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.
If Only It Were True
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd go with you
If only it were true
I'd say I do
And all the things that we do
I could face today
If only it were true
My head is all full of dreams
It's nothin' new
But maybe dreamin' is all
A man can do
So, don't come callin' for me
'Cause, baby, my dream ain't through
And when, when I've had enough
Oh, well then I'll die in dreams of you
So, don't come callin' for me
'Cause, baby, my dream ain't through
And when, when I've had enough
Oh, well then I'll die in dreams of you
The Walkmen's song "If Only It Were True" is a poignant and wistful exploration of the power of love and dreams. The song's first verse expresses the desire to be with someone, even if it is just a fantasy. The second verse reveals that the singer's head is "all full of dreams," implying that this relationship may not even exist, at least not in reality. He finds solace in his dreams, declaring that he will "die in dreams of you." These lyrics suggest that the singer is lonely and searching for love, but has not yet found it in the real world. He is holding tight to his dreams, refusing to believe that love is unattainable.
The chorus, "If only it were true, I'd go with you," highlights the contrast between reality and fantasy. The singer wants to be with this person so badly that he is willing to imagine a different reality where they can be together. He is aware that it is just a fantasy, hence the repetition of the phrase "if only it were true." The final line, "I'd say I do," reinforces this notion of fantasy, as he imagines himself saying "I do" to a person who may not even exist.
Overall, "If Only It Were True" is a song about longing and the transformative power of dreams. It is a testament to the human desire for love and connection, even if it is just in our minds.
Line by Line Meaning
If only it were true
Expressing a desire for a certain outcome
I'd go with you
Willingness to join someone in their endeavors
I'd say I do
Commitment to a relationship
And all the things that we do
Facing challenges together
I could face today
Ability to tackle obstacles
And now, you love me too
Affirmation of mutual affection
My head is all full of dreams
Having a creative imagination
It's nothin' new
A common experience
But maybe dreamin' is all
Speculation about the purpose of life
A man can do
The limit of human potential
So, don't come callin' for me
Request to be left alone
'Cause, baby, my dream ain't through
Despite setbacks, still pursuing dreams
And when, when I've had enough
A possible breaking point
Oh, well then I'll die in dreams of you
Staying loyal to a loved one, even in death
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
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
postshanna
this song is so devastating but i'll never stop loving it
Johnny Guitar
man, thos guitar lines,,, they hook hook hook me,,, and teh voice, with FEEling, nice song,
Cheetah3000
In my top 10 all time for sure. Perfect melancholy
EMILYonair
2:09 - 2:39 absolutely genius
Calvin Rivera
The solo captures the.feelings words can't describe.
h0lden
I can't stop listening to this album.
blueconversechucks
Phenomenal, heartbreaking album. I wish I never heard it and I wish my life were completely different.
h0lden
+JJ It would've been nice if the band received the praise and success they deserved, but I'm happy to have this gem all to myself. :)
JJ
I got it a few months after it was released back in 2008 and I'm still not tired of it. It's probably in my top 5 favorite albums of all time, and I'm more of a harder rock fan like Queens of the Stone Age and Fugazi, but The Walkmen are still one of my favorite bands. I think it's a travesty this album isn't more popular and universally praised, but such is life...
SmashingFloyd
The only band I was lucky enough to see twice in a single day (Lollapalooza 2012 and Lincoln Hall in Chicago that night), they did not disappoint. For some crazy reason their music sounds even better since their break-up, err "extended hiatus". Here's hoping they will get back together soon, I miss them already. :(