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.
Zebra
This Town Needs Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
time sends its regards from pictures that never saw
the light of day.
Just tucked in a box and hoarded away
so that eyes could never gaze upon faces of old.
Memories that I had longed to hold.
So hold me now,
that I am not strong enough to hold myself.
The opening lines of This Town Needs Guns' "Zebra" evoke a sense of permanence and loss, as the past is forever captured on paper but remains just out of reach. The images that were once so vibrant and alive are now hidden away and forgotten, unable to be seen or revisited. The nostalgia within the song is palpable, as the singer wishes to hold onto these memories that are slipping away. The sentiment is raw and emotional, as they acknowledge their own fragility in light of this unyielding passage of time. The plea to be held is a universal one that speaks to the loneliness and isolation that comes with carrying one's burdens alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught forever on paper torn tethered
Captured moments stuck on old photos that are now worn out and tied together
Time sends its regards from pictures that never saw the light of day
The passage of time reminds us of the moments we never got to share or see captured in photos
Just tucked in a box and hoarded away, so that eyes could never gaze upon faces of old
Old photos are often hidden away, preventing us from glimpsing the faces of our ancestors
Memories that I had longed to hold
The memories captured in those old photos are precious and cherished
So hold me now, that I am not strong enough to hold myself
I need someone to lean on to help me deal with the emotions and memories that come with these old photos
I am old enough now to know better than to bare my cross alone
I've learned that it's better to seek support than to suffer alone
Contributed by Adalyn N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.