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.
Revenge Wears No Wristwatch
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tell her I say.
I've heard it all before, I've had it up to here.
Such a mess, I am.
You say, somethings wrong.
This Kind of life style doesn't work.
I'm trying something else.
That's okay, okay, okay.
I've heard it all before, I've had it up to here.
Such a shame, such a shame, such a shame.
The Walkmen's song "Revenge Wears No Wristwatch" is a poignant and emotional exploration of the theme of anger and its effects on the human psyche. The opening lines "Anger, anger, treats me hard. I tell her I say." speak to the singer's relationship with anger; the use of "her" personifies the emotion and highlights the singer's deep emotional attachment to it. The repeated phrase "I've heard it all before, I've had it up to here" further emphasizes the feelings of frustration and exhaustion that come with dealing with anger. The singer then refers to themselves as "such a mess," a fitting description of someone struggling to maintain control over their emotions.
The second verse begins with an observation from someone else: "You say, somethings wrong. This kind of lifestyle doesn't work." The singer responds with their intention to try something new, potentially indicating a desire to break free from the cycle of anger that they find themselves in. The refrain "That's okay, okay, okay," can be interpreted as the singer reassuring themselves that change is possible and that they don't need to be afraid of it. The final lines repeat the sentiment from the opening, "I've heard it all before, I've had it up to here," followed by "such a shame, such a shame, such a shame," suggesting that despite their best efforts, the singer is still struggling to overcome their anger and its negative impact on their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Anger, anger, treats me hard.
I am overwhelmed by my anger and it's affecting me negatively.
I tell her I say.
I express my feelings to someone, possibly seeking validation or support.
I've heard it all before, I've had it up to here.
I am tired of hearing the same thing over and over again and I can't take it anymore.
Such a mess, I am.
I feel chaotic and disorganized in my life, possibly due to the struggles I am facing.
You say, somethings wrong.
Someone is expressing concern about my wellbeing and can sense that something is not right.
This Kind of life style doesn't work.
I am realizing that my current way of living is not sustainable or fulfilling.
I'm trying something else.
I am making an effort to change my habits or approach to life.
For a change, for a change.
I am excited or hopeful for the positive effects that a change could bring.
That's okay, okay, okay.
I am reassuring myself or someone else that everything will be alright.
Such a shame, such a shame, such a shame.
I am disappointed or regretful about something, possibly a consequence of my actions or situation.
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