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.
Left Aligned
This Town Needs Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This feels ugly, so wrong
A white box held aloft
Those guys must be so strong
Chase, voice sounding so grave
Tells me out straight he's gone
That's all, short phone call
Tie our conscience down
With heavy heads and frowns
Running up the walls
Sick, stressed and old
Regretful of what life could have been
Tired, stretched and thin keep him in
You're rolling off the rails
Lights signal fails, (?)
Of compensation claims
Screeching breaks and loud crashing sounds
It's over now
Tie our conscience down
With heavy heads and frowns
Our friends all dressed so smartly
This feels ugly, so wrong
A white box held aloft
Those guys must be so strong
Chase, voice sounding so grave
Tells me out straight he's gone
So try to move on
But he's helped shape the man that I am now
The lyrics of "Left Aligned" by This Town Needs Guns seem to be about the aftermath of a tragic event, most likely the death of someone close to the singer. The first verse depicts a scene where the singer's friends are all dressed well, implying they are at a funeral or wake. The atmosphere, however, feels wrong and ugly, indicating the heaviness of the situation. The mention of a white box being held aloft presumably refers to a casket. The lines "Those guys must be so strong" suggest that carrying the weight of grief and sadness must be overwhelming for those who bear it.
In the second verse, the singer receives a short phone call from someone named Chase, informing him that someone is gone. The brevity of the call brings a sense of finality and abruptness to the loss. The following lines "Tie our conscience down with heavy heads and frowns/Running up the walls" convey the feeling of being stuck in one's emotions and inability to escape them. The singer's mental state is described as "sick, stressed and old" while also feeling regretful of what could have been in his own life.
The last verse suggests that the singer is trying to move on, but the person who is gone has left an indelible mark on his life. The line "But he's helped shape the man that I am now" is a powerful tribute that mourns the loss and acknowledges the role the deceased played in the singer's life. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, stressing the fact that the weight of grief is difficult to shake off.
Line by Line Meaning
Our friends all dressed so smartly
We attend funerals for our deceased friends, who are dressed up smartly for the occasion.
This feels ugly, so wrong
Despite the formalities, the situation feels sad and unpleasant.
A white box held aloft
The casket containing the body of the deceased is being carried above the mourners' heads.
Those guys must be so strong
The people carrying the casket are praised for their physical strength.
Chase, voice sounding so grave
Chase delivers the news of the death with a solemn and serious tone.
Tells me out straight he's gone
Chase tells the singer bluntly that their friend has passed away.
That's all, short phone call
The news of the death was delivered in a brief phone call.
It's over now
The tragedy has already occurred and cannot be undone.
Tie our conscience down
The weight of guilt and regret causes the mourners to feel emotionally burdened.
With heavy heads and frowns
The mood is solemn and mournful, with people looking down and frowning.
Running up the walls
The singer feels overwhelmed with emotions and wants to escape the situation.
Sick, stressed and old
The artist is emotionally and mentally exhausted from the grief and stress of the situation.
Regretful of what life could have been
The singer is filled with regret about what they could have done differently to prevent their friend's death.
Tired, stretched and thin keep him in
The singer is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy and feels weighed down.
You're rolling off the rails
The singer is struggling to stay composed and feels like they are losing control.
Lights signal fails
The artist is in a state of shock and is having trouble processing what is happening around them.
Of compensation claims
People are discussing legal and financial matters related to the tragedy.
Screeching breaks and loud crashing sounds
The sounds of an accident or collision can be heard in the distance, adding to the atmosphere of chaos and tragedy.
So try to move on
Despite the difficulty of the situation, the singer knows they must eventually try to move forward with their life.
But he's helped shape the man that I am now
The deceased friend played an important role in the artist's life and helped shape who they are today.
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.