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.
Lemur
This Town Needs Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t bother listing your dependancies.
We already know that you’ve got them.
You’ve photographed the bottom glass
and it tastes like fear.
You’re afraid of what might be.
You know from the get go it’s over
Identify what’s yours and what’s mine,
the rest will be our secret.
I won’t apologize for what is right I’m just letting go
of what might’ve been.
You know from the get go it’s over
it’s already fallen apart.
You know from get go it’s over
it’s already meant from the start
and you know from get go
it’s already fallen apart.
You know in time as much would’ve happened to us,
our feelings blow out like a lamp light.
The song "Lemur" by This Town Needs Guns is a melancholic reflection on a failed relationship. The lyrics are introspective and honest, acknowledging the flaws and fears that led to the demise of the relationship. The opening lines, "What's this? Don't bother listing your dependencies. We already know that you've got them," suggest a sense of resignation and acceptance that the relationship is over. The singer acknowledges that they both have their own set of issues and insecurities and that they have been holding on to each other out of fear of being alone.
The line, "You've photographed the bottom glass and it tastes like fear," is a clever metaphor for the moment when you reach the end of a drink and are left with the dregs, which can taste unpleasant and bitter. In this case, the singer is saying that their fear of being alone has been consuming them, leaving a bad taste in their mouth.
The chorus, "You know from the get-go it's over, it's already fallen apart," is a stark statement of fact that further emphasizes the sense of defeat and resignation.
In the second half of the song, the singer seems to be saying that they have come to terms with the end of the relationship and are ready to move on. "I won't apologize for what is right, I'm just letting go of what might've been," suggests that they are no longer interested in dwelling on what could have been and are ready to focus on the present.
Overall, "Lemur" is a poignant and reflective track that captures the feeling of a relationship that has come to an end. The lyrics are clever, introspective, and honest, making it easy to relate to the emotions being expressed.
Line by Line Meaning
What’s this?
The singer is questioning something or someone.
Don’t bother listing your dependancies.
The singer does not want to hear excuses or reasons for someone's behavior.
We already know that you’ve got them.
The singer is aware of the other person's dependencies.
You’ve photographed the bottom glass and it tastes like fear.
The other person has reached the lowest point and is scared of what might happen in the future.
You’re afraid of what might be.
The other person is scared of the uncertainty of the future.
You know from the get go it’s over it’s already fallen apart.
The singer thinks that the situation is hopeless and beyond repair from the very beginning.
Identify what’s yours and what’s mine, the rest will be our secret.
The singer suggests that they should focus on what each person owns and not worry about anything else.
I won’t apologize for what is right I’m just letting go of what might’ve been.
The artist will not ask for forgiveness for doing what is right but will give up the possibility of what could have been.
You know in time as much would’ve happened to us, our feelings blow out like a lamp light.
The artist believes that as time passes, their relationship would have fizzled out just like a lamp light loses its brightness.
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.