Tilly and the Wall sprang out of Omaha in 2001 - a Midwestern band of like-minded friends with pockets full of melodies, and a lot of pockets. The serendipitous result of five Omaha residents with a penchant for the same classic '60s pop, boy/girl harmonies and Americana folk records, Tilly and the Wall celebrates the petulant, determined, feisty nature of youth. They rejoice in tales of dreams followed, mistakes made, and hearts broken.
Tilly and the Wall released their debut album, Wild Like Children, in June 2004 on Conor Oberst's label, Team Love. Neely and Jamie were once in a band with Conor before he became known worldwide as Bright Eyes. Derek and Nick moved to Omaha from Atlanta, Georgia. Upon meeting, it was as if long-lost friends had found each other: without a doubt, the Tillys were born. Once the songs were written, Conor agreed to helm the production duties, and hence, Wild Like Children was unleashed on the world. As one of the first albums released on Team Love, Tilly and the Wall set a precedent for the label's identity: original, smart, exciting and, above all, easy to sing along to. The record consisted of 11 perfectly formed songs bursting with enthusiastic hyperactivity, while emanating a bitter sweet melancholy of long lost summers and misguided first loves. In front of a backdrop of sunshine, rain and snow, Tilly and the Wall sang songs about loving and kissing, dancing and drinking, staying and leaving, driving and talking, sleeping and dreaming, all set to the tap-tap-tapping of Jamie's toes. The press from sea to shining sea fell in love instantly.
And so, the Tillys went to meet their adoring fans, playing shows throughout America with the likes of Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, The Go! Team, Pedro the Lion, Of Montreal and more. When not on the road, the band began working on the follow-up to Wild Like Children, simply titled Bottoms of Barrels. Recorded over three weeks in October and November 2005, the album was recorded by AJ Mogis, brother and mixed by studio co-hort to Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis. Bottoms of Barrels sees the Tillys taking their signature sound to the next level. The choruses are more rousing, the tapping more intense, the instrumentation fuller, each sound painting broad brush strokes across your speakers. Longtime friend Nate Walcott contributes a bit of trumpet, while other friends have added drums, accordion and cello. A couple of tracks even feature the vocal styling of University of Nebraska's own choir Trip the Light Fantastic, bolstering Neely and Kianna's dulcet harmonies. Bottoms of Barrels fully demonstrated the importance of Tilly’s “we” perspective – with a gang full of voices, the band made strong declarations about love, freedom and their own place in the world. The album took the band on travels they had only dreamt about, resulting in extensive tours throughout Europe, Australia, Japan and even Iceland. They also played their first-ever sets at major music festivals, including the Reading/Leeds Festival, Coachella and Japan’s Summer Sonic. By the middle of 2007, they returned home to Omaha to begin work on their next long-playing record, having amassed legions of fans, as well as frequent flyer miles, across the entire globe.
Their 2008 record, which has no title but is represented by the shape o (the cut-out shape framing the handmade cover artwork for the record), was produced by acclaimed producer Mike Mogis through the harsh Nebraska winter of 2007. o sees Tilly and the Wall redefining their sound, taking bigger, bolder steps towards experimentation while maintaining the elements that have always made them who they are. o draws on everything from nature to magic, from sex to astrology, with a larger focus on percussion, rhythm, harmonies and kaleidoscopic melodies, yet ultimately still sounds like our five musical friends from Omaha.
Their album Heavy Mood was released in 2012. They broke up soon after that. Vocalist Kianna Alarid joined the Kansas City band Yes You Are. A retrospective album I Want to F*ck It Up (Tilly and the Wall 2002-2013) is planned for 2020 on the Team Love label.
Alligator Skin
Tilly and the Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got some jumbled up thoughts in my jumbled up head
I keep stumbling around on some jumbled up legs
I keep grumbling out some jumbled up text
Holding up both sides on the side of the road
Holding up your store, holding up your home
With the evening news of filth and wounds
Oh, that light shines bright in your eyes
You gotta find your confidence, learn your lines
Pick your class, pick your crime
Better take a breath, take it quick
'Cause it's piling up, yeah, the layer's getting thick
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
When it's all so boring, 99 cents
Up in your face, you know they got it
Got plastic stacked on cheap bank cubes
A perfect place for them to hang their noose
And everyone's got a buy and they talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it
And they draw some line and make some point
Which way is right
And, oh, I just can't seem to find the time and that light shines bright in your eyes
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Alligator skin
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Rubber-necking
Oh yeah, you know that's how it is
Trash piling
Oh yeah, you know that's how it's got to be
Oh no!
Yeah, it's got to be
Oh no!
That's how it's got to be
That's how it's got to be
The song Alligator Skin by Tilly and the Wall is a reflection on the chaos and confusion that comes with modern life. The singer admits that they can't seem to make sense of anything; their thoughts are jumbled and they're stumbling around. They feel like they're holding up both sides of the road, the store, and the home. They're bombarded with bad news and they can't keep up with the layers of complexity that keep piling up. They want to find their confidence and learn their lines, but they just can't seem to find the time. The chorus repeats the phrases "alligator skin," "rubber-necking," and "trash piling," which seem to represent the tough exterior people put up, the tendency to stare at accidents or problems without doing anything about them, and the accumulation of waste.
