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.
Shake It Out
Tilly and the Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the night come in, let the night walk through your door
For every sleep spent in our beds
We will push our feet so hard the room will tear
In a carnival of smiles our faces glow
Oh the dark can make us feel so bold
There's no cold can make us want to stay at home
We all could pass right through
We all have nothing left to lose
It's not the fire, nor the warm drink that heats my hearts
And lifts my heavy legs
Your strong hand has kept me here
No I will not go, no I will not say goodnight
I was told this town's so small it would not grow
I was told that here I would feel alone
There's no cold no snow can make us lose our souls
The light we shine at once we follow
We all could pass right through
We all have nothing left to lose
You know that this night's true, oh no there's nothing left to lose
We're all alive as we tumble over hours
You pull my hand in closer our faces blur
There's nothing we have left we cannot share
So come on baby let's dance
Get your body in motion
I don't want this to end
I don't want to climb those stairs and go to bed
Oh won't you please just try to dance with me tonight
Slide your left foot in, kick your right foot out
Swing your hip to the left, swing it all the way around
Bob your head back and forth, side to side, left then right
Shake it out
The lyrics to Tilly and the Wall's song "Shake It Out" express a desire to let go of inhibitions, embrace the night, and release any doubts or fears. The opening lines, "The sun has passed from overhead, let the night come in, let the night walk through your door," set the tone for a celebration of darkness and freedom. The chorus reinforces this idea, as the band sings "We all could pass right through, we all have nothing left to lose." The verses describe feeling bold in the dark, pushing oneself to the limits, and finding comfort in the presence of others.
The second half of the song shifts from a general celebration to a more personal moment between two people. The singer acknowledges the role their partner plays in keeping them grounded and motivated, saying "Your strong hand has kept me here, no I will not go, no I will not say goodnight." The song ends with an invitation to dance and shake off any remaining inhibitions, emphasizing the joy of being in the moment and sharing that moment with others.
Overall, the lyrics of "Shake It Out" suggest a desire to let go of fears and doubts, to embrace the night and all its possibilities, and to find connection and joy in the presence of others.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun has passed from overhead
It’s now night time
Let the night come in, let the night walk through your door
Welcome the night into your life
For every sleep spent in our beds
We will push our feet so hard the room will tear
We’ll make the most of our time when we’re awake
In a carnival of smiles our faces glow
We’re feeling happy and joyous
Oh the dark can make us feel so bold
The darkness can be empowering
There's no cold can make us want to stay at home
The cold won’t stop us from going out
Every doubt in turn explodes
All our doubts disappear
We all could pass right through
We all have nothing left to lose
We’re living in the moment and taking risks
It's not the fire, nor the warm drink that heats my hearts
And lifts my heavy legs
It’s the joy of the moment that’s energizing us
Your strong hand has kept me here
No I will not go, no I will not say goodnight
We’re grateful to be with our loved ones
I was told this town's so small it would not grow
I was told that here I would feel alone
We were given negative expectations, but we’re proving them wrong
There's no cold no snow can make us lose our souls
The light we shine at once we follow
We’re not losing our passion or zest for life
You know that this night's true, oh no there's nothing left to lose
We're all alive as we tumble over hours
We’re fully living in the moment
You pull my hand in closer our faces blur
There's nothing we have left we cannot share
We’re emotionally connected and there are no secrets between us
So come on baby let's dance
Get your body in motion
Let’s have fun and dance
I don't want this to end
I don't want to climb those stairs and go to bed
We’re having such a great time and don’t want it to stop
Oh won't you please just try to dance with me tonight
Slide your left foot in, kick your right foot out
Swing your hip to the left, swing it all the way around
Bob your head back and forth, side to side, left then right
Shake it out
Let’s dance together and enjoy the moment to the fullest
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Derek Pressnall, Jamie L Williams, Kianna Alarid, Neely Jenkins, Nicholas White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind