The original lineup consisted of Stuart Smith on rhythm guitar and vocals, Tim Collis on lead guitar, Simon Thompson on Drums and Ian Lewis on Bass. Ian and Simon left the band in 2005, to be replaced by Dan Adams (replaced by Jamie Cooper during the recording of Animals in 2008) on bass and Chris Collis (brother of guitarist Tim) on drums in early 2006. In earlier careers, bassist Jamie Cooper had worked as a graphic designer, drummer Chris Collis had been a librarian at the University of Oxford, guitarist Tim Collis was a primary school teacher, and lead vocalist Stuart Smith worked building websites for a publisher. On May 11, 2011, it was announced on This Town Needs Guns' website that lead singer Stuart Smith would be leaving the band to start a family, and that he would be replaced by Pennines' singer and guitarist, Henry Tremain. Bassist Jamie Cooper also left the band in late 2011 to focus on a full-time career in graphic design. Tremain has since taken over on bass guitar duties, converting the band into a power trio.
The band's second and third studio albums, 13.0.0.0.0 and Disappointment Island, were released in January 2013 and July 2016, both via Sargent House.
And I'll Tell You for Why
This Town Needs Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like children,
We run around these streets at night
To find
Both solace and confusion.
Too late to try
Our concience clear.
Our hair crimson in,
The street light,
Sunlight glow.
Never forget
What we shared
Cos promises were never enough
For us.
So here's to romance
And hot summer nights.
Walking through tall grass,
There's safety in here
Tonight we lay down and watch the stars collide.
The song "And I'll Tell You for Why" by This Town Needs Guns is a melancholic musing on the transience of youth and summer, and the search for meaning and connection amidst the confusion and chaos of life. The opening lines "So summer's here again / And like children, / We run around these streets at night" suggest a sense of nostalgia for a time when life was simpler and carefree, and the world was full of possibilities. However, this sense of innocence and wonder is tempered by the realization that life is not always easy or straightforward, and that there is often a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty that accompanies even the most joyful moments.
The phrase "to find / Both solace and confusion" captures this ambivalence, suggesting that even as we seek comfort and clarity in our relationships and experiences, we are also aware of the complexity and uncertainty of human interaction. The lines "Never forget / What we shared / Cos promises were never enough / For us" further emphasize this idea, highlighting the fact that relationships are not built on empty platitudes or mere words, but on shared experiences and moments of genuine connection. Even as the song acknowledges the transience of summer and youth, it suggests that there is still something meaningful and enduring to be found in the bonds we forge with one another.
Line by Line Meaning
So summer's here again
Summer has arrived once more
And like children,
Similar to kids,
We run around these streets at night
We sprint through these roads in the nighttime
To find
In order to discover
Both solace and confusion.
Both comfort and perplexity.
Too late to try
It is too late to attempt
Our conscience clear.
Our conscience is clear
Hold on to tight.
Hang on tight
Our hair crimson in,
Our locks are crimson red in
The street light,
The streetlights,
Sunlight glow.
Glowing in sunlight.
Never forget
Do not forget
What we shared
What we had together
Cos promises were never enough
Because promises were insufficient
For us.
For our relationship.
So here's to romance
So let's toast to love,
And hot summer nights.
And toasty summer evenings.
Walking through tall grass,
Strolling through high grass,
There's safety in here
There's safety within these surroundings
Tonight we lay down and watch the stars collide.
Tonight, we lie down and watch the stars crash into each other.
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.