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.
Hang On Siobhan
The Walkmen Lyrics
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Promise to keep it
Between you and me
It's all just a dream man it's all just a dream
I've been up half the night so get off it or leave
We're singing a song we don't care if we're wrong, have a drink on each
Other, and call it a day
That's as good as it got
It's 4 in the morning the bars are unloading,
I go to the window and put down the shade
You're calling me back, yeah but that was no good,
I got tired of it
Day after day after day
So hang on Siobhan, you're a mystery to me but you don't hear me asking around
So hang on, we're coming on soon, it's so hard to get through to you
Hang on, we're coming on soon,
We're waiting to hear it from you
Hang on. hang on!
The Walkmen's "Hang On, Siobhan" is a song that delves into the complexities of a dysfunctional relationship. The lyrics touch on themes such as the struggle for communication and the acceptance of reality. The song's opening lines, "I'll be back tomorrow that is if you're here and you/ Promise to keep it/ Between you and me/ It's all just a dream man it's all just a dream," suggest that the singer is hesitant to make a commitment and is seeking reassurance from their partner.
As the song progresses, the singer and their partner seem to be at odds with each other. The line "You're calling me back, when the money is gone, that's all and for us," implies that the relationship is based on a transactional dynamic. The singer seems critical of this dynamic, but it's unclear whether they are willing to end the relationship. The chorus, "Hang on Siobhan, you're a mystery to me but you don't hear me asking around/ So hang on, we're coming on soon, it's so hard to get through to you," suggests that the singer is trying to hold onto the relationship despite the challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be back tomorrow that is if you're here and you
I'll come again tomorrow but only if you're present and ready to see me.
Promise to keep it
Agree to keep our conversation confidential.
Between you and me
Let's not involve anyone else.
It's all just a dream man it's all just a dream
Everything that happened seems unreal and imaginary.
I've been up half the night so get off it or leave
I'm tired and frustrated, so you can either stop bothering me or leave.
We're singing a song we don't care if we're wrong, have a drink on each
We're singing a tune that might not be perfect, but let's just enjoy it with a drink.
Other, and call it a day
Let's end this for today.
You're calling me back, when the money is gone, that's all and for us
You only reach out to me when you need money from me.
That's as good as it got
That's the best our relationship has ever been.
It's 4 in the morning the bars are unloading,
It's early morning, and the bars are closing.
I go to the window and put down the shade
I close the window blind to shut out the outside world.
You're calling me back, yeah but that was no good,
You try to reconnect with me, but it's pointless.
I got tired of it
I'm fed up with this situation.
Day after day after day
This has been going on for too long.
So hang on Siobhan, you're a mystery to me but you don't hear me asking around
Hold on, Siobhan; you're still a puzzle to me, but I won't investigate further.
So hang on, we're coming on soon, it's so hard to get through to you
Wait a bit longer; we'll arrive shortly, but it's challenging to communicate with you.
We're waiting to hear it from you
We're patiently waiting for you to speak up.
Hang on. hang on!
Please wait; we're coming!
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