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.
Canadian Girl
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the night
I was the only one left at the right time
And only I still call you mine
Only I'm still hanging on
Blown by strong wind, here we fear
So, take my hand
The players in the band
They can always find
Always find some number that we know
You'll miss me when I'm gone
But the happy music will carry on
You are the morning
I am the night
I was the only one left at the right time
And only I still call you mine
Only I'm still hanging on
The Walkmen's song "Canadian Girl" is a melancholic yet mesmerizing ballad about holding onto a love that has slipped away. The song opens with a simple yet profound contrast between the two lovers, with the singer identifying himself as the night, dark and full of mystery, and his lover as the morning, fresh and filled with light. He then goes on to lament being the only one left, implying that his lover has already moved on. However, he is unable to let go and continues to hold onto what they once had. The repeated line "Only I'm still hanging on" echoes his desperation to keep their love alive.
The chorus, "You'll miss me when I'm gone, but the happy music will carry on," illustrates the inevitability of change and the passing of time. The singer acknowledges that their relationship may not last, but he still wants their memories to live on, even if he's no longer a part of them. The song's bridge features a more upbeat tempo, with the singer urging his lover to take his hand and join in the music. Despite their differences and the pain of separation, they can still find common ground in the music they share.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the morning
You represent a new beginning, a fresh start.
I am the night
I represent the darkness and uncertainty that comes after the day has ended.
I was the only one left at the right time
I was the only one who was there for you when you needed someone the most, and that's why I still feel like we have a connection.
And only I still call you mine
Despite everything that's happened, I still feel like you belong to me and no one else.
Only I'm still hanging on
I'm holding onto the past and the memories of what we once had, and I can't seem to let go.
Blown by strong wind, here we fear
We're both afraid of what the future holds and uncertain about where we're headed in life.
All that you said to me is still so very clear
The words you spoke to me still resonate with me and I can't seem to forget them.
So, take my hand
Let me be there for you and help guide you through the uncertainties of life.
The players in the band
The people around us who are playing their own roles in our lives and influencing us in their own ways.
They can always find
They're always searching for something, whether it's happiness, love, or just a sense of purpose.
Always find some number that we know
They always seem to find some common ground with us, even if it's just a shared experience or memory.
You'll miss me when I'm gone
You'll realize what you've lost when I'm no longer there for you, and you'll regret not holding onto what we once had.
But the happy music will carry on
Life will continue, even after we've parted ways, and there will still be moments of joy and happiness to be found.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: MATT BARRICK, PETER BAUER, HAMILTON LEITHAUSER, WALTER MARTIN, PAUL MAROON, MATTHEW FREDERICK BARRICK, PETER M. BAUER, JAMES HAMILTON LEITHAUSER, PAUL C. MAROON, WALTER R. MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@polishpunk911
this is the album i listen to while looking out at the snow falling. this song especially.
@tribalist82
have loved this band for a while, got to see them live at lee's in toronto, blew me away , my friend got tobe in their horn section for a part of their tour.love it, this song has single handedly helped me remember a past girl in an extremely positive light ( and yes, she was actually canadian) whom i left as i left the country. brilliant
@sloopjonboswell
Absolutely beautiful song.
@thrasymachus91
It is beautiful music. Everyone discovers it differently. That is part of what makes it beautiful. Relax and enjoy.
@jamiethesillyperson
You And Me is not only The Walkmen's best album, it is one of the best albums anyone has ever done. Very cathartic. Stunningly beautiful.
@MrDVNNY
I fucking miss these together, i remember when i first discovered them through this album back in high school, things were perfect back then, or at least the memories of it were
@bowpet6574
Lovely tune
@lukascarpenter5424
If I ever get married, this the one
@ErnyGh3
It's thanks to HIMYM that I discovered this band..
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Good to know there's much more great music out there that we haven't heard and all we need is a little push to find them.
@charlottepaulflattastic784
beautiful