While in-between Afghan Whigs albums and amidst a dispute with their record label, Elektra, Dulli recorded demos for the act with friends and collaborators Shawn Smith (Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed) and Harold "Happy" Chichester (Royal Crescent Mob, Howlin' Maggie) in New Orleans. The demos have an exceptionally dark, tense, and New Orleans-flavored groove and swagger. As a result of The Afghan Whigs' label troubles, it is debated that Elektra leaked the demo tapes as they were widely circulated in the trader circuit.
The Afghan Whigs settled their dispute with Elektra and signed with Sony/Columbia in April 1998. Columbia optioned The Twilight Singers recordings; but preferred to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead. The Afghan Whigs' swan song 1965 was released in October 1998 to wide critical acclaim. The band toured for one year in support of the album but decided to disband in February 2001.
2000 saw Greg Dulli revive The Twilight Singers, reworking the original leaked demos with dance producers and remix auteurs Fila Brazillia. The final product was a mix of southern trumpet, Midwest idealism, and UK big beat, all masking a solemn dirge of life's transformation to death. Columbia released the album as Twilight as Played by the Twilight Singers in September 2000. The band toured with members of Howlin' Maggie and former Afghan Whigs' drummer, Michael Horrigan, on bass.
Dulli took time off following the short tour for Twilight.., investing in a bar in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began working on the follow up for Twilight.. tentatively titled Amber Headlights. The death of Dulli's friend, director Ted Demme in January 2002, forced him to shelve the project, and he took a second leave from writing and recording. After reading the Jack London book Martin Eden, and experiencing an earthquake, Dulli set about writing the concept album that became Blackberry Belle.
Working with a large cast of performers, including former Prince protégé Apollonia and former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan, Blackberry Belle became a rolling expose' of the dark side of love and loss, a familiar topic revisited from former Afghan Whigs albums like Black Love. The critics welcomed Dulli's return and were eager to give his second album, independently financed and released through One Little Indian in October 2003, high marks.
A second touring version of The Twilight Singers including Jon Skibic (guitars), Scott Ford (bass) and Bobby Macintyre (drums), made two legs through the United States and Europe in 2003 and 2004.
August 2004, the band released their third album, She Loves You, a collection of cover songs from artists as varied as Fleetwood Mac, Mary J. Blige, and George Gershwin.
September 2005, Dulli finally released his formerly shelved Amber Headlights on his own Infernal Recordings label through his official website thetwilightsingers.com as his first solo album while working on his fourth Twilight Singers' album titled Powder Burns.
Dulli is also the other member of the duo called The Gutter Twins with Mark Lanegan who released their album entitled Saturnalia.
A third touring version of The Twilight Singers including Dave Rosser (guitars), Scott Ford (bass), singer/songwriter Jeff Klein (keys) and Bobby Macintyre (drums), played at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX at the venue Friends (208 E 6th St) on March 16th to debut tracks from Powder Burns. Mark Lanegan also currently tours with the group.
The Twilight Singers released Powder Burns on May 16, 2006 supported by United States and European tours.
On January 3, 2007, The Twilight Singers made their television debut on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show, performing their song "Forty Dollars" from Powder Burns. The band was joined by friend and musician Joseph Arthur on guitar and vocals.
In 2011 they released the full length album "Dynamite Steps".
www.thetwilightsingers.com/
Teenage Wristband
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ride then-
I did- and I loved it-
Say you don't want to be here,
Leave then-
Time comes , to get gone
Say good morning to another set
Of creature
You want to go for a ride?
I got sixteen hours to burn
And i'm gonna stay up all night-
Tell your mama fever come
Back again
Look what you started-
And break it eazy to your boyfriend
She said-
You want to go for a ride?
I got thirteen hours to burn
And i'm gonna stay up all night
She said-she said
You want to go for a ride?
I got no more money to burn
And i'm gonna stay up all night-
The Twilight Singers' song Teenage Wristband is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on youth and the desire for freedom. The opening lines, "You say you want to go there, Ride then- / I did- and I loved it-" suggest that the singer has already gone on an adventure and encourages the listener to do the same, implying that there is a sense of liberation and excitement to be found in travel and exploration. However, the subsequent lines indicate a sense of restlessness and dislocation: "Say you don't want to be here, Leave then- / Time comes, to get gone / Say good morning to another set / Of creature / My dear, I'm gone-she said-"
Line by Line Meaning
You say you want to go there, Ride then-
If you want to go somewhere, then let's go there together
I did- and I loved it-
I have been there before and I enjoyed it
Say you don't want to be here, Leave then-
If you don't want to be in this particular place, then you should just leave
Time comes , to get gone
The time has come to leave this place
Say good morning to another set Of creature
Greet the new day and its possibilities
My dear, I'm gone-she said-
My dear, I'm leaving now, she said
You want to go for a ride? I got sixteen hours to burn And i'm gonna stay up all night-
Do you want to go for a long drive? I have plenty of time to spend and I plan on staying awake all night
Tell your mama fever come Back again Look what you started- And break it eazy to your boyfriend She said-
Tell your mother that I am back and ready to have some fun. Look at what you have started and tell your boyfriend about it in a gentle manner, she said
You want to go for a ride? I got thirteen hours to burn And i'm gonna stay up all night
Do you want to go for a long drive? I have plenty of time to spend and I plan on staying awake all night
She said-she said
This conversation happened between two people
You want to go for a ride? I got no more money to burn And i'm gonna stay up all night-
Do you want to go for a long drive? I don't have any more money to spend, but I plan on staying awake all night
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREG DULLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Thompson
The abandon, the recklessness and being carefree. When love and a lust for life just take over and you need to escape and be with the one you love. To get back to who you are and what it is to live.
I don't know if that's what the song is about but it's what i think of when i listen. I love it.
Ryan DeVoe
Go with it. It sounds good to me.
Steve Taylor
Excellent. I'm in!!!
Kristen Garren
I posted this on my Facebook timeline and The Afghan Whigs actually liked it!!! Greg Dulli you rock !!
Ross Heathorn
This song takes me back . Love it I got money to burn and I'm going to be up all night 🌙
cloud [b]
This song just makes me remember driving around town with my dad when I was young and just singing this song with him this song makes me happy and sad at the same time
Camilo Contreras
Your dad is gone.
Camilo Contreras
My dad is not.
Watered Milk
Remember that those times with your dad weren't just unique to your age.
Those memories were not only a euphoric time for you in your younger age, but also for your father. These feelings you are wishing to feel again one day can be experienced right around the corner, at your leisure. You just have to be willing to let yourself roll those windows down and let go of all the problems.
Your problems won't go anywhere, they'll come and go. But right now, just have fun and deal with them when they come; do not worry about them before they appear in reality.
FABSISTERS
Amazing act, fantastic talent nice show, Amazing!