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.
The Witch
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kiss is a kiss
The kiss is a kiss
The smiles are our smile
Say your goodbyes
'Cause love will decide
You made your demands
You made your demands
Now what else can ya do
'Cause that don't mean love
Love will decide
Your world was always mine
Your world was always mine
It's dark, oh man
Driving through central Michigan
Listening to the country station
Wondering where I stand
Love will decide
Love will decide
The first stanza of The Walkmen's song "The Witch" talks about a kiss and smiles which could be related to the initial stages of a romantic relationship. However, the second line of the first stanza suggests that there might be some underlying indecision regarding these emotions. The next line says, "Say your goodbyes cause love will decide." This line suggests that one should brace themselves for the uncertainty that comes with romantic relationships. The line, "Life in hand, you made your demands now what else can ya do," could mean that there is a need to let things take their natural course rather than imposing one's expectations. In the end, it is love that will decide everything.
The second stanza creates a stark contrast to the first as it talks about darkness and confusion. The singer is driving through central Michigan and listening to a country station, seemingly searching for meaning in this world. The line, "Love will decide," breaks the chain of thought and brings the focus back to the initial theme of the song. Overall, the song seems to send the message that life is full of uncertainties, and it is not in anyone's control to decide the course of romantic love. All one can do is let love decide.
Line by Line Meaning
The kiss is a kiss
The physical act of kissing is just that, an act.
The smiles are our smile
The happiness shared between them is mutual.
Say your goodbyes
Prepare yourself for the end.
'Cause love will decide
The fate of their relationship is in the hands of love.
The life in hand
The present moment and the choices they've made.
You made your demands
They have set expectations and requirements.
Now what else can ya do
They are at a loss for what to do next.
'Cause that don't mean love
The demands and expectations do not necessarily equate to love.
Your world was always mine
The two shared a close and intertwined relationship.
It's dark, oh man
They feel lost and confused.
Driving through central Michigan
A visual scene setting.
Listening to the country station
Another scene setting reflective of their mood.
Wondering where I stand
They are uncertain about the state of their relationship.
Love will decide
Once again, emphasizing that love is the determining factor.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, 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
Colorblind1976
Great track
Ricardo Lagoa
i miss this guys...
Rui Mendes Reis
fixe
Selim TETİK
I'm sad just sad