The Wrens are known for their explosive stage presence, despite each member being well past 35, and are steadily gaining a fanbase across the world. Their debut album, "Silver", was released in 1994 to a moderate degree of critical acclaim. However, it was their second LP, "Secaucus" (named in reference to the town in New Jersey where they resided), that established them as one of the top bands on the indie rock scene. Both of these albums were released on the now defunct Grass Records label.
After the release of "Secaucus", Grass Records came under new ownership, who decided to make The Wrens the flagship band of the label. After the band turned down a million-dollar contract stipulating that the band record more "radio friendly" songs, The Wrens were dropped by Grass Records. "Silver" and "Secaucus" were only recently reissued in 2006 after years out of circulation because of this.
Hindered by their label issues through much of the 1990s, the Wrens managed only to release one EP, "Abbott 1135", in 1997 under the label Ten23 Records. The band's third full-length album, "The Meadowlands", finally surfaced in late 2003 (seven years after the release of "Secaucus") under Absolutely Kosher Records to enormous critical acclaim, topping critics' polls for the following two years and suddenly jump-starting an otherwise plateauing career.
The Wrens are currently being filmed for a documentary by the production company Little Quill, and are working on another LP and a re-recording of Abbott 1135.
There are other artists with the same name:
2) The Wrens were a doo-wop and R&B band from the Morrisania section of the Bronx in New York City. They are best-known for their song "Come Back My Love."
The Wrens first started singing together in 1954 and were comprised of lead singer Bobby Mansfield, George Magnezid (tenor), Francis "Frenchie" Concepcion (tenor), and James "Archie" Archer (bass). They admired the artists such as the Clovers, the Ravens, the Orioles, the Mills Brothers, Nat King Cole and Louis Jordan.
The Wrens were known best for their smooth, elegant harmony singing, and had a somewhat harder R&B edge than many similar groups at the time. Unfortunately, only six singles were offically released before Bobby Mansfield left the group in 1956 for a solo career. The Wrens were inducted into the United Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame in 1998.
3) The Wrens are also a french indie folk band.
4.) The Wrens are also a family of birds, which may be scrobbled by those listening to recordings of bird songs.
Thirteen Grand
The Wrens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes you laugh
then it makes you cry
I said it all too late
Is this real at all?
you're not so sure
It's easy now
Moving on's not fair when it
Leaves me on my own
I lived my life waiting for tomorrow
but I guess it's your turn now
Is this real at all?
you're not so sure
It's easy now
Because you're safe can't change your mind
We trade these lines to get us by
But what's it matter?
You keep saying Jersey's not a home
I thought I had it all figured out
but look who got it wrong
Is this real at all?
you're not so sure
It's easy now
Because you're safe can't change your mind
Is this real at all?
Is this real at all?
It's easy now
Because you're safe won't change your mind
The Wrens' "Thirteen Grand" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the conflicted emotions of a relationship that has come to an end. The lyrics speak to the difficulty of expressing one's true feelings, especially when it might be too late to do so. The song's opening lines set the tone, with the singer acknowledging the weight of unspoken emotions that have been bottled up inside:
"Talk about all that you kept bottled up inside
Makes you laugh then it makes you cry
I said it all too late"
The chorus of the song repeats a question that seems to be at the heart of the singer's struggle: "Is this real at all?" The repeated phrase underscores the uncertainty of the situation and the nagging feeling that something important may have been missed or overlooked. The singer's refrain that it's "easy now" because the other person is "safe" and can't change their mind speaks to the regret of missed opportunities and the challenge of moving forward.
Throughout the song, the Wrens trade lines that highlight the pain of the situation and the futility of trying to understand it. The refrain "you keep saying Jersey's not a home" is a poignant reminder of how even the most familiar places can feel empty and alienating when a relationship falls apart. Ultimately, the song is a moving meditation on the complexities of love and loss, and the ways in which stubborn emotions can linger long after a relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk about all that you kept bottled up inside
Exploring the things that you never said before
Makes you laugh
It can be humorous to finally speak your mind
then it makes you cry
But it can also be upsetting to think about missed opportunities
I said it all too late
Expressing remorse for not communicating sooner
Is this real at all?
Questioning the authenticity of the situation
you're not so sure
Feeling uncertain about the path forward
It's easy now
But it's easier to make decisions from a place of safety
Because you're safe can't change your mind
Even though it might not be the best choice, it's hard to deviate from the comfortable path
Moving on's not fair when it
Acknowledging the difficulty of letting go
Leaves me on my own
Feeling abandoned by someone who was previously a constant figuring in your life
I lived my life waiting for tomorrow
Reflecting on wasted opportunities
but I guess it's your turn now
Seeing someone else have a chance to make a change while you're stuck in the past
We trade these lines to get us by
Using small talk as a way to fill awkward silences
But what's it matter?
Doubting the value of these interactions
You keep saying Jersey's not a home
Expressing dissatisfaction with your current location
I thought I had it all figured out
Feeling confident in the past about what the future held
but look who got it wrong
But realizing that your expectations didn't match up with reality
It's easy now
But it's easier to make decisions from a place of safety
Because you're safe won't change your mind
Even though it might not be the best choice, it's hard to deviate from the comfortable path
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.