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.
Let It Rain
Tilly and the Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Played on the radio as we drove down south to see our families
You were lying there in the passenger chair sound asleep
I could recall a time when evenings were bright and thick with love
And all the city streets and their lights they were so mysterious
Oh life it was so wonderful it would shine just like fire
How we sat on the backs of our cars and laughed into the morning
I thought you'd come and go
And I'm sorry if I tried to push you away
But the edges they fold and you suddenly find you are buried beneath
A blanket of snow you had no idea was even falling
Now you're sitting on a ouch inside your home feeling cold
Mothing is clear, all your thoughts they have become so hard to find
With a question mark always slumped at the end of these awkward lines
All the simple words we loved to speak are no longer audible
And I never thought with you and I this would be possible
I can feel the world coming apart
And I need you by my side with your delicate heart
So please don't leave me no don't you run
Don't be frightened by the storm so bold and brave
Just let it rain
The opening line of Tilly and the Wall's song, "Get into the groove boy you've got to prove your love to me," sets the tone for a bittersweet reflection on a relationship that started off full of passion but has since lost its way. The song describes a couple driving down south to see their families, with the singer remembering fondly the early stages of their relationship when "life was so wonderful it would shine just like fire." The imagery of bright cities and mysterious lights suggests a sense of adventure and excitement that has now faded away.
The chorus of "Let It Rain" is a plea for the partner to not abandon the singer in the midst of a storm. The storm can be interpreted as a metaphor for the problems that have arisen in the relationship, but also as a physical manifestation of a difficult moment they find themselves in. The line "the edges they fold and you suddenly find you are buried beneath a blanket of snow you had no idea was even falling" emphasizes the idea that sometimes problems can appear out of nowhere and bury us before we even realize they're there.
Line by Line Meaning
Get into the groove boy you've got to prove your love to me
I need you to show me that you love me through your actions
Played on the radio as we drove down south to see our families
This song reminds me of a time when we were happy and driving to visit our families
You were lying there in the passenger chair sound asleep
You were asleep and unaware of my feelings of uncertainty and fear
I could recall a time when evenings were bright and thick with love
I remember when our relationship was strong and filled with love
And all the city streets and their lights they were so mysterious
The city used to seem full of wonder and intrigue
Oh life it was so wonderful it would shine just like fire
Life used to be amazing and full of passion
How we sat on the backs of our cars and laughed into the morning
We used to have fun and enjoy each other's company
I thought you'd come and go
I didn't think you would stay with me permanently
I never thought you would stay
I never expected you to want to stay with me long-term
And I'm sorry if I tried to push you away
I regret any attempts I made to push you away
But the edges they fold and you suddenly find you are buried beneath
Life can take unexpected turns, and you may find yourself overwhelmed
A blanket of snow you had no idea was even falling
Challenges can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and you may not even realize how much they are affecting you
Now you're sitting on a ouch inside your home feeling cold
You are alone and feeling isolated and disconnected from the world
Mothing is clear, all your thoughts they have become so hard to find
You feel confused and lost, and your thoughts are jumbled and unclear
With a question mark always slumped at the end of these awkward lines
You are constantly questioning things and uncertain about what the future holds
All the simple words we loved to speak are no longer audible
We can no longer communicate easily and openly as we used to, and our relationship has become strained
And I never thought with you and I this would be possible
I never thought we would be in this situation, struggling to connect and communicate
I can feel the world coming apart
I feel like everything is falling apart and there is chaos all around me
And I need you by my side with your delicate heart
I need you to be there for me, with your gentle and caring nature
So please don't leave me no don't you run
I am pleading with you not to leave me and abandon our relationship
Don't be frightened by the storm so bold and brave
Don't be afraid of the challenges we face, we can overcome them together
Just let it rain
Let the difficulties come, and we will face them together
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SHAFER, WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind