The band's lineup has changed frequently during its career, with founding members Miller and Prystowsky being the only constants. Former members include Dan Lefkowitz (guitar) (2006–2007), Mat Davidson (bass) (2009–2011), Jocie Adams (vocals, organ, clairinet) (2007–2013), Mike Irwin (guitar, bass, trumpet) (2011–2013) and Tyler Osborne (guitar, bass). Adams, the longest serving member other than Miller and Prystowsky, amicably left the group in 2013 to focus on her other band Arc Iris.
Ben Knox Miller and Jeffrey Prystowsky met while DJing an overnight jazz show on a Brown University radio station, WBRU. They became friends and teammates for a local wood-bat baseball team called the Providence Grays. Miller and Prystowsky played in various ensembles together ranging from classical and jazz to electronica, and the Low Anthem was formed in 2006. In the fall of 2006, Dan Lefkowitz, a bluesman from Strasburg, Virginia, joined the band and contributed to its evolving brand of songwriting with his song “This God Damn House." Early in 2007, Lefkowitz left the band to pursue simple living in a yurt in Arkansas. The band became a trio again in late 2007 with the addition of classical composer and clarinetist Jocie Adams, a fellow student and former NASA employee, who joined the band after a late-night recording session for the band's album What The Crow Brings. She appears on vocals and clarinet on the album's closing track, "Coal Mountain Lullaby."
What the Crow Brings was recorded in Miller’s and Prystowsky’s apartments over several months and was then self-released on October 2, 2007. The band took on every aspect of manufacturing the album including dumpster diving for empty cereal boxes to fold into album sleeves to creating the silkscreens for the album art, to hand painting and serial-numbering 600 copies of the album.
The Low Anthem recorded and self-released its second album, Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin on September 2, 2008. The band traveled to Block Island in the middle of winter and spent ten days recording the tracks that would become the album, with engineer and co-producer Jesse Lauter. After the album was completed, the band returned to the island to handpaint and silkscreen the first 2000 copies of the album The band did a release tour booked by booking agent Jeff "The Scarecrow" Jones.
While touring, the Low Anthem first gained some recognition in the UK when Rough Trade Shops decided to make it an Album of the Month. End of the Road Festival then booked the band and released a 7” single of "Charlie Darwin" coinciding with the celebration of Darwin Day.
The band signed record deals with both Nonesuch Records and the UK label Bella Union and both rereleased Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin after Bob Ludwig re-mastered the disc. There was new artwork and the track order was resequenced.
In the summer of 2009, the band played US festivals Bonnaroo, Lollapalloza, the Newport Folk Festival, and Austin City Limits. In addition to headlining shows throughout Europe, The Low Anthem also played Glastonbury, Hyde Park Calling, Wireless, and End of the Road Festivals in the UK. Matt Davidson became a member of the band shortly before the band's Autumn 2009 tour.
In November, The Low Anthem released its debut music video for Charlie Darwin, a claymation work by Glenn Taunton and Simon Taffe. On November 20, 2009, The Low Anthem made its television debut on Later... with Jools Holland.
The beginning of 2010 saw the band's first US television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where it performed "Charlie Darwin", and a short tour in Europe, including its biggest headlining show at Shepherds Bush Empire. The band returned to the US to support The Avett Brothers and then completed its first headline tour of the USA.
From December 2009 until February 2010, the band recorded its fourth album, Smart Flesh, in the abandoned Porino’s pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, RI. The album was engineered by Jesse Lauter and mixed by Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes. The album was released February 22, 2011. The band released "Ghost Woman Blues", the first song on the record as a free download in December on its Web site. The band appeared again on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 12, 2011, performing "Ghost Woman Blues."
In July 2011, Matt Davidson played his final show with The Low Anthem. He has been replaced by Mike Irwin. Multi-instrumentalist Tyler Osbourne joined the band in December 2011.
On December 20, 2011, the band released an album for free under the alter-ego Snake Wagon, entitled "Have Fun With Snake Wagon". The album was recorded during the same sessions as Smart Flesh. The band has also recorded a soundtrack album for the upcoming film "Arcadia" for release in 2012.
Boeing 737
The Low Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a bar on the 84th floor
I bought Philippe Petit a round
And asked what his high wire was for
He said, 'I put one foot on the wire,
One foot straight into heaven'
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
On the Boeing 737, Lord, on the Boeing 737
To nest beneath my Gatling gun?
