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.
Rainbows in the Dark
Tilly and the Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was kidnapped real young by the sweet taste of love
Built a fondness for things that just weren't good enough
I cradled the crow, always shooed off the dove
Which tagged me a naive son
So the fortunate kids, yeah they left on their lights
And they stuck up their noses and started some fights
Their parents all cackled at dirt on my hands
Sometimes that's just how it is
So my sister went kissing a maple-skinned boy
Finally held up her fists, said "I'm done being coy!"
And the neighborhood boys started buzzing with joy
We finally had front page news
Although it was sad, I couldn't help but laugh
Such ridiculous hate in the hot summer sweat
I laid on my back, let the punk record spin
The stomping guitar, it was shooting out stars
It all went to my heart, yeah some rainbows in the dark
So I called up danger, my friends and some strangers
They stumbled and wavered, one called me his savior
They slipped me the blood in the whole of the vial
But I didn't feel them change
Then I met a man with a fist for a hand
Held me flat on my back, taught me how to give in
Some phrases were shot, pretty roses got tossed
The gift of a fat-lipped grin
Now they're drilling my teeth while I'm soiling sheets
With my lover, she's counting the diamonds on rings
And even when truth doesn't help with the sting
Out of no numbers, some harsh looking color
You pull them out, feel they're changed
No need for a thousand cranes
So I thank the city, the lights that it's spinning
The friends that I have and the shoes we're not shining
The drunk horn's so violent, all spinning out sounds
But the color's so vibrant , the color's so loud
The newly-born crying realizing what life is
In the eyes of my grandpa, the right people dying
The see-saw of love, its rickety bounce
The feeling of coming, the feeling of going
The mother, the child, the tame and the wild
The sleeping in minor, the gold leaf, the tire
The crooked, the straight, all the hip and the fake
Oh, I'm finally feeling the stitching of beautiful seams
Sometimes you just can't hold back the river
Sometimes you just can't hold back the river
Sometimes you just can't hold back the river
Sometimes you just can't hold back the river
Hold back the river, hold back the river, hold back the river
In "Rainbows in the Dark," Tilly and the Wall explores the singer's journey through life, from being "kidnapped real young by the sweet taste of love" to finally feeling "the stitching of beautiful seams." The lyrics describe the conflicts the singer faces, including the favoritism shown to other children, the pressure to conform to societal norms, and the violence and prejudice that exist in the world. The song acknowledges the challenges that life can bring, but ultimately suggests that it is possible to find beauty and joy in the midst of hardship.
The singer's story is told through a series of vignettes that touch on different aspects of their life, from childhood to adulthood. The song suggests that the singer has faced a number of challenges, including poverty, violence, and marginalization. However, the singer has also found moments of joy and beauty, such as listening to punk music, spending time with friends, and falling in love. The chorus repeats the phrase "Sometimes you just can't hold back the river," suggesting that we must learn to accept the challenges of life and move forward.
Overall, "Rainbows in the Dark" is a complex exploration of the human experience, touching on themes such as love, loss, and resilience. The song's vivid imagery and poetic language make it both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. It suggests that even in the face of great adversity, it is possible to find moments of beauty and to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four!
Starting the song with a rhythmic count-in
I was kidnapped real young by the sweet taste of love
Love's seductive and addictive nature got hold of me early in life
Built a fondness for things that just weren't good enough
My love made me want what I couldn't have or didn't deserve
I cradled the crow, always shooed off the dove
I preferred the dark, cynical aspects of life over the positive and hopeful ones
Which tagged me a naive son
Others labeled me as inexperienced or innocent
So the fortunate kids, yeah they left on their lights
Privileged people had ways to escape their problems, while I did not
And they stuck up their noses and started some fights
Wealthy people acted superior and picked fights with those they deemed inferior
Their parents all cackled at dirt on my hands
Wealthy parents found pleasure in mocking the less fortunate
While my father was slaving, my mother explained it
My parents had to work hard, and my mother had to explain the unfairness of life to me
Sometimes that's just how it is
Life can be unfair and difficult to accept
So my sister went kissing a maple-skinned boy
My sister found love in someone outside of our race
Finally held up her fists, said "I'm done being coy!"
