Tired Pony was formed by Gary Lightbody (of Snow Patrol), who had a "long-term ambition" of making a country album. He revealed the project's existence in May 2009. In the interview, he expressed his love for country music, which he said he had loved for a long time: "I always thought I had a country album in me and it turns out I did." The rest of Snow Patrol expressed excitement for their band-mate, "delighted that [Lightbody was] getting to exorcise all his crazy ideas." In October 2009, Lightbody in his blog on Snow Patrol's website revealed the members of the group to be Richard Colburn (of Belle & Sebastian), Iain Archer, singer Miriam Kaufmann (Archer's wife), and Jacknife Lee. He talked about two more members whom he was very excited about, but didn't name them. He also stated that the album won't be country as was being reported, but would be "country-tinged". In January 2010, Hot Press reported Peter Buck (of R.E.M.) to be a member of the group. Lightbody described Buck as one of his "all-time heroes" and admired his talent for playing a variety of instruments. Lightbody looks at the project as something he has "wanted to get out of [his] system", and said that "[he doesn't] know whether people will dig it or not." He has expressed doubts about the commercial viability of the group's work, mainly in the United States.
Lightbody had a potential album fully written by May 2009, and had said he only needed to record it. On 13 October 2009, Lightbody debuted a Tired Pony song during Snow Patrol's tour stop in Portland. While playing an acoustic session for radio station KINK, he introduced the song which he said he had written the previous night. He said that the song was "written in Portland, inspired by Portland".
The album The Place We Ran From was released on July 12, 2010, in the United Kingdom and on September 28, 2010, in the United States. Its first single was "Dead American Writers, released one week before the album on vinyl only." It was recorded in only one week on January 2010, in Portland, Oregon, USA. It includes contributions from actress and singer Zooey Deschanel, guitarist M. Ward, and Tom Smith of the indie rock group Editors. Apart from playing on the album, Jacknife Lee is handling album production. The video for "Dead American Writers" stars British actor Joseph Gilgun and was directed by Paul Fraser (a longtime collaborator of Shane Meadows).
Tired Pony played their first live show at London's Forum venue in Kentish Town on July 14, 2010 and were joined on stage by 2009 Mercury Music Prize nominee Lisa Hannigan who stepped in for Zooey Deschanel on the song "Get On The Road". Editors singer Tom Smith also joined the group on stage.
On September 30, 2010, Tired Pony appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Dead American Writers" from the album. "Get on the road" was also featured on Showtime drama "Shameless" at the end of "Just Like the Pilgrims Intended" episode .
Carve Our Names
Tired Pony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it wouldn't be the first time
Let's just run into the sea you say
go and just start running
Let's let the water deep in us, just
let the water drown the worry
With our bodies carve our names let's
carve our names into the ocean
You're in your own way again
Just breathe in and count to ten
Stop holding it all so tight
Just hold me for one last night
This little miracle this little answer to the silence
These parallel lines these dancers right beside us
Let's pretend we're just like them,
let's pretend we'll live forever
There's nothing else to me but you,
there's nothing else that I can think of
You're in your own way again
Just breathe in and count to ten
Stop holding it all so tight
Just hold me for one last night
In Tired Pony's song Carve Our Names, the lyrics express the need for escape and release from worry and stress. The first verse hints at a sense of isolation, as the singer ponders whether they are talking to themselves. The solution proposed is to run into the sea and allow the water to drown worry, a metaphor both for physical immersion and emotional release. The idea of carving names in the ocean embodies a desire to leave a lasting mark, to be remembered and connected to something larger than one's individual concerns.
The second verse suggests that the singer may be addressing a specific person, "you're in your own way again." Here, the focus is on the importance of human connection, the urge for physical intimacy and the comfort it provides. There is a recognition that while there may be stress and anxiety in the larger world, in this moment there is nothing else but the person they are holding.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and transient beauty, a yearning for moments of escape and closeness in the face of life's uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I talking to myself because
Questioning if the singer is alone in their thoughts
it wouldn't be the first time
Acknowledgement that the singer frequently talks to themselves
Let's just run into the sea you say
Suggestion to escape reality and responsibilities
go and just start running
Encouragement to take action towards an escape
Let's let the water deep in us, just
Proposal to release worries and problems to the water
let the water drown the worry
Encouragement to let go and let the water take control
With our bodies carve our names let's
Suggestion to make an unforgettable memory
carve our names into the ocean
Proposal to leave an imprint in the world
You're in your own way again
Notification that the person is obstructing the way
Just breathe in and count to ten
Advice to take a moment to collect their thoughts
Stop holding it all so tight
Prompt to relax and let go of fears and stress
Just hold me for one last night
Request for comfort and support
This little miracle this little answer to the silence
Acknowledgement of the value of the small moments
These parallel lines these dancers right beside us
Observation of the beauty in the world
Let's pretend we're just like them,
Suggestion to imagine themselves as part of the beauty
let's pretend we'll live forever
Encouragement to live in the moment and enjoy every second
There's nothing else to me but you,
Expression of the importance of the person they're speaking to
there's nothing else that I can think of
Acknowledgement of the single focus on the other person
Writer(s): Gary Lightbody, Scott Lewis Mc Caughey, Peter Buck Copyright: Macnor Music, Casa Lila Music, Universal Music Publishing Bl Ltd.
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
vltrucco
Great song!!
humble bumble
nice,,keep up the good work bro
tay.acs
ok the guitar bit at the start is similar to some other song and I can't remember it. it's so annoying ugh!
Angelia Simpson
Did you ever figure it out?