In 2006, The Weepies big label debut Say I Am You came out on Nettwerk Records. After an initial hard-scrabble tour in their compact car as a duo, Deb Talan & Steve Tannen’s music appeared in more than a dozen TV shows, as well as several major motion pictures.
Their iTunes sales topped the folk charts in eight countries. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol nominated them for a Short List Music Prize, and Mandy Moore asked them to write with her and sing on her album. They were invited to open for the Indigo Girls and invited onto the Hotel Café Tour; they played the Oxegen Festival in Ireland, the Hurricane Festival in Germany, and T in the Park in Scotland. Their MySpace player hit 2 million plays. JCPenney and Old Navy used their tunes as the theme songs for their major holiday TV campaigns.
When The Weepies returned home in 2007, they were exhausted.
“2006 was amazing. Coming off the road in 2007 should have been this blissed-out time with so much to celebrate, but it was totally depressing. Our rented shack in the California hills was cold, it had a leaky roof and there were mice living in it. Our electric guitar had been destroyed on the last plane flight of the year. We hadn’t seen most of our close friends in months.”
“We were empty,” says Talan. “We both felt dark after being in the bright lights for a year. We were looking to reconnect with what moved us about music in the first place. We needed to hide out and write.”
Hideaway was the result of their year-long struggle to get tapped in again, released in 2008. Another homemade gem, Hideaway is a darker companion to their first album, with 14 new tunes ranging from the upbeat title track to the jangly rock of Not Dead Yet to gorgeously arranged meditations like How You Survived the War and Little Bird.
As with most of The Weepies’ music, there is a happy ending to all the struggle: Deb and Steve were married in 2007, and they had a baby boy, Theo, in October.
The Weepies sound on Hideaway remains rooted in their unique writing and unusual harmonies. Their distinctive production was filled out again by bass player and guitarist Whynot Jansveld, guitarist Meghan Toohey and drummer Frank Lenz. Additional musicians on this album include string player Oliver Kraus, keyboardist John Deley, guitarist Steve Walsh, and horn player/keyboardist Brad Gordon.
The Weepies' fourth full-length album, Be My Thrill, was released in August 2010.
Comfort
The Weepies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's no one left to tell your troubles to.
Just an hour ago, you listened to their voices
lilting like a river over underground
and the light from downstairs came up soft like daybreak
dimly as the heartache of a lonely child.
If you can't remember a better time
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort wherever you can.
And oh, it's a strange place.
And oh, everyone with a different face
but just like you thought when you stopped here to linger
we're only as separate as your little fingers.
So cry, why not? we all do
then turn to one you love
and smile a smile that lights up all the room.
Follow your dreams in through every out-door
it seems that's what we're here for.
And when you can't remember a better time
you can have mine, little one.
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort, there is comfort.
Take comfort wherever you can, you can, you can.
The Weepies' song Comfort is a tender and emotional song that offers solace and hope to those who are feeling alone and lost. The lyrics begin by setting the scene of a listener who is awake late at night with nobody to confide in. The vulnerability of the situation is expressed by noting the loneliness of a child's heartbreak. The song's sweet and reassuring melody provides comfort as it offers the listener a new perspective. The listener is offered a glimmer of hope as they are reminded that there are brighter and better times that exist.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of sharing with others, expressing generosity and kindness as a solution to feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges. The song suggests that we should always be looking out for each other, and when we see someone who is suffering, it is our duty to lend a helping hand where we can. However, the lyrics also touch on the isolating nature of human experiences, highlighting the complexity of human life where despite the presence of others, people can still feel alone.
The final verse encourages listeners to embrace their emotions, to cry when they need to, and to express gratitude for those who make them happy. The song ultimately offers a message of hope and positivity, reminding listeners that no matter how dark life can seem, there is always a source of comfort to be found.
Interesting Facts About The Weepies' Song Comfort
Line by Line Meaning
When everyone has gone to sleep and you are wide awake
When everyone else has drifted off to sleep and you are still wide awake and alone with your thoughts.
there's no one left to tell your troubles to.
There's no one around for you to confide in and share your worries with.
Just an hour ago, you listened to their voices
Only an hour ago, you were surrounded by the voices of others.
lilting like a river over underground
Their voices were melodic and soothing, like the sound of a river flowing beneath the surface.
and the light from downstairs came up soft like daybreak
The soft glow from downstairs was like the light of a new day breaking through.
dimly as the heartache of a lonely child.
But even that comforting light couldn't completely banish the pain you feel, like the sorrow of a child who feels alone.
If you can't remember a better time
If you can't recall a happier moment in your life.
you can have mine, little one.
I offer you my own memories of a better time, as a source of comfort.
In days to come when your heart feels undone
In the future, when you feel lost and brokenhearted.
may you always find an open hand
May you always find a caring person willing to help and support you.
and take comfort wherever you can.
And may you always find solace and comfort in any way you can.
And oh, it's a strange place.
The world can be a confusing and unfamiliar place.
And oh, everyone with a different face
Everyone is unique and different.
but just like you thought when you stopped here to linger
But remember, as you pause to reflect, we are all interconnected.
we're only as separate as your little fingers.
We may seem separate, but in reality, we are all closely connected, like the fingers on a hand.
So cry, why not? we all do
It's okay to cry, it's a common human experience.
then turn to one you love
Then seek comfort in the love and support of someone you care about.
and smile a smile that lights up all the room.
And allow that love to fill you with joy and a radiant smile.
Follow your dreams in through every out-door
Pursue your dreams and ambitions, despite any obstacles that may block your path.
it seems that's what we're here for.
It appears that chasing our passions and fulfilling our dreams is one of the primary purposes of our existence.
Contributed by Aaliyah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.