The Raveonettes is an indie rock/shoegaze/noise pop duo formed in Copenhage… Read Full Bio ↴The Raveonettes is an indie rock/shoegaze/noise pop duo formed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2001. Comprising Sune Rose Wagner (guitar, instruments, vocals), formerly of Psyched Up Janis, and Sharin Foo (guitar and vocals), their music is characterized by close two-part vocal harmony inspired by The Everly Brothers, coupled with hard-edged electric guitar overlaid with liberal doses of noise.

The name, The Raveonettes, is a direct reference to The Ronettes, and Buddy Holly's song Rave On!.

Their songs juxtapose the structural and chordal simplicity of 50s and 60s rock with intense electric instrumentation, driving beats and often dark lyrical content, similar to another of the band's influences, The Velvet Underground. Altogether, they sound very much like a slightly more melodic version of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

http://www.theraveonettes.com

On April 4th, 2011, they released "Raven in the Grave", a nine-track studio album with Vice Records. It's their 5th studio album.

From their site bio:
“I think we have finally hit on something quite important and different for this album,” explains Sune. “This is the first Raveonettes album we've done which doesn't feature the signature Raveonettes surf drumbeat. None of the tunes have any real sunshine to them. It’s all very un-Rave.”

“It has a mood of ethereal defiance” Sharin adds. “It’s dark but not bleak, like the single minded determination caused by crisis that is not quite hope but just as powerful. It’s the perfect winter soundtrack just in time for spring”.

If I Was Young
The Raveonettes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I was young and you were too
Then I'm sure we'd run away
But life it takes twisted turns
Makes words hard to say
I've been here for too long
My traveling feet all worn down
I try to hide my tears in vain
Take a look a my eyes drown

And all I have is memories
Of a life I once held dear

And all the lights are out tonight
Oh how I wish I wasn't here

Overall Meaning

The Raveonettes' song "If I Was Young" is a melancholic track that explores longing and regret in a relationship that has passed its prime. The lyrics create a picture of two people who, if circumstances had been different, may have been able to escape the difficulties of their current situation by running away together. However, life had other plans and now they are left with nothing but bittersweet memories of their past.

The first two lines of the song are filled with hypotheticals: "If I was young and you were too / Then I'm sure we'd run away." This creates a dream-like quality to the song, which is further emphasized by the use of the word "twisted" in the next line. It suggests that their journey together would not have been without its difficulties, but perhaps the two of them would have been better equipped to handle them as young people.

The second verse reveals the reality of the situation. The singer has been in this place for too long and their feet are "all worn down." They are tired and unable to keep running. The picture painted here creates a sense of exhaustion and hopelessness. The last lines of the song, "And all the lights are out tonight / Oh how I wish I wasn't here," speak to the depth of despair the singer is feeling. They are stuck in a place they don't want to be with memories of a life they once held dear.

Overall, "If I Was Young" is a haunting and emotional song that speaks to the difficulties of moving beyond a relationship that has run its course. It touches on themes of regret, longing, and the inevitable passage of time that leaves us with nothing but memories.

Line by Line Meaning

If I was young and you were too
If we were both young and free from responsibilities

Then I'm sure we'd run away
We would escape from our current lives

But life it takes twisted turns
Life can be unpredictable and challenging

Makes words hard to say
It's difficult to express our emotions

I've been here for too long
I've been stuck in this place for too many years

My traveling feet all worn down
I've traveled far and wide, but now I'm tired

I try to hide my tears in vain
I attempt to conceal my sadness, but it doesn't work

Take a look a my eyes drown
When you look into my eyes, you'll see my pain

And all I have is memories
I only have memories of better times

Of a life I once held dear
I cherished a life that has now disappeared

And all the lights are out tonight
Everything is dark and depressing