She stood up for herself and stopped being afraid to express her feelings
And the neighborhood boys started buzzing with joy
Her actions caused excitement and gossip among the local boys
We finally had front page news
Her actions made us feel like we accomplished something significant or noteworthy
Although it was sad, I couldn't help but laugh
Even though it was a sad situation, I found myself laughing at how ridiculous it was
Such ridiculous hate in the hot summer sweat
The hate and tension in the air during a hot summer day was ridiculous
I laid on my back, let the punk record spin
I listened to music and let it take me away from my problems
The stomping guitar, it was shooting out stars
The music was powerful and made me feel alive and inspired
It all went to my heart, yeah some rainbows in the dark
The music's impact on me was like seeing rainbows in the dark - unexpected and beautiful
So I called up danger, my friends and some strangers
I reached out to people who might not always be reliable for help
They stumbled and wavered, one called me his savior
My friends and strangers were flawed but still looked up to me and depended on my guidance
They slipped me the blood in the whole of the vial
They gave me something to consume that they believed would change me
But I didn't feel them change
The substance did not have the desired effect on me
Then I met a man with a fist for a hand
I encountered someone who was violent or dangerous
Held me flat on my back, taught me how to give in
This person overpowered me and forced me to surrender or submit
Some phrases were shot, pretty roses got tossed
Words were exchanged, and gestures of affection were rejected or taken for granted
The gift of a fat-lipped grin
Despite being beaten down, I still managed to smile through the pain
Now they're drilling my teeth while I'm soiling sheets
I am enduring medical or dental procedures that cause discomfort and fear
With my lover, she's counting the diamonds on rings
I am with someone who values material possessions and superficial displays of love
And even when truth doesn't help with the sting
The truth can be painful and not always easier to accept
Out of no numbers, some harsh looking color
Something unpleasant can unexpectedly appear or happen
You pull them out, feel they're changed
You can confront your problems and emerge transformed
No need for a thousand cranes
You don't need to perform a thousand tasks to fix your problems - sometimes just one action can have a big impact
So I thank the city, the lights that it's spinning
I am grateful for the vibrant, exciting energy of urban life
The friends that I have and the shoes we're not shining
I appreciate the people who support and love me, even if we don't have fancy or brand new shoes
The drunk horn's so violent, all spinning out sounds
Even chaotic or unpleasant sounds can contain beauty and energy
But the color's so vibrant, the color's so loud
The vividness and boldness of life can be overwhelming and exhilarating
The newly-born crying realizing what life is
A baby's cry is the beginning of their understanding of the world and its complexities
In the eyes of my grandpa, the right people dying
My wise and experienced grandfather knew that the world is better off without some people
The see-saw of love, its rickety bounce
Love can be unstable and unpredictable
The feeling of coming, the feeling of going
The highs of life are often balanced by the lows
The mother, the child, the tame and the wild
The many facets of humanity and nature
The sleeping in minor, the gold leaf, the tire
The mundane and everyday aspects of life can contain their own beauty and meaning
The crooked, the straight, all the hip and the fake
All people, regardless of their differences, have something to offer and contribute
Oh, I'm finally feeling the stitching of beautiful seams
I am finally beginning to see the interconnectedness and beauty of life's complexities
Sometimes you just can't hold back the river
Sometimes you can't stop the metaphorical force of nature that is your life
Hold back the river, hold back the river, hold back the river
Repeating the lyric for emphasis and to reinforce the idea that sometimes we must let life take us where it will
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Derek Pressnall, Jamie L Williams, Kianna Alarid, Neely Jenkins, Nicholas White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wck51690
Every year I come back to their music. Reminds me of my teenage years. Reminds me of those I lost. I love this band and would jump at tickets for another tour! Thank you for all of the music they gave us that evoked so many emotions.
@tatiaswain
Me too ❤
@z11111
This entire video is a perfect time capsule of what 2006 looked like
@redxracing90
Was lucky to see this wonderful band twice. I'm in my 30s now. I haven't listened to this song since my 20s. It's really taking me back haha. I still have a few of my Tilly and the Wall tees.
@M1A308
2020 needs more of tis
@FattyMateo
"I laid on my bed let the punk record spin, the stomping guitars were shooting out stars, it all went to my heart" ahhhhh... fucking beautiful
@codymacler9200
This was a favorite song of a friend of mine who passed recently. Man... rest easy Sunflower Boy <3
@huffing_metal
So cool they’re from my hometown <3
@vancouverizer
The joy expressed by this band while they play makes me cry.
@Hebblewater1
"Tap dancer instead of a drummer" That is fucking awesome.