The Thermals' sixth LP and debut for Saddle Creek, Desperate Ground, was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in Hoboken, NJ. Agnello and The Thermals completed the record and evacuated the studio just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, a fate quite fitting when you consider the product. Desperate Ground is a true scrappy and scratchy return-to-form for The Thermals, with all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP's so insanely enjoyable. Lyrically, Desperate Ground is a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death. A dark and yet joyous affair, Desperate Ground tells the (murky) tale of a lone rogue in the night. One man, one path, one sword. An unceasing urge to destroy. A never-ending battle against the forces of nature. A destiny impossible to avoid.
In early 2013 The Thermals signed to Saddle Creek, a label they've known and admired for many years. The Thermals and Saddle Creek have a long history of sleeping on floors together: The Thermals have toured with Cursive and Ladyfinger, and Hutch and Kathy organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland way back in 1999.
The Thermals were most famous for turning down $50,000 from Hummer, discovering the elusive fourth chord in punk rock (F#m) and for soundtracking that scene in Weeds where Mary-Louise Parker jumps in the pot-filled pool in her underwear.
The Thermals announced they were splitting in April 2018.
The Thermals lineup was Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass.
You Changed My Life
The Thermals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You proved me wrong
You taught me everything I thought I knew all along
You changed my life
You set me free
From everything I never really wanted to be
You changed my life
you pulled me to the will that I was dreaming of
You changed my life
You made me see
How everything I ever knew was gone
But still I held on
I was holding on
It was all I could do
Now when I'm cold
Now when I hold
I hold onto you
You changed my life
You proved me right
Provided every sky, every day, every light
You changed my life
You own my heart
You roar it to shreds, you tore it apart
And it's so hard to be alone
After the heat I felt, after the love I've known
You changed my life
You made me see
Now everything I ever knew was gone
But still I hold on
Yeah, I'm holding on
It's all I can do
Now when I'm cold
Now when I hold
I hold onto you
The Thermals' song "You Changed My Life" is about the profound effect that another person can have on one's life. The lyrics describe how this person has changed the singer's life in multiple ways - they taught them things they thought they already knew, set them free from the things they didn't want to be, built them up, and made them see that everything they thought they knew was wrong. The person being sung about has also torn apart the singer's heart, which is now owned by them, but despite the pain, they still hold on to them because they have changed their life so much.
The song can be interpreted in a few different ways, one of which is that it is about a romantic relationship. The lyrics suggest that the person being sung about has been a positive force in the singer's life, but has also caused them a great deal of pain. It's possible that the relationship was tumultuous, but even so, the singer still holds onto them because of the profound way they have changed their life. Alternatively, the song could also be interpreted as being about a mentor or friend who has had a significant impact on the singer's life.
Overall, "You Changed My Life" is a powerful song about the way that another person can shape and influence our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You changed my life
The person being sung to has had a significant impact on the singer's life
You proved me wrong
The person being sung to showed the singer that they were incorrect about a previously held belief or assumption
You taught me everything I thought I knew all along
The person being sung to corrected the singer's understanding of a particular topic or situation, which had been previously misunderstood
You set me free
The person being sung to helped the singer break free from something that was holding them back, such as a toxic relationship or a negative mindset
From everything I never really wanted to be
The thing that the person being sung to helped the singer break free from was something that the singer did not truly desire or value
You built me up
The person being sung to helped the singer become a better version of themselves
You pulled me to the will that I was dreaming of
The person being sung to helped the singer achieve a goal or dream that they had previously thought was unattainable
You made me see
The person being sung to helped the singer gain a new perspective or understanding of something important
How everything I ever knew was gone
The new perspective or understanding provided by the person being sung to completely changed the singer's previously held beliefs or convictions
But still I held on
Despite the significant changes in the singer's life, they remained committed to the person being sung to and the positive impact they had made
It was all I could do
The singer was so grateful for the positive impact that the person being sung to had made, that they felt they could do nothing else but hold on and continue to appreciate their influence
Now when I'm cold
During times when the singer feels vulnerable or alone
Now when I hold
During times when the singer seeks comfort or stability
I hold onto you
The person being sung to is a constant source of comfort and stability for the singer, even during difficult times
You proved me right
The person being sung to affirmed the singer's beliefs or convictions about something important
Provided every sky, every day, every light
The person being sung to brought beauty and positivity into the singer's life, which they appreciated deeply
You own my heart
The person being sung to holds a special place in the singer's life and is deeply loved and valued
You roar it to shreds, you tore it apart
The person being sung to has had a profound impact on the singer's heart and emotions, which have been transformed by their influence
And it's so hard to be alone
The singer struggles to be without the person being sung to, given the positive impact they have had on their life
After the heat I felt, after the love I've known
The singer has experienced a powerful emotional connection with the person being sung to, which they cherish and seek to hold onto
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: HUTCH HARRIS, KATHLEEN MICHELLE FOSTER, WESTIN SHANE GLASS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind