The New Amsterdams began as a solo project in Lawrence, Kansas to then-lead… Read Full Bio ↴The New Amsterdams began as a solo project in Lawrence, Kansas to then-lead singer for The Get Up Kids Matt Pryor. In 2000, he released his debut album Never You Mind, which was comprised largely of acoustic tracks with sparse accompaniment. However, the album also featured Alex Brahl and Rob Pope providing extra instrument tracks.

Two years later in January 2002, Pryor released Para Toda Vida, this time sticking almost purely to acoustic guitar, with the exception of a few tracks utilizing harmonica and banjo as well. However, the next year the band went a step further in the release of Worse for the Wear, which utilized a full band for the first time, which at this time included Get Up Kids bandmates Ryan Pope and his brother Rob, as well as longtime friend and producer Ed Rose. The album was one of the earlier albums to be recorded at Black Lodge Studios, the recording studio renovated and co-owned by Ed Rose and the members of The Get Up Kids.

The band's next album, Killed or Cured was released in 2005. However, it was written during a turbulent time within The Get Up Kids leading up to the band's breakup. Because of this Vagrant Records, the label to which both the bands were signed, didn't want to release the album until The Get Up Kids finished their farewell tour in the summer of that year. For this reason, a portion of the album was released online for free via the New Amsterdams website. The album was released in its full version through retail channels on April 10, 2007.

In 2006, the band released the album Story Like a Scar with what is now the current lineup, including Bill Belzer on drums, Eric McCann on upright bass, and Dustin Kinsey on guitar.

In September 2007, the band released another album, At the Foot of My Rival on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download. However, after a long relationship with Vagrant Records, the band decided to release the album on Elmar, (named after Pryor's son Elliot Marshall) an offshoot of Curb Appeal Records, owned in part by former Get Up Kids bandmate Jim Suptic.

In January 2008 the band released a collection of demos and b-sides, available exclusively through their website.

In May of the same year, they went on their first European tour, starting in Amsterdam. The band plans to go in a small hiatus after that, until the end of the year. After that, they will start working on the next album.

Musically, the songs are folksy and mellow. Lyrically, the songs often seem to deal with Christianity and religion though Matt hasn't made claims to any particular faith. Much of it could be considered "christian rock," though many fans of Pryor from his Get Up Kids days would probably deny or ignore such a comment.

Losing You
The New Amsterdams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stories been boarded up again
Old sins forgotten for new sins

Your habits get old
Your habits get old
I wanted to say
How I wanted to say

Miss the Valentine House sometimes
Good times compounded on good times

What's come over you since?
What's come over you since?
I wanted to say
How I wanted to say

Losing you, I would know
I feel partially responsible, I'm confused
And all I can do
Is quietly grin and resent you

Phone calls made with such urgency
Speaking half-truths

She doesn't know
What she doesn't know
Wanted to say
How I wanted to say

Losing you, I would know
I feel partially responsible, I'm confused

All I can do
Is quietly grin and resent you

Overall Meaning

The New Amsterdams' "Losing You" seems to be a song about a relationship that has gone sour. The first two lines suggest that the relationship may have had some issues in the past, but they have been forgotten as new problems arise. The chorus of "Losing you, I would know / I feel partially responsible, I'm confused / And all I can do / Is quietly grin and resent you" portrays the writer's confusion and guilt about the state of the relationship.

The second verse mentions missing something called the Valentine House, which could be a reference to a place where the couple used to go or a shared memory. The line "good times compounded on good times" suggests that the relationship used to be strong, but something has changed. The line "what's come over you since?" further emphasizes this change and the writer's struggle to understand their partner's behavior.

The final verse mentions phone calls made with urgency and half-truths, which implies that the communication between the couple has become strained. The final line "She doesn't know / What she doesn't know" suggests that there may be secrets or things left unsaid that are contributing to the breakdown of the relationship.

Overall, "Losing You" portrays a sense of confusion and guilt about a relationship that has changed for the worse.

Line by Line Meaning

Stories been boarded up again
The past has been ignored again, new mistakes are being made and old ones forgotten

Old sins forgotten for new sins
The same mistakes are being made repeatedly and new ones are being added to the list, with no lesson learned from past ones

Your habits get old
Your behavior is becoming tiresome and stale

I wanted to say
I have something to express

How I wanted to say
I wish I could express myself in the way I truly want to

Miss the Valentine House sometimes
I sometimes long for the good times of the past

Good times compounded on good times
Memories of good experiences keep piling up, creating a sense of nostalgia

What's come over you since?
What has changed about you lately?

I wanted to say
I have something to express

How I wanted to say
I wish I could express myself in the way I truly want to

Losing you, I would know
If I lost you, I would feel the effects and understand the consequences

I feel partially responsible, I'm confused
I feel partly to blame but I am unsure of the details and circumstances

And all I can do
I have no other options or actions available to me

Is quietly grin and resent you
I can only pretend to be happy and hold resentment towards you in silence