In the second verse, the lyrics focus on consumerism and society's obsession with buying things. The singer sees the stacks of plastic on cheap bank cubes as a noose waiting to hang people. They're tired of everyone talking about buying things and drawing lines and making points. They don't know which way is right anymore. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that this is just how it is and how it's got to be.
Overall, Alligator Skin seems to be a commentary on the overwhelming nature of modern life, the way people put up walls and avoid facing problems, and the emphasis on consumerism and materialism. The chorus represents the tough exterior people put up, the tendency to stare at accidents or problems without doing anything about them, and the accumulation of waste. The song urges listeners to take a breath, find their confidence, and learn their lines, even though it's difficult to navigate the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I just don't get it, can't seem to make sense
I'm feeling confused and overwhelmed, and I'm struggling to understand what's happening around me.
I got some jumbled up thoughts in my jumbled up head
My mind is chaotic and disorganized, making it hard for me to focus or think clearly.
I keep stumbling around on some jumbled up legs
My physical movements are equally uncoordinated and unsteady.
I keep grumbling out some jumbled up text
Even my attempts to communicate are muddled and unclear.
Holding up both sides on the side of the road
I'm standing in the middle of a conflict between two opposing views or groups.
Holding up your store, holding up your home
I'm holding up or supporting something that's important to you, even if it causes personal inconvenience or discomfort.
With the evening news of filth and wounds
I'm bombarded by negative or disturbing information on a regular basis, which can be emotionally draining.
A picket and a funeral on Sunday afternoon
I'm surrounded by symbols of protest and death, highlighting the serious issues that are affecting our society.
Oh, that light shines bright in your eyes
There's a sense of hope and possibility that's visible in the way you look at the world.
You gotta find your confidence, learn your lines
To succeed, you need to build your self-assurance and figure out what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Pick your class, pick your crime
You have to make choices about how you want to live your life, including the people you associate with and the values you prioritize.
Better take a breath, take it quick
You don't have much time to pause and reflect; you need to act decisively and with purpose.
'Cause it's piling up, yeah, the layer's getting thick
The pressures and difficulties you face are accumulating fast, making it increasingly hard to push through them.
Alligator skin
You need to toughen up and develop resilience in the face of adversity.
Rubber-necking
You're prone to becoming distracted by the drama and spectacle around you, losing focus on your own priorities.
Trash piling
The problems and challenges in your life are mounting, and it feels like there's no end to the mess in sight.
When it's all so boring, 99 cents
Despite the constant chaos and stress, so much of what we're exposed to is fundamentally uninteresting and mundane.
Up in your face, you know they got it
Companies and advertisers are constantly pushing their products and services on you, using every tactic in their arsenal to get you to buy in.
Got plastic stacked on cheap bank cubes
The consumer goods we're surrounded by often seem disposable, flimsy, and without lasting value or quality.
A perfect place for them to hang their noose
The corporations and systems that benefit from our consumption are essentially creating a trap for us to fall into, with little thought or concern for our wellbeing.
And everyone's got a buy and they talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk about it
People are obsessed with buying and consuming, and they love to gossip and speculate about the latest trends and products.
And they draw some line and make some point
People often try to create clear distinctions and arguments around which products or lifestyles are inherently better or more valuable.
Which way is right
It's difficult to determine who or what is truly virtuous or right in a world that seems so confusing and contradictory.
Oh, I just can't seem to find the time and that light shines bright in your eyes
Despite all the distractions and difficulties, there's a sense of urgency and determination that permeates your perspective.
Oh no!
This is a warning or expression of concern about the state of things.
Yeah, it's got to be
There's a sense of inevitability or finality to the problems and challenges that we face.
That's how it's got to be
There's no alternative to the difficulties and struggles that we all experience to some extent.
Contributed by Audrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Colleen Cronin
this is so great!i saw them just two days ago.....AMAZING!
das 1988
Now amazingly enough they are no more....😂
Olivia Brien
If I had money... I would buy more tap shoes and decorate them. :) I love it.
Preston Delaune
this song makes me happy
Stephanie Cunningham
this song is ridiculous and i love it.
hcfillman
damn that sucks, ive seen them 4 times now and everytime the crowd is insane! haha im actually in this video! it was a fun day
gabe seabeans
i like how this song seems so sad to me, yet the occasion is happy, which is kinda a ironic paradox, am i right?
Susan Bourgeois
i love you tilly!
Joy Jelinske
so awesomely awesome!! wickeeeeddd and great clothes and proppsss!!!
m0bi
That's weird, I saw this band live twice, and both times, the audience was never that exciting, in fact, it was a sea of striped-shirted males and females standing there with their arms crossed trying to pretend they're all better than everyone else there, while me and my friends were trying to carve out space to dance.