Daniel Tashian, lead singer and chief songwriter of … Read Full Bio ↴THE SILVER SEAS
Daniel Tashian, lead singer and chief songwriter of Nashville-based quartet The Silver Seas, claims that the inspiration for the bittersweet pop songs on the group's Cheap Lullaby debut didn't come from a romantic breakup, some unrequited love or any of the typical catalysts for tunes like these, which teeter thrillingly between hopefulness and heartbreak. Tashian says it was sitcoms.
"I was wishing someone would hear one of my songs and pick it up for a sitcom theme," Tashian confesses, "so I got into that mode of writing for a while. There is something about that music – songs from The Odd Couple, Laverne and Shirley, the Pink Panther cartoons –that got ingrained in my brain. The Odd Couple theme is the perfect form of music for me because it's minor chords, but it's not sad. In fact, there is song on High Society, 'Tativille,' that tips its hat to The Odd Couple."
Opening track "Country Life" is an upbeat, fish-out-of-water story – a hipster city slicker's version of Green Acres, if you will – that could indeed double as a jaunty sit-com theme. But the title track, which follows, is its darker, yearning flipside. With tunes about outsider guys longing for girls who are just out of their reach or their income bracket, High Society has remarkable emotional depth, even if the arrangements --which boast layers of harmonies from all four band members, jangly 12-string acoustic guitar solos, and shimmering keyboard touches - - have such an easygoing feel.
Tashian, who'd been reading Evelyn Waugh and P.G. Wodehouse while he wrote these songs, is decidedly more Tin Pan Alley than Music Row. He's got a knack for creating instantly memorable melodies to pair with often plaintive lyrics, though he's no show-off; his craftsmanship seems effortless, as if he just dashed off these sneakily addictive numbers in his spare time. Says Tashian, "My lyrics and melodies are straightforward, but I think it's harder to do these kinds of pop songs than, say, a heavier ballad." Any one of them would surely be AM radio-worthy – the cocktail-hour croon of "We'll Go Walking," the country rock of "Catch Your Own Train," the breezy romanticism of "Imaginary Girl," which, come to think of it, would have made a great theme to the classic '60s sitcom The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis.
Grammy-winning producer, arranger and keyboardist Jason Lehning doesn't polish these songs to perfection because they sound gorgeous in nearly naked form. Lehning points out that Tashian constructs his songs in an appealingly weird fashion, generally avoiding bridges for a verse-chorus, verse-chorus approach or, in the case of "Miss November, "it's just three verses and then it's over. There's such an interesting structure to it." And it works, conveying the urgency of a narrator pleading with a centerfold for a date, a time-honored rock and roll scenario; harmonies piled on ELO-style help to sweeten the plot.
"We're a good team," says Lehning. "We bring to each other what the other one doesn't have. Daniel's an incredibly spontaneous person and I'm an incredibly pragmatic person. When we work together, we get to be ourselves in a really good way. That makes a nice balance and it's really enjoyable for me."
High Society was recorded in two days at Sound Emporium Studio A in Nashville, which played host to R.E.M, when they were making Document, as well as many country, folk and indie-rock artists. Along with Tashian and Lehning, The Silver Seas feature John Deaderick on electric bass and David Gehrke on drums. After the foursome had rehearsed and gigged enough to get comfortable with the new material, Lehning gathered his band-mates in one large room at the studio to cut these tracks live. Admits Lehning, "We didn't have any money, so this was designed for us to get done fast." He later added home studio overdubs and cut some more vocals. For the most part, though, the resulting album reflects one inspired weekend's worth of intense recording.
Both Tashian and Lehning were raised deep within the Nashville music scene. Tashian's dad Barry was lead singer of the Boston-based, mid-sixties cult combo the Remains and subsequently toured with Emmylou Harris' Hot Band. Lehning's dad Kyle is a well-respected country music producer and the former president of Asylum Records Nashville. While the young Lehning apprenticed behind the boards, Tashian was developing into a formidable singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He signed with Elektra Records in New York City and, in 1996, released his solo debut, Sweetie, produced by T-Bone Burnett.
Lehning and Tashian first met briefly by chance before choosing to work together. Recalls Lehning, "I remember a foggy night in a Nashville bar called the Iguana, right after Daniel finished his Elektra record. I talked with him for a couple of hours, and then he disappeared for about two more years." Tashian laughingly says he had "an allergic reaction" to Lehning, but something about their exchange stuck. Lehning continues, "Daniel called me out of the blue one day with his idea for the band, saying 'I have this sound in my head, and I know who I want to be a part of it. Would you help me get started?'"
Tashian says, "Jason came over to my house and I played him 'Message From the Birds' and 'Sea of Stars'" – both of which appear on the group's 2004 debut, Starry Gazey Pie, self-released under its former band name, The Bees (U.S) –"and he said, 'Yeah lets do it.' Then I told him I always wanted to do something with the drummer David Gehrke, and we got him in, and we were off and running."
Upright bassist Robbie Harrington was part of the original lineup and played on the debut CD; then electric bassist Deaderick stepped in. Starry Gazey Pie garnered airplay on stations like Boston's WFNX and L.A.'s KCRW and critical kudos from the press. For a time, the self-pressed disc was so hard to find that original copies were fetching premium prices on eBay. High Society began to circulate in a similar fashion, but a tour with Guster and lots of local gigs, praised by publications like Nashville Scene, brought the group a wider following and a record deal.
The Silver Seas cram a lot into the 35-or-so minutes of High Society and even offer, with "Broadway Lights," a slightly wistful but nonetheless happy ending – for now. Stay tuned for the next episode. -- Michael Hill
For more information, please contact Samantha Tillman at samantha@tellallyourfriendspr.com
I'm the One
The Silver Seas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the one with flowers
In your pretty hair
You're the one who pretends
You don't really care
When I know, I know you do
Because…
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I move on off your mind
And when I see you
Oh I could still see you mo-oh-ore
Each night when I go out
You're the one I hope will walk in the door
I know you will because…
(Because…)
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I move on off your mind
There may be other guys
They may tell pretty lies
They don't know you…
They don't know you like I do
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your---(always be)---your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I move on off your mind
The Silver Seas's song "I'm the One" is a love song about a man who is in love with a woman who he believes doesn't care about him as much as he does about her. The first few lines talk about how the woman is wearing flowers in her hair and tries to pretend that she doesn't care, but the man knows that she does. He then goes on to say that he's the one who loves her, and he's always waiting for her, even though there may be other guys who may tell pretty lies. He believes that he knows her better than anyone else.
The chorus repeats the same lines over and over again, emphasizing the man's love for the woman and how he'll always be there for her. The bridge talks about how he sees her every night and hopes that she'll walk in the door. He says that he knows she will because he's the one who loves her.
Overall, "I'm the One" is a song about unrequited love and how the man is willing to wait for the woman he loves no matter what. He believes that he's the only one who truly understands her and loves her for who she is.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the one with flowers
You're the one with the beauty that flows effortlessly
In your pretty hair
Your appearance never fails to impress
You're the one who pretends
You're the one who puts on a facade
You don't really care
Apathy is what you seem to show
When I know, I know you do
From your actions, I can tell you care
Because…
The reason for my belief is as follows
I'm the one who loves you
I'm the one whose heart beats for you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
Can't you see I'm always there for you?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who's always there for you, my love
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I'm the one who never gives up hope until
I move on off your mind
I can move out of your thoughts
And when I see you
When I catch a glimpse of you
Oh I could still see you mo-oh-ore
My infatuation with you never fades
Each night when I go out
Every time I step out
You're the one I hope will walk in the door
Your presence is what I yearn for
There may be other guys
Other men may try and pursue you
They may tell pretty lies
They may use smooth words to deceive you
They don't know you…
They don't truly understand you
They don't know you like I do
For I know you beyond your external facades
I'm the one who loves you
I'm the one who loves you unconditionally
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
Can't you see I'm always here for you?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who stands by you for eternity
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I'm the one who never lets go of my faith until
I move on off your mind
You are no longer on my mind
I'm the one who loves you
I'm the one who loves you wholeheartedly
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
Can't you see my intense devotion to you?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your---(always be)---your guy
I'm the one who always supports you, my darling
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I…
I'm the one who never loses hope until
I move on off your mind
You are no longer in my mind
Writer(s): Daniel Keyes Tashian
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jevenbryan3381
You're the one with flowers
In your pretty hair
You're the one who pretends
You don't really care
When I know, I know you do
Because...
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I...
I move on off your mind
And when I see you
Oh I could still see you mo-oh-ore
Each night when I go out
You're the one I hope will walk in the door
I know you will because...
(Because...)
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I...
I move on off your mind
There may be other guys
They may tell pretty lies
They don't know you...
They don't know you like I do
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your guy
I'm the one who loves you
Can'tcha tell I'm always waiting in your line?
I'm the one who's here for you baby you know I'll always be your---(always be)---your guy
I'm the one who won't ever stop believing until I...
I move on off your mind
Source: Musixmatch
@FranciscoAlmeida991
I just found this band and i'm completly speechless... i just end up listening your all albuns and you cannot imagine how much it says to me... i feel so blessed to found them. Or maybe they found me... if you guys read this comment one day i just want you to know thank you so much! For everything!! Greetings from Portugal 💙
@sizingibitorunun..4627
same feelings ❤️
@bsidemuzic
Yes!! The same here. Heard this song while shopping—but isn’t that how it always happens—at the most unexpected moments.
@celtcry78
Love that this was filmed at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville. Love you guys hope to catch you again soon at The Basement. ❤
@reckonerstar9172
Alaska the album is brilliant great tone all the way through
@jeffarredondo
So I'm a long time fan of The Silver Seas from Austin, Texas (love the album BTW). I'm visiting my father in Nashville, Tennessee and I show him this video and he tells me, "That's Opry Mills Mall". Next thing you know, I'm eating at Johnny Rockets and riding the carousel! I'm heading back to Austin, so that's probably the closest I'll get to Daniel Tashian and The Silver Seas! Thank for the awesome tunes!
@johnchristiancaldwell4403
Love the sweet natured theme here. Coupled with the vocal and guitar stylings of Daniel Tashian, we can't loose!
@MortezaAlavizadeh
One of my absolute favorite The Silver Seas' songs. Feels amazing to listen to
@deborahanderson871
Longtime fan, can't wait for "Alaska"!
@jefrossman3858
Greetings Deborah..👋👋