There's nothing left I call my own
Come down and build me a home.
I was in a bar when they rigged the towers
Trying to leave all my sins
The barmaid asked my order
And where my mind had been
I tried to recall the high wire
Philippe and his foot in heaven
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
On the Boeing 737, Lord, on the Boeing 737
Hey little bird, would you be the one
To nest beneath my Gatling gun?
There's nothing left I call my own
Come down and build me a home.
The Low Anthem's song Boeing 737 is a haunting reflection on two pivotal moments in American history: the 9/11 attacks and the Vietnam War. The opening lines of the song refer to the tragic events of 9/11 when the singer, presumably on a plane, observes the towers collapsing. The next lines, "In a bar on the 84th floor, I bought Philippe Petit a round," recall the infamous Frenchman who walked across a tightrope between the Twin Towers in 1974. The singer asks Philippe what his high wire was for and he responds, "'I put one foot on the wire, one foot straight into heaven'". This line creates a connection between the high-wire act and the tragic events of 9/11, with Philippe's art serving as a poignant symbol of humanity reaching for heaven amidst the chaos and destruction of the terrorist attacks.
Line by Line Meaning
I was in the air when the towers came down
I was flying when the Twin Towers were hit on 9/11
In a bar on the 84th floor
I was in a bar high up in one of the Twin Towers during 9/11
I bought Philippe Petit a round
I bought a drink for Philippe Petit, who famously walked on a tightrope between the Twin Towers in 1974
And asked what his high wire was for
I asked Philippe Petit the purpose of his high wire act
He said, 'I put one foot on the wire,
One foot straight into heaven'
Philippe Petit said that his high wire act made him feel like he was putting one foot into heaven
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
In the aftermath of 9/11, many people claimed to be prophets and sought comfort in bars
On the Boeing 737, Lord, on the Boeing 737
The singer of the song is now on a flight and reflects on his experiences during 9/11
Hey little bird, would you be the one
To nest beneath my Gatling gun?
The artist reflects on the violence and destruction of war and asks for a peaceful place to call home
There's nothing left I call my own
Come down and build me a home.
The artist has lost everything and seeks to start anew with a new home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN KNOX MILLER, JEFFREY CARL PRYSTOWSKY, JOCELYN JAGER ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BoStone
I was in the air when the towers came down
In a bar on the 84th floor
I bought Philippe Petit a round
And asked what his high wire was for
He said, 'I put one foot on the wire,
One foot straight into heaven'
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
On the Boeing 737, Lord, on the Boeing 737
Hey little bird, would you be the one
To nest beneath my Gatling gun?
There's nothing left I call my own
Come down and build me a home.
I was in a bar when they rigged the towers
Trying to leave all my sins
The barmaid asked my order
And where my mind had been
I tried to recall the high wire
Philippe and his foot in heaven
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
On the Boeing 737, Lord, on the Boeing 737
Hey little bird, would you be the one
To nest beneath my Gatling gun?
There's nothing left I call my own
Come down and build me a home.
#bo_favs
@russellecollins
In my opinion, one of the greatest songs ever written. Genius. It's got everything
@Chubzdoomer
This is still one of the most underrated songs I've ever heard, and music videos I've ever seen.
@sebzgamerz1095
9 years later. I don't know about other people, but this song hits really different. Thank You, The Low Anthem.
@whateverlolawants
Whoa. I've been digging this song for a little while and am really glad to see the video. It's a perfect fit, and very evocative of the scenery the song paints. The tightrope walkers falling, the feathers in the air at the end... I finally feel like someone gets it.
@oLeGenDZz
Saw them at Gateshead on Aug 17! Absolutely FANTASTIC
@MassTwingles
Just saw them las night open for Iron & Wine and they are incredible! I spoke with Ben for a little while -- such nice, humble artists who are so very appreciative for their fans. Great vid.
@BarelyAwesome1
Saw this live. It rocked!!
@masonstewart8617
LOVE IT! Thanks for being an uncompromising artist with the guts to pair these lyrics with this imagery.
@Mhxhgc
Every time I play a Low Anthem song I think ‘F@#K… why aren’t I listening to these guys all day, everyday!’ I hope they’re all well & we’ll be treated to some more music soon.
@mustlvemarsii
i showed your video for a short film in my cinema class, beautiful work done here