Since forming in 2007, the band's combination of danceable rock and soulful songwriting (and brilliantivity) has come to life through a meticulously-crafted and ever-evolving live performance. The band has been instrumental in the growth of New Orleans’ burgeoning indie rock scene, and they have achieved success and notoriety in the city’s competitive musical landscape.
The Revivalists have proven themselves as a live act. They have managed to advance from low-profile local gigs to extensive touring, developing a loyal fan base at home and across the Gulf Coast Region and gaining footholds nationally. Abroad, they have commanded such venues as The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), Sullivan Hall (New York City), Toad’s Place (New Haven, CT), and Smith’s Olde Bar (Atlanta, GA). At home, The Revivalists are regulars at The Howlin’ Wolf, The Republic, and the legendary Tipitina’s. They have shared stages with such notable acts as Perpetual Groove, Marco Benevento, Rebirth Brass Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Lee Boys and Snarky Puppy. Additionally, they have established themselves as an engaging festival act, winning over audiences at French Quarter Fest, Crawfest and Foburg Festival in New Orleans, Hamstock Barbecue and Music Festival in Ridgeland, MS, and The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC. Most recently, The Revivalists played the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. There, they caught the attention of Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, who wrote about their performance on his blog on rollingstone.com.
The Revivalists have also grown as studio musicians. Their first release was listed as an editor’s pick in both the Jam and American Traditional Rock categories on CDBaby.com, despite being a humble five-song EP. Their second release, Vital Signs, is both the band’s first full-length album and a significant step forward in terms of production and scale. The young band was privileged to record under the guidance of Grammy Award-winning producer Chris Finney, whose resumé ranges from Dr. John to R.E.M. Vital Signs is the result of this collaboration. Soon after its release, Vital Signs became the top-selling album on CDBaby in the American Traditional Rock category, and was quickly selected to be featured in their newsletter.
Members:
George Gekas (bass)
Andrew Campanelli (drums)
Zack Feinberg (guitar)
David Shaw (vocals, guitar)
Ed “Steel” Williams (pedal steel guitar)
Rob Ingraham (saxophone, miscellaneous/other)
NEED YOU
The Revivalists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need you, double vision that which I sometimes see
I don't need you, heart always beating on me
I don't need you, pit in my stomach
I don't need you, shaky knees
I don't need you
I don't need you me
You need me
Need me
I don't need you legs refusing to stand
I don't need you blood boiling
I don't need you grabbing hands
I don't need you lungs always getting out of breath
I don't need you bloodshot eyes refusing me my rest
I don't need you
I don't need you me
I don't need you
You need me
You need me
You need me
You need me
I don't need you
You need me
I can't live without you, no no no
I don't need you
I don't need you
I can't live without you
You need me
You need me
I don't need you
You need me
I don't need you
I don't need you
You need me, me
You need me, me
In The Revivalists' song "Need You," the chorus declares that the singer doesn't need the person they are addressing, but the verses present a contrasting image. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional toll that the person has taken on the singer, causing double vision, a racing heart, a pit in their stomach, shaky knees, blood boiling, and grabbing hands. While claiming that they don't need this person, the singer argues in the chorus that the person needs them, a possible indication that they may be struggling with their own feelings of dependence on the other person despite its negative consequences.
The lyrics create a tension between the singer's conscious decision to reject the other person and the physical and emotional reactions that continue to plague them. This tension is further emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "I don't need you," which appears five times in each verse, and the increasing desperation of the singer's repetition of "you need me" in the chorus. This interplay creates a powerful message about the complexity of relationships, particularly when the singer's feelings are at odds with their best interests.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need you, brain playing tricks on me
I don't need the thoughts that always make me feel like I'm going crazy.
I don't need you, double vision that which I sometimes see
I don't need to see the two sides of everything that confuses me.
I don't need you, heart always beating on me
I don't need the constant ache that follows me wherever I go.
I don't need you, pit in my stomach
I don't need the overwhelming feeling of anxiety that makes me feel sick.
I don't need you, shaky knees
I don't need the physical manifestations of fear that take control of my body.
I don't need you legs refusing to stand
I don't need the fear that paralyzes me and keeps me from acting.
I don't need you blood boiling
I don't need the anger that courses through me and clouds my judgement.
I don't need you grabbing hands
I don't need the temptation that tries to pull me back when I try to move on.
I don't need you lungs always getting out of breath
I don't need the feeling of suffocation that comes with the weight of it all.
I don't need you bloodshot eyes refusing me my rest
I don't need to stay up all night thinking about what went wrong.
I don't need you
I don't need you me
I don't need you
You need me
Need me
I don't need the part of me that's caught up in the past and causing all this pain. You need me to move on and leave you behind.
I don't need you
You need me
I can't live without you, no no no
I don't need you
I don't need you
I can't live without you
You need me
You need me
I don't need the version of you that's bringing me down. You need me to stand up for myself and realize that I can't live with the pain anymore.
I don't need you
You need me
I don't need you
I don't need you
You need me, me
You need me, me
I don't need the version of you that's causing all of my problems. You need the better version of me that's decided to move on and live a better life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW STEPHEN CAMPANELLI, ZACHARY FEINBERG, GEORGE M. GEKAS, MICHAEL GIRARDOT, ROBERT INGRAHAM, DAVID WILLIAM SHAW, ED WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hannah
on It Was A Sin
I relate emotionally to him in a way I never really thought I would in a song like this. I cheated on my husband and seeking a new start and wanting that so very badly, I can't tell you how much this song relates. The desperation in his voice, admitting he fucked up and wanting to talk to her, not wanting to fight about it and move to something else... because she is making the conscious decision to stay in some way involved with him and he is desperate for a new start, something more or different than the same fight than they have been having. To get to this point, usually it is the same fight for months or even years, where she (or the other partner) just can't or won't let go. It is a desperate moment. He sings it with passion, especially towards the end with the drums. I relate so much. It is like... i fucked up. So badly. And I own that and have Done so much to work on myself and the relationship. But you have to let go if you want to continue.
Thank you for this song.