get a warm feeling every time I listen to them and generally feel like "It's a shame about Ray" is the album of my childhood. 1997, father had a bike accident with a head injury, he changed massively. A lot of what I remember my father being able to do has gone, but there are pieces of it that still come out. What always does, is the smile he'd give me when I put on The Lemonheads.
Funny moment i'll never forget; my father actually had a friend called Ray, who we used to meet with and go flying he model planes on the welsh mountainside. Ray one day fell over while trying to throw his plane into the wind, fell some few feet into a shrug. My dad was in stiches, and in my wit (tbh i didn't even know i had wit) I said, "it's a shame about Ray". We crack up about that to this day.
Also found my dads old weed stash when we were cleaning the back room, some years after his accident when we decided to move house. Literally had Drug Buddy stuck in my head for days after that!
@oregonsurfer
I love your comment. I get that warm feeling too from them. The music on Ray and Lick and the earlier albums takes me back to hanging out and making innocent trouble in Harvard Square as a young teenager. Drug buddy, half the time, ever, mallo cup...so many that leave such a distinct impression over the years. It already feels so classic.
@chugnuts870
That is a beautiful story matey
@TheDharmaBarber
💜
@evandando3168
I am chuffed
@brendanseanbarry
I'd put the whole of 'It's A Shame About Ray' on a Greatest Hits album, and keep the tracks in the same order.
@larue138
I'd have it be a two-disc album, disc one is Shame About Ray and Disc Two is Come On Feel.
Not to put down Evan's other work but damn....two perfect albums
@RonaldReaganRocks1
The greatest album of my lifetime. Tell everyone.
@jaredcoffin1
The best lemonhead song everyone needs to hear how beautiful it is
@williamstout7137
"Pour the milk and I'll say when...", love this line.