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.
Thinking of a Dream I Had
The Walkmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm waiting for a train to arrive
I'm thinking of a dream I had
Maybe you're right
We're gonna have a good time tonight
'Cause when you're coming around you'll be sorry for the plans we made
when you're coming around, you'll be sorry for the things you said so don't lead me on
And when you're coming around you'll be sorry for the things you said
Because no one speaks to me that way, and me, I'll be hanging from the ceiling fan
The Walkmen's song "Thinking of a Dream I Had" is a melancholic tune with a reflective and patient mood. The song tells the story of a man standing on a subway platform, waiting for a train to arrive. This simple setting sets the tone for introspection, and the man then begins to think about a dream he had. The dream seems to connect to a relationship that has gone sour, and the singer reflects on the hurtful words that were said. He imagines a scenario where the person who hurt him will come around and apologize, but he is not completely convinced that it will happen, and is skeptical about being led on. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take a darker turn, as the singer imagines harming himself by hanging from a ceiling fan.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation and could reflect the feelings of anyone who has been hurt by a friend or romantic partner. The subway setting can also be seen as symbolic for a place of waiting and reflection, where one is waiting for a sign, a change or a chance to come around.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting on a subway line
I am currently waiting for the subway to come
I'm waiting for a train to arrive
I am waiting for the next train to arrive so I can board it
I'm thinking of a dream I had
While waiting, I am reminiscing on a recent dream I had
Maybe you're right
Possibly, the dream is not worth the thought I am giving it
We're gonna have a good time tonight
The upcoming evening is going to be enjoyable
'Cause when you're coming around you'll be sorry for the plans we made
When the person mentioned arrives, they will regret choosing previous plans over new ones
when you're coming around, you'll be sorry for the things you said so don't lead me on
The person previously made hurtful comments, and is now trying to make amends, but I am hesitant to trust them
And when you're coming around you'll be sorry for the things you said
When the person arrives, they will regret the rude comments they made before
Because no one speaks to me that way, and me, I'll be hanging from the ceiling fan
I will not tolerate being spoken to disrespectfully and extreme actions might be taken if it happens again
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