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.
Stranded
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll sing a song I know for thee
If you don't want me you can tell me
I'm the bigger man here oh it's true
You're all pretty now than the last time
But the words aren't coming through
And I'm stranded
And I'm starry-eyed
There's broken glass all around my feet
Laid my plan so carelessly
What's the story
With my old friends
Drunk and lonely
To the man
How I love 'em all
As the days slip by
And they're all following my lead
Oh why does the rain fall cold
When I'm stranded and I'm starry-eyed?
The Walkmen's song Stranded is a melancholic reflection on loneliness and the feeling of being lost. In the first verse, the singer pleads for attention, asking for someone to toss a coin his way to sing a song. He acknowledges that if his presence is not wanted, he understands that he can be dismissed. The bigger man is a reference to taking the high road, accepting rejection gracefully. The second line implies an invitation for camaraderie through music. The third and fourth line indicate that the singer's companions are not communicating as well as they did before, suggesting a sense of distance or lost connection. The chorus repeats the refrain that the singer is stranded and starry-eyed. The phrase "washed out of me" suggests an overwhelming feeling of being trapped.
The second verse speaks of broken glass on the floor, indicating chaos or damage of sorts. This line can also metaphorically represent the singer's life being a mess. The singer recalls older friends, drunk and lonely. He remembers appreciating their company and leadership; however, the days have gone by, and now they appear to follow him. The line "why does the rain fall cold" is symbolic of the singer's emotional state; perhaps he is feeling down and hopeless. He is still stranded and starry-eyed, and the feeling is overwhelming. Overall, the song's theme speaks of isolation and possibly betrayal. The singer is stranded, not moving, helpless, and disconnected from his friends seemingly lost and seeking comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw another dime in me my friend
If you give me more attention, I'll continue entertaining you.
And I'll sing a song I know for thee
I'll perform for you but only with what I'm familiar with; I won't be trying anything new.
If you don't want me you can tell me
If you're not interested in me, just say so; I can handle the rejection.
I'm the bigger man here oh it's true
I have the maturity to accept the reality and move on.
You're all pretty now than the last time
You look good now compared to when I last saw you.
But the words aren't coming through
Despite your physical appearance, there's no emotional connection anymore.
And I'm stranded
I'm feeling lost and stuck in this situation.
And I'm starry-eyed
I'm still hopeful and dreamy despite the reality.
Oh why, oh she wash out of me
Why did I lose my attraction to her?
There's broken glass all around my feet
I'm surrounded by danger and problems.
Laid my plan so carelessly
I didn't think through my actions and decisions enough.
What's the story
What's the explanation or context behind this situation?
With my old friends
What's the current dynamic among my longtime acquaintances?
Drunk and lonely
I'm intoxicated and feeling miserable by myself.
To the man
To my fellow male friend.
How I love 'em all
Despite our differences and problems, I still have affection for my friends.
As the days slip by
Time passes quickly, and we're not getting any younger.
And they're all following my lead
My friends are looking to me for guidance and direction.
Oh why does the rain fall cold
Why is everything around me so depressing and hopeless?
When I'm stranded and I'm starry-eyed?
When I'm feeling trapped yet still holding onto hope and dreams?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JENS BUERGER, MARC BAUER, MARKUS HOFF, OLIVER SIDIROPOULOS, PATRICK GRUEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind