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.
Seven Years Of Holidays
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world as we know it is round
Well, I've traveled so far and I'm worn
And I've lived in a suitcase for too long
Eugene, I'm lost
The whole world around us is too small
Seven years of holidays
Cafes, bars and sunny days
We ran around, banged our heads
Never felt no pain
I hope we'll find our peace some day
Until then these wild nights are no fun
My old friend
My old friend
Oh, some day when this darkness fades
We'll wed our girls and move away
We'll buy some land and build us homes
And no more will we stray
I've traveled so far
I'm done
Eugene, I'm lost
The Walkmen's "Seven Years Of Holidays" is a mournful and reflective song about feeling lost and adrift after a prolonged period of aimless wandering. Lead singer Hamilton Leithauser speaks directly to his friend Eugene, admitting that he's lost and tired of living out of a suitcase. He describes the world as round, and though he's traveled far, it feels like he's going in circles. The whole world feels too small, and he's been spending his time on endless holidays, drinking in cafes and bars, and soaking up sunny days, always on the move but never feeling any true joy.
Despite his exhaustion and longing for peace, Leithauser and Eugene can't seem to break free from their wild nights and restless ways. They've banged their heads and never felt any pain, but they're starting to feel the toll of a life without direction or purpose. The chorus is a plea for Eugene, or anyone, to help them find their way back to a more stable existence. They hope that one day the darkness will fade and they will be able to settle down, get married, and build homes away from the constant distractions of the world.
Overall, "Seven Years Of Holidays" is a melancholy meditation on the pitfalls of rootlessness and the desire for something more meaningful in life. Its dreamy, wistful soundscapes and poetic lyrics capture the feeling of being lost and yearning for a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Eugene, I'm lost
I feel directionless and uncertain about my path in life, Eugene.
The world as we know it is round
The limitations of our world are becoming more and more apparent to me, Eugene.
Well, I've traveled so far and I'm worn
I have been on a long journey, and the experiences I've had have taken a toll on me, Eugene.
And I've lived in a suitcase for too long
I have been living a transient lifestyle for an extended period of time, and I'm ready for a change, Eugene.
Seven years of holidays
We have spent a significant amount of time enjoying ourselves and taking breaks from the rigors of everyday life.
Cafes, bars and sunny days
We have filled our time with leisurely activities like visiting cafes and bars, and enjoying the outdoors on sunny days.
We ran around, banged our heads
We were carefree and reckless in our pursuits.
Never felt no pain
We were never bothered by the consequences of our actions.
I hope we'll find our peace some day
I hope to attain a sense of inner calm and fulfillment at some point in the future.
Until then these wild nights are no fun
In the meantime, engaging in reckless behavior no longer brings me enjoyment.
My old friend
You are someone with whom I have shared many experiences and memories, Eugene.
Oh, some day when this darkness fades
At some point in the future, the negative aspects of our lives will subside and things will become brighter.
We'll wed our girls and move away
We will get married and leave behind our current way of life.
We'll buy some land and build us homes
We will plant roots and create a stable, permanent existence for ourselves.
And no more will we stray
We will no longer lead a reckless and unsettled life, but will remain committed to our new path.
I've traveled so far
I have journeyed a great distance, both physically and emotionally.
I'm done
I'm ready to close this chapter of my life and move on to something new.
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
Geoff
whole album is incredible. everyone should hear it
yash joshi
Eugene, I'm lost
The world as we know it is round
Well, I've traveled so far and I'm worn
And I've lived in a suitcase for too long
Eugene, I'm lost
The whole world around us is too small
Seven years of holidays
Cafes, bars and sunny days
We ran around, banged our heads
Never felt no pain
I hope we'll find our peace someday
Until then, these wild nights are no fun
My old friend
My old friend
Oh, someday when this darkness fades
We'll wed our girls and move away
We'll buy some land and build us homes
And no more will we stray
I've traveled so far
I'm done
Eugene, I'm lost
Calvin Ramsey
Best Walkmen song
pirjopauli
Fantastische Musik!!! DAAANKE!!!! THANKS!!!!
Anthony González Miranda
I came here from Year of the Carnivore. This song is what made that movie have a happy ending.
Euphoric State
Agree with you 100% percent there.
Néstor Bellagamba
My OLD FRIEND!
Romain VanMoerbeke
Dead and/or Gone?
comitdinosaur9
this band is what The Beatles would be like if they had Bob Dylan for a singer ,instead of Paul McCarntge. ^u^