The band started up by playing a couple of gigs at the 13th Note in Glasgow, creating half hour-long pieces of music using guitars, bass, drums, theremin, tape loops from films and old folk/country songs, effects pedals, toy keyboards, thumb pianos, saws, computer games, and a lot of noise, in an attempt to try and discover a sound they could call their own and continue to develop. After these two shows, they rejected many gig offers, and became a more reclusive unit, spending any spare time they had in the studio focused on writing and sculpting away at new material.
In September 2005, they produced a 4-song demo with a 24-track desk, trying to get the best representation as possible, sent it over to Brighton-based Fat Cat Records. Alex Knight, co-founder of the label, went to Glasgow to watch the band perform their third gig and signed them on the spot. In November 2006, they made their first official release with The Twilight Sad, a US-only EP that helped bring attention to the band, as well as performances at CMJ '06 and SXSW '07 Festivals.
Their debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, was recorded over a short period of three days and featured the first songs the band had ever created. It received good critical reception from the independent music media and turned the band into a reference point for the up-and-coming scottish indie scene at the time. Where the band’s recorded sound is layered with many melodies, their live sound is a more intense experience which replaces the intricacies of the recordings with a more visceral wall of sound, which is something the band intended to do all along.
In June 2008, they released the Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did EP, which included off-the-cuff reworkings of songs from the debut album, alongside the title track and a cover of Daniel Johnston, an artist they've cited as one of their main influences. The idea came about after the band played at London's Union Chapel, a venue with noise restrictions that forced them to perform with a more basic line-up of a fan organ, glockenspiel and percussion. During this time, the band recruited Martin "Dok" Docherty (formerly of Aereogramme) to play keyboards and additional guitar during the live shows. At the end of 2008, they released Killed My Parents and Hit the Road, a compilation to help fund their tour with fellow scots Mogwai. It consisted of live recordings, acoustic tracks, previously unreleased material, new demos and covers, which included The Smiths, Joy Division and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Their second album, Forget The Night Ahead, was released in September 2009. For the recording process, the band disposed of their effect pedals and experimented with natural reverb using early krautrock techniques, like mic'ing up inside the studio walls and rooms on the other side of the building to get the drum sound. During this time, original bassist Craig Orzel left the band to pursue other projects. He was replaced in the live setting by Johnny Docherty of Take a Worm for a Walk Week. A year later the band released The Wrong Car EP that featured two b-sides from the 'Forget' sessions as well as remixes by fellow Scottish acts Mogwai and Errors.
The release of their third album No One Can Ever Know saw the band pursue a change in style, virtually eliminating delayed guitars and relying on vintage analog synthesizers instead. The album was recorded in February/March 2011 at The Pool studios in London and featured production assistance by Andrew Weatherall.
In Nowheres
The Twilight Sad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Street lights go out in the fight
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Do you, Do you
I'll get you outside
I'll get you outside
Tell me when you're gone
You'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever see
Let him go
Let him go
Outside they say you're alright
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
So tell me where you go
So tell me where you go
They'll tell me when you're gone
They'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever need
Let him go
Let him go
No more nightmares
No more nightmares
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
The song portrays a sense of protectiveness and possessiveness towards someone. The opening lines depict the contrast between the outside world's perception of the person and the singer's perception of them. While the outside world might believe that the person is alright, the singer is more in tune with the individual's struggles and intends to hold onto them throughout the night.
The refrain "I don't know" might indicate uncertainty or confusion about the situation or the singer's feelings towards the person. However, their desire to keep the individual safe and close is clear. The lines "I'll get you outside" and "They won't find me, I'm all you'll ever see" emphasize how the singer intends to protect the person and keep them hidden from the world.
The repeated phrase "Let him go" might suggest that there is someone else the person is attached to, and the singer is struggling with the idea of letting them go. It could also indicate the singer's desire to release the person from their own protective grip, allowing them to be free.
Overall, the song captures the emotions of love, protectiveness, possessiveness, confusion, and struggle to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside they say you're alright
Despite what others may think, I know you're not alright.
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
Even though you may feel alone, I'm here with you and I will comfort you throughout the night.
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I feel uncertain and unsure about what's happening.
Street lights go out in the fight
Things can quickly turn from light to dark, and from peaceful to chaotic.
Do you, Do you
Are you with me? Do you understand?
I'll get you outside
I'll help you escape and find freedom from whatever may be weighing you down.
Tell me when you're gone
Please don't disappear without letting me know.
They won't find me
I'll stay hidden and protect you from those who may want to do you harm.
I'm all you'll ever see
I'll be the light in the darkness, the beacon of hope that you can rely on.
Let him go
Release the negative thoughts and emotions that may be holding you back.
So tell me where you go
Allow me to understand your thoughts and feelings, to share your burdens.
They'll tell me when you're gone
I trust that you'll let me know when you need me, when you may be feeling lost or alone.
I'm all you'll ever need
I'll be your rock, your anchor, your strength when you feel weak.
No more nightmares
I promise to protect you from any danger or fear, to provide a space of peace and comfort.
Let him go
Release any negative memories or experiences that may be holding you down.
You know you won't
Despite your doubts and fears, I know you're strong enough to let go and move forward.
Let him go
Keep releasing those negative emotions and experiences, focus on the positive and bright future ahead.
Let him go
Let go of anything negative from the past, allow yourself to be free and happy.
Writer(s): Andy Macfarlane, James Alexander Graham
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shannahtheninjaneko6927
Outside they say you're alright
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Street lights go out in the fight
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Do you, Do you
I'll get you outside
I'll get you outside
Tell me when you're gone
You'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever see
Let him go
Let him go
Outside they say you're alright
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
So tell me where you go
So tell me where you go
They'll tell me when you're gone
They'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever need
Let him go
Let him go
No more nightmares
No more nightmares
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
@1105Leni
Outside they say you're alright
But you're mine and I'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Street lights go out in the fight
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
Do you, Do you
I'll get you outside
I'll get you outside
Tell me when you're gone
You'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever see
Let him go
Let him go
Outside they say you're alright
But you're mine and i'll hold you all night
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
So tell me where you go
So tell me where you go
They'll tell me when you're gone
They'll tell me when you're gone
They won't find me
I'm all you'll ever need
Let him go
Let him go
No more nightmares
No more nightmares
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
Let him go
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
You know you won't
Let him go
@LiliDublin
on of my favourite ones on the album. I ADORE this song.
@kev77394
yeah either this song or the next/title track which sounds a lilttle like my bloody valentine which is a good idea. amazing band fucking love em
@kaylagarcia1511
@Kev H z7
@kaylagarcia1511
@Kev H x
@kaylagarcia1511
@Kev H to x thx I'll TTY 7xx
@Onmysheet
This is their best album since their debut.
@inkbandgr
one of the best bands out there!
@suesutton9226
I totally agree, they are now one of my favourite bands for sure
@FRANCESGUM
Just discovered this dreamy band when I learned they'll be opening for The Cure on their 2016 tour!!!! I was thinking, damn, they must be pretty damn good to hold a spot like that!!!
@TheUnQuake
they were great live. hadnt heard them before i saw them open for the cure