They prefer the sound of vintage musical instruments, particularly the upright piano, and have often recorded at Marcata Recording, a recording studio built in Harlem in 1999 by the three former members of Jonathan Fire*Eater and later relocated to upstate New York.
Each of the members of The Walkmen grew up in and around the Washington, D.C. area, played in many of the same bands from early in their careers, and even attended the same Washington-area high school. The bandmates eventually moved to Harlem and became a part of the burgeoning New York City rock scene.
The band was formed in 2000 following the breakup of two separate bands: Jonathan Fire*Eater, whose members included Martin, Maroon and Barrick, and The Recoys, whose members included Leithauser and Bauer. The three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater, which had recorded for Dreamworks Records, had money left over from that past recording contract and used the remaining funds to construct a rehearsal space in uptown New York. The rehearsal space featured a 24-track recording studio and was dubbed Marcata Studios.
The newly-formed band, who wished to distance themselves from the garage rock sounds of previous bands, released a self-titled EP of songs in 2001 on Startime International, a small Brooklyn-based record label.[4] Shortly after release of the EP, which featured an eccentric blend of upright pianos and other vintage instruments, The Walkmen made their official live debut with a performance at Joe's Pub in the East Village.
The 2002 debut album Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone, released by Startime, was well received by critics. The album was noted for its innovative approach to atmosphere and instrumentation, with sparse bass and drums complemented by plinking piano, jangly guitars and Leithauser's unique vocal stylings. Two of the songs on the album, "The Blizzard of '96" and "That's the Punchline," were adaptations of tracks meant for The Recoys' unreleased full-length album.
Angela Surf City
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Angela, what's the difference?
Today's a day like any other
Still the flags snap in the wind
Still your name rings true
You took the high road
You kept your jaw wired closed
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Still the white caps roll away
Still your name rings true
Mine is yours, yours is yours
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Let's go home happy again
Just take your head from your hands
Take up the cause just once more
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Back to school
Back to work
Can this go on forever?
Angela, what's the difference?
Life goes on all around you
The Walkmen's song Angela Surf City is a contemplative and introspective piece that explores themes of regret, nostalgia, and the inevitability of change. The opening lines, "Angela holds a grudge over nothing, Angela, what's the difference?" sets the tone of the song, painting a picture of a character who is unwilling to let go of past grievances. The singer seems to be reflecting on their own past mistakes, and how they may have missed opportunities and lost love. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing for a simpler time, when life was more carefree and exciting.
The second verse continues the theme of missed opportunities, with the lines "I used to see the sights, now I dream of the time, I was holding onto you, for a lack of anything to do." Here, the singer seems to be reflecting on a relationship that they may have taken for granted, and how they wish they had held onto it tighter. The chorus of the song, "Still your name rings true, mine is yours, yours is yours, life goes on all around you," seems to be a recognition that life moves on, and that we can't hold onto the past forever.
Overall, Angela Surf City is a poignant and thoughtful exploration of regret and nostalgia, set against a backdrop of dreamy guitars and haunting vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Angela holds a grudge over nothing
Despite having no reason to, Angela is angry or resentful towards someone or something.
Angela, what's the difference?
A rhetorical question asked to Angela, questioning the significance or importance of something.
Today's a day like any other
The day being referenced is not particularly unique or special in any way.
Still reflexed and in the wind
An object or person, in this case Angela, is still able to move or operate, despite the natural force of wind.
Still your name rang true
Despite the passage of time, Angela's name still carries its original meaning, value, or impact.
You took the high road
Angela chose to take the morally right, respectable, or dignified course of action in a situation.
I couldn't find you, up there
The singer was unable to locate Angela, who had taken the 'high road' or righteous path.
You kept your jaw wide and closed
Angela remained steadfast, silent, or resolved in a particular situation.
I never noticed before
The artist had not previously considered or realized Angela's actions or behavior under these circumstances.
I used to see the sights
The artist once had a sense of awe, wonder, or appreciation for the world and its experiences.
Now I dream of the time
The singer's current reality is unfulfilling or lacks direction, causing them to reminisce about past moments.
I was holding onto you
In an effort to combat boredom or pass the time, the artist found themselves clinging onto Angela.
For a lack of anything to do
Without any clear or specific purpose or goal, the singer found temporary solace in being around Angela.
Still the wake has rolled away
Despite the turbulent or chaotic situations that have come and gone, there is an underlying sense of calmness or stability.
Mine is yours, yours is yours
A sense of sharing, partnership, or codependency between the singer and Angela.
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Despite personal hardships or challenges, the world and its events continue to move forward without pause or concern for the individual.
Let's go up highbeam again
A desire to return to a moment of clarity, focus, or ambition, represented by the 'highbeam' metaphor.
Just take your head from your hands
A plea or request to stop worrying or stressing about an issue or situation.
Take up the cause, just once more
A demand to reengage in a particular effort or objective, despite previous setbacks or failures.
Back to school, back to work
A reference to the cyclical or monotonous nature of life, returning to familiar routines or responsibilities.
Can this go on forever?
A realization that life's routines or patterns may persist indefinitely, leading to a feeling of existential dread or malaise.
Angela, what's the difference?
A rhetorical question asked to Angela, questioning the significance or importance of something, as if to say that nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things.
Life goes on all around you.
Despite personal struggles or disillusionment, the world and its events continue to occur and progress without concern for the individual.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: James Hamilton Leithauser, Matthew Frederick Barrick, Paul C Maroon, Peter M Bauer, Walter R Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SA-nx7mt
Angela holds a grudge over nothing
Angela, what's the difference?
Today's a day like any other
Still reflexed and in the wind
Still your name rang true
You took the high road
I couldn't find you, up there
You kept your jaw wide and closed
I never noticed before
I used to see the sights
Now I dream of the time
I was holding onto you
For a lack of anything to do
Still the wake has rolled away
Still your name rings true
Mine is yours, yours is yours
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Let's go up highbeam again
Just take your head from your hands
Take up the cause, just once more
I never noticed before
I used to see the sights
Now I dream of the time
I was holding onto you
For a lack of anything to do
Back to school, back to work
Can this go on forever?
Angela, what's the difference?
Life goes on all around you.
@2lefThumbs
@@Scwibbles91you might like this alternative take that I found on the internet that agrees more with the lyrics I hear then👍:
"Angela holds a grudge over nothing
Angela, what's the difference?
Today's a day like any other
Still the flags snap in the wind
Still your name rings true
You took the high road
I couldn't find you up there
You kept your jaw wired closed
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Still the white caps roll away
Still your name rings true
Mine is yours, yours is yours
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Let's go home happy again
Just take your head from your hands
Take up the cause just once more
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Back to school
Back to work
Can this go on forever?
Angela, what's the difference?
Life goes on all around you"
@SA-nx7mt
Angela holds a grudge over nothing
Angela, what's the difference?
Today's a day like any other
Still reflexed and in the wind
Still your name rang true
You took the high road
I couldn't find you, up there
You kept your jaw wide and closed
I never noticed before
I used to see the sights
Now I dream of the time
I was holding onto you
For a lack of anything to do
Still the wake has rolled away
Still your name rings true
Mine is yours, yours is yours
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Let's go up highbeam again
Just take your head from your hands
Take up the cause, just once more
I never noticed before
I used to see the sights
Now I dream of the time
I was holding onto you
For a lack of anything to do
Back to school, back to work
Can this go on forever?
Angela, what's the difference?
Life goes on all around you.
@Scwibbles91
Love people who post the lyrics so I can sing along +1
@2lefThumbs
@@Scwibbles91you might like this alternative take that I found on the internet that agrees more with the lyrics I hear then👍:
"Angela holds a grudge over nothing
Angela, what's the difference?
Today's a day like any other
Still the flags snap in the wind
Still your name rings true
You took the high road
I couldn't find you up there
You kept your jaw wired closed
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Still the white caps roll away
Still your name rings true
Mine is yours, yours is yours
Life goes on, life goes on all around you
Let's go home happy again
Just take your head from your hands
Take up the cause just once more
I never noticed before
I used to see the signs
Now I dream of the time
I was holding on to you
For a lack of anything to do
Back to school
Back to work
Can this go on forever?
Angela, what's the difference?
Life goes on all around you"
@thomashobbes1870
Is no one going to mention how insane this drummer is?
@sj205
Thomas Hobbes insanely good? Or simply insane? Cuz I've heard muuchh better drummers
@austinjobe4966
You just did.
@lnb29
hobbes had to come back to life to post that most necessary comment
@-Datura-
Mental stuff. Dave Grohl with Queens of the Stone Age live in Amsterdam tops it in my humble opinion. But this shit is well wicked. What a fucking beautiful song. Don't get many of these anymore. Peace and rock!
@luislozano6332
I mean, it's not bad but not like impressibly good
@graceridge
seven psychopaths...what a film 😍 this scene in particular blew me away as soon as he shot that gun I was captivated