US' debut album, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden, was recorded by Elliott and producer David Strackany (known as Paleo)[8] in Elgin, IL, Iowa City, IA, and Washington, D.C.. The album features musical cameos by a large supporting cast[9]—notably, Saadat Awan, Dan D'Avella, Dave Hahn, and early TUS collaborator Mark Charles, now of Vandaveer.[10] Picture was mixed and mastered by Chad Clark of Beauty Pill and T.J. Lipple of Aloha at Inner Ear Studios[11] in Arlington, VA, and released on March 4, 2008. Track 'First Sight' had its UK debut on BBC Radio 6 on July 14, 2008,[12] and the album as a whole enjoyed favorable reviews from The Austin Chronicle, Alternative Press, The Village Voice, and others.[13]
Crimes, the group's second album, was recorded in Lexington, KY at Shangri-La Studios, 6 weeks after the release of Picture. It was produced and mixed by Duane Lundy, with co-production by Rob Gordon and These United States (by then composed of Elliott and full-time band members Charles, Cosenza, Craig, and Hnatow), and released on September 23, 2008.[14] Paste Magazine,[15] Pitchfork Media,[16] National Public Radio,[17] and others praised the album despite (and in many cases because of) its sonic departure from the group's debut. These United States recorded live sessions and interviews for All Things Considered,[18] Daytrotter,[19] and WOXY.com,[20] as Crimes reached No. 30 on the College Music Journal Top 200 radio chart in late 2008.
In February 2009, TUS recorded its third album, Everything Touches Everything, at Inner Ear Studios, with T.J. Lipple this time taking on the role of producer. Released September 1 of that year, the album proved TUS' most energetic and upbeat to date. SPIN Magazine sang its praises ('captures the overwhelming jolt of simply being alive...swings between a sleazy leer and a dreamy purr...deftly blurring the line between carnal and cosmic'),[21] as Jon Pareles of The New York Times weighed in on the band's live show ('superb...equally at home with quiet, morose tales and galloping punky-tonk adventures...a rambunctious alt-country band with story-songs that are both tangled and aphoristic').[22] Influential DJ and music writer Bruce Warren, of public radio station WXPN, called These United States 'one of indie-rock's -- no, make that American rock's -- best kept secrets.'[23]
For its fourth full-length album, TUS worked at Sound Mine Recording in rural eastern Pennsylvania.[24] The resulting 10 tracks, produced by Dan Wise and TUS' Justin Craig, and featuring vocals by Dawn Landes, were released on July 20, 2010, as What Lasts.[25] The accompanying album tour included supporting dates with Fruit Bats, Deer Tick, Langhorne Slim, and Bonnie Prince Billy, and continuing acclaim from The New York Times,[26] Pop Matters,[27] and The Washington Post.[28] Among its 180 live performances of the year were stops at Seattle's KEXP;[29] Daytrotter's Barn On the 4th[30] with The Walkmen, Dawes, and Justin Townes Earle; La Blogotheque's Take-Away Show;[31] and NPR's World Cafe[32] and Mountain Stage.[33]
2011 saw These United States scale back its frenetic touring pace to just 100 shows and festivals, as the band spent more time writing and recording in studios in Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. In 2012, the group will release its 5th full-length album—the eponymously titled "These United States"—featuring contributions from Deer Tick, Phosphorescent, Langhorne Slim, Frontier Ruckus, The Mynabirds, Cotton Jones, Revival, Ben Sollee, Backwords, and Jukebox the Ghost, and co-produced at Shangri-La Studios by Duane Lundy, Justin Craig, and Jesse Elliott.
Burn This Bridge
These United States Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the winter comes around
And the earth goes upside down
When the seasons stills your heart with distant stars
Like the river long and fast
You got to make your insides last
Oh whole like the river, wide and slow, you know i know
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
Take yourself to the forest now
Feel the leaves where they all fell down
Walk a while with the moon around yer shoulders
Lay your burdens two by two
Let the wind remember me and you
As the winter moving through to cool and soothe
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
Inaudible humming
The lyrics to These United States's song Burn This Bridge seem to express the desire to move on from a situation or relationship that is no longer serving the individual. The idea of burning a bridge symbolizes a permanent separation from the past and a commitment to moving forward. The lyrics also allude to the changing seasons and the cyclical nature of life. The mention of the river could represent the constant flow of life, and the need to adapt and persevere through its challenges. The imagery of taking oneself to the forest and laying burdens down suggests a need for introspection and self-reflection, which can lead to growth and healing.
The repetition of the line "We'll burn this bridge when we're over it" emphasizes the importance of fully letting go before moving on. The humming at the end of the song could represent a sense of peace or closure.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll burn this bridge
We will cut all ties and move on
When the winter comes around
When things become difficult and unbearable
And the earth goes upside down
When the world seems to be in chaos and confusion
When the seasons stills your heart with distant stars
When the passing of time leaves you feeling cold and disconnected
Like the river long and fast
Life moves quickly and it's important to keep up
You got to make your insides last
You have to find strength within yourself to keep going
Oh whole like the river, wide and slow, you know I know
Finding inner peace and contentment leads to a fulfilling life
Take yourself to the forest now
Spend time in nature and find clarity
Feel the leaves where they all fell down
Acknowledge the past and learn from it
Walk a while with the moon around yer shoulders
Experience the beauty of the world and find peace in it
Lay your burdens two by two
Let go of your troubles and focus on what really matters
Let the wind remember me and you
Leave a lasting impact on the world
As the winter moving through to cool and soothe
As time passes, wounds heal and things get better
We'll burn this bridge when we're over it
We will cut all ties and move on when we're ready to leave the past behind
Inaudible humming
No meaning could be interpreted from this line
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.