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.
Black and Blue
Tilly and the Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When we're with all our friends, we will drink and laugh
When we're driving in our cars, we will sing
If you're lost and you look, you will find me
But what I couldn't do is figure out how you
You jumped into my heart, now I couldn't start
To think of life without you, my world would stop
And fall down again, all black and blue again
What makes you feel alive?
And I want to know everything that you do
So let's drive through the night
When you show me your world, I just smiled
And then I sit with you now, I can remember
That when we forget about everything that hurts us
How nothing in the world seems to be
‘Cause nothing can hurt us
And now listen when we felt alright with it
A beauty so strange, something you didn't expect
It's a unique find that only some people get
And you are mine
‘Cause I want to know everything about you
What makes you feel alive?
And I want to know everything that you do
So let's drive through the night
With your hands on my heart
Spray paint glasses on a cool blue lawn
Write our names in the burning sand
Or just snowflakes around inside our hands
‘Cause I want to know everything about you
What makes you feel alive?
And I want to know everything that you do
So let's drive through the night
The Tilly and the Wall song "Black and Blue" is an upbeat, happy song about the joy of being with someone you love. The first verse talks about how music, friends, and driving can all bring people together to dance, drink, laugh, and sing. The chorus then brings up the idea of being lost and finding someone who has "jumped into my heart" - someone who is so important that the idea of living without them is too painful to bear.
The second verse continues with the theme of wanting to know everything about this person, what makes them feel alive, and what they do. The bridge brings in some imagery, like spray painted glasses and writing names in the sand, that evoke a sense of being young and carefree. The final chorus repeats the desire to know everything about this person, and suggests that driving through the night together is a way to explore their world together and build a deeper connection. The song ends with the repeated line "let's drive through the night," suggesting that the journey is just beginning.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the joy of being truly in love with someone, and the desire to know everything about them and explore their world together. It's a bright, upbeat song that's perfect for dancing or simply letting yourself feel happy.
Line by Line Meaning
When we hear that song, we will dance
We embrace the music and let it move us, causing us to dance with joy.
When we're with all our friends, we will drink and laugh
The camaraderie of good companions and alcoholic beverages brings us boundless amusement.
When we're driving in our cars, we will sing
The freedom of the open road brings out our inner songbirds and we cannot help but sing along.
If you're lost and you look, you will find me
When others are lost, they can rely on me to guide them and show them the way.
But what I couldn't do is figure out how you
Though I have a strong understanding of most things, I cannot seem to comprehend how you came to occupy my heart.
You jumped into my heart, now I couldn't start
Your sudden entrance into my heart has made it impossible for me to live without you.
To think of life without you, my world would stop
Your absence in my life would bring it crashing to a halt, causing me to lose all hope.
And fall down again, all black and blue again
My life would again be filled with pain and suffering without you by my side.
I want to know everything about you
I have a deep desire to learn everything there is to know about you.
What makes you feel alive?
I am curious about the things that inspire and ignite your passion for life.
And I want to know everything that you do
I want to be aware of everything that you do so I can be more aware of your needs and how to support you.
So let's drive through the night
Let's venture on an adventure together, driving beneath the stars and heading towards the unknown.
When you show me your world, I just smiled
The beauty of experiencing life through your eyes simply fills me with joy and causes me to smile uncontrollably.
And then I sit with you now, I can remember
Now, sitting beside you, I find myself reminiscing about the past and all the wonderful moments we've shared together.
That when we forget about everything that hurts us
When we let go of all the pain and sorrow in our lives, we can focus on the good and positive things.
How nothing in the world seems to be
When we are fully present in the moment, all our worries disappear and nothing else seems to matter.
‘Cause nothing can hurt us
As long as we are together, we can overcome any obstacle and emerge unscathed.
And now listen when we felt alright with it
At this moment, everything feels right and we are content and at peace with our lives.
A beauty so strange, something you didn't expect
The beauty of life can often be unexpected and unusual, yet it still manages to captivate us with its mystery and wonder.
It's a unique find that only some people get
Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience the profound and rare beauty of life in the same way that we do.
And you are mine
You and I share a connection that is unique and special, and I treasure it deeply.
With your hands on my heart
Feeling your touch on my chest, I am filled with a sense of warmth and comfort that cannot be expressed in words.
Spray paint glasses on a cool blue lawn
Sometimes we find beauty in the most unexpected places, like spray-painted glasses on a cool blue lawn.
Write our names in the burning sand
Let's leave our imprint on the world by writing our names in the sand, which will soon be washed away, but the memory will remain.
Or just snowflakes around inside our hands
Even something as simple as catching snowflakes in our hands can be an enjoyable and memorable experience when shared with someone special.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FRANCIS EG WHITE, PALOMA FAITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind