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.
Matter Of Time
The Low Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where my true love's bound to pass
And I don't have to try
It's a matter of time
A matter of time
A matter of time
We will roll beneath the sky
And I don't have to try
I know she'll be by
I know she'll be by
It's a matter of time
See me decorate my nest
See me puffing out my chest
I hate to be so vain
It's just part of the game
Just part of the game
A matter of time
Hear me howling at the moon
In her wake of sweet perfume
I don't have to fear
She'll pull me through the mirror
Pull me through the mirror
In a matter of time
In the grass I lay alone
See the sunset down below
I don't make a sound
It's always circling round
Always circling round
It's a matter of time
The Low Anthem's "Matter Of Time" is a song about love, patience, and inevitability. The singer lies in the grass, waiting for his true love to come by, knowing that she will eventually arrive. He doesn't have to do anything or try to make it happen; it's just a matter of time. The imagery of lying in the grass and rolling beneath the sky with clover and dandelions creates a sense of peace and tranquility, as if the singer is content to wait as long as it takes.
As the song progresses, the singer starts to show more concern about his own appearance and behavior, as if he's trying to impress his true love when she arrives. He decorates his nest and puffs out his chest, but he knows that this is just part of the game of love. He howls at the moon, hoping to attract his true love's attention with his passion and devotion.
The closing verses of the song bring a slight shift in tone as the singer realizes that he may be waiting alone. He watches the sunset in silence, knowing that time is always circling round, but not knowing if his true love will ever come. The song ends on this note of uncertainty, leaving the listener to wonder if the singer's patient waiting will be rewarded.
Line by Line Meaning
See me laying in the grass
Where my true love's bound to pass
And I don't have to try
It's a matter of time
A matter of time
A matter of time
I am waiting for my true love to come to me, and I believe it will happen naturally without me having to force anything. I just need to be patient and wait for the right moment.
We will roll beneath the sky
In the clover and dandelion
And I don't have to try
I know she'll be by
I know she'll be by
It's a matter of time
When my true love comes, we will enjoy each other's company in nature, and I am confident that she will come without me having to force anything. It's just a matter of waiting for the right moment.
See me decorate my nest
See me puffing out my chest
I hate to be so vain
It's just part of the game
Just part of the game
A matter of time
I am preparing myself for when my true love comes, hoping to impress her with my appearance and confidence. I feel a bit silly doing it, but I know it's what people do when they're trying to attract someone they like. It's just a matter of time.
Hear me howling at the moon
In her wake of sweet perfume
I don't have to fear
She'll pull me through the mirror
Pull me through the mirror
In a matter of time
Sometimes I feel alone and hopeless without my true love, but I know that when she comes she will bring new life and energy to my world. I just have to hold on and trust that she will come to me soon. It's just a matter of time.
In the grass I lay alone
See the sunset down below
I don't make a sound
It's always circling round
Always circling round
It's a matter of time
Sometimes it feels like time is standing still and nothing is happening in my life, but I know that the world keeps turning and things keep changing, even if I can't see it. I just have to be patient and wait for my true love to come to me. It's just a matter of time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIM L. OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cooper Davidson
Such a fantastic song, especially on a could cloudy day!
reeceJyoung
saw these guys play three songs yesterday at the gorge, and they became my new favorite band instantly
James Pringle
these guys are one of the most talented bands in america..unique stuff..terrific song writing...excellent arrangements...years from now they'll show up on movie scores
Keegan M.
It's incredibly true. The Low Anthem brings a vibe to their playing area when they play live. You can't find that when listening on here. Just isn't possible. I loved watching them live, and am glad I get to see them again soon.
Keegan M.
That show was one of the best i've seen. City and Colour, and The Low Anthem. I loved it. I met Ben after they played ( Singer for Low Anthem ) and he was the coolest person I've met. I wished him luck, and he went on his way. Two months later I see that one of their songs debuted in The Hunger Games. Such a happy moment. Glad they are getting the credibility they deserve!
10Hr Environments
reeeeeeeally nice lyrics in this one i think. pull me through the mirror, nice image. really liking this band.
Jessica Bassant
listened to this song once and went and brought it on itunes
capocchione
Saw you at Roskilde 2012, You guys are amazing!
robert cates
perfect
Alexander Hoeft
Thumbs up if you're here because you only have the first Low Anthem album and you just uninstalled Spotify and therefore currently depend on youtube to listen to the others until you can afford to buy them! :D