The band has performed at many national festivals including Coachella, Stagecoach, Summerfest, Bumbershoot, and Pickathon. In 2011, they performed at several large folk festivals such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival and 2011 ROMP roots and branches. They are scheduled to play the Sasquatch Festival, Bonnaroo, All Good Music Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and Lollapalooza in 2012.
2014 saw the release of Trampled by Turtles's seventh studio album, Wild Animals, on July 15th. The band tapped Alan Sparhawk, from the band Low, to produce Wild Animals. Sparhawk's influence is evident in the band's seemingly more alternative, high lonesome sound. The night of Wild Animals' release, TBT made their second appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. On August 16th, Trampled by Turtles headlined a sold out show at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO.
http://www.trampledbyturtles.com/
The Middle
Trampled by Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the walls froze through then they shatter
I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room
While the lights outside never matter
There's a bitter pill on the other side
Smoky shaded space in a double-wide
We could come to the middle
I'm a pretender
It's like bein' the morning sun
All the lies I live make me wonder
I had a bottle
Filled it with the only one
That could turn my nights into thunder
How I wish it could be another way
And I wouldn't stumble and go away
Yeah, it makes you cry just a little
If it does us any good
I cannot see it
And I am shaping a madness
Dinner's here, a mirrored plate
While the world spins faster than ever
And they say it's burning
All the things you need to say
You better get out now while you're limber
Morning never cuts like I want it to
There's a canyon in between me and you
And I would bleed just a little
And never be the same
Why am I so tired when all I do is sleep?
Is it the same dream that I keep having?
You were there with me lying in a naked seat
But there was ample shelter and padding
But the wind whispers in a darkened street
Selling simple warnings to you and me
Yeah, it makes me die just a little
A little every day
The lyrics of Tramples by Turtles' song, The Middle, are reflective and poignant. The singer talks about feeling trapped in a room, with the outside world's lights not mattering. The lyrics, "I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room, while the lights outside never matter," drive home the idea that he is in a state of mind where the world outside is of no consequence to him, and he is lost in his thoughts. The line "There's a bitter pill on the other side" may refer to the difficult decisions and choices that await him when he steps out of his room.
The lyrics talk about pretending and how it makes the singer wonder about his life. He talks about filling a bottle with the only one who could turn his nights into thunder. The singer wishes that things could be different and that he would not stumble and go away. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with his demons and that his need to escape has led him to become a pretender.
The song exudes a sense of helplessness, with the chorus lyrics, "Yeah, it makes you cry just a little if it does us any good; I cannot see it." The singer cannot see a way out of his predicament, and the only way out is to go through it. The song is about facing one's inner demons and learning to live with them rather than running away from them.
Line by Line Meaning
I wasn't higher than I was supposed to be
I wasn't under the influence of drugs or alcohol
But the walls froze through then they shatter
I experienced a traumatic event
I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room
I'm experiencing some degree of calmness and solitude
While the lights outside never matter
The outside world is irrelevant to my state of mind
There's a bitter pill on the other side
There are consequences or challenges awaiting me
Smoky shaded space in a double-wide
A confined space filled with smoke or darkness
We could come to the middle
We could find common ground
Let it all pass through
Let's move past our issues
I'm a pretender
I'm not being true to myself
It's like bein' the morning sun
It's a temporary, fleeting feeling
All the lies I live make me wonder
I'm questioning my own dishonesty
I had a bottle
I turned to alcohol to cope
Filled it with the only one
I turned to alcohol instead of reaching out to others
That could turn my nights into thunder
Alcohol was my only source of comfort
How I wish it could be another way
I wish things were different
And I wouldn't stumble and go away
I wouldn't make mistakes and leave
Yeah, it makes you cry just a little
The situation is heartbreaking
If it does us any good
If it helps us in any way
I cannot see it
I don't see any positive outcome
And I am shaping a madness
I'm spiraling out of control
Dinner's here, a mirrored plate
The meal is a reflection of myself
While the world spins faster than ever
Everything is happening too quickly
And they say it's burning
People say the world is in chaos
All the things you need to say
All the things you should express
You better get out now while you're limber
You should leave now while you still can
Morning never cuts like I want it to
Mornings never feel refreshing
There's a canyon in between me and you
There's a distance or disconnect between us
And I would bleed just a little
I would be vulnerable
And never be the same
It would be a transformative experience
Why am I so tired when all I do is sleep?
Why am I not feeling rested?
Is it the same dream that I keep having?
Am I stuck in a repetitive cycle?
You were there with me lying in a naked seat
You were vulnerable and exposed with me
But there was ample shelter and padding
But there was protection and comfort
But the wind whispers in a darkened street
I hear a foreboding message in the silence
Selling simple warnings to you and me
Providing ominous advice
Yeah, it makes me die just a little
The message is disheartening
A little every day
It's slowly taking its toll
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dave Simonett, Tim Saxhaug, Dave Carroll, Erik Berry, Ryan Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G Smith
I wasn't higher than I was supposed to be
But the walls froze through then they shatter
I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room
While the lights outside never matter
There's a bitter pill on the other side
Smoky shaded space in a double-wide
We could come to the middle
Let it all pass through
I'm a pretender
It's like being the morning sun
All the lies I live make me wonder
I had a bottle
Filled it with the only one
That could turn my nights into thunder
How I wish it could be another way
And I wouldn't stumble and go away
Yeah, it makes you cry just a little
If it does us any good
I cannot see it
And I am shaping a madness
[?] were planned
While the world spins faster than ever
And they say it's burning
All the things you need to say
You better get out now while you're limber
Morning never cuts like I want it to
There's a canyon in between me and you
And I would bleed just a little
And never be the same
Why am I so tired when all I do is sleep
Is it the same dream that I keep having
You there with me lying in a naked seat
But there was ample shelter and padding
But the wind whispers in a darkened street
Selling simple warnings to you and me
Yeah it makes me die just a little
A little every day
Matthew Garnier
I wasn't higher than I was supposed to be
But the walls froze through then they shatter
I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room
While the lights outside never matter
There's a bitter pill on the other side
Smoky shaded space in a double-wide
We could come to the middle
Let it all pass through
I'm a pretender
It's like bein' the morning sun
All the lies I live make me wonder
I had a bottle
Filled it with the only one
That could turn my nights into thunder
How I wish it could be another way
And I wouldn't stumble and go away
Yeah, it makes you cry just a little
If it does us any good
I cannot see it
And I am shaping a madness
Then it seems to mirror me
While the world spins faster than ever
And they say it's burning
All the things you need to say
You better get out now while you're limber
Morning never cuts like I want it to
There's a canyon in between me and you
And I would bleed just a little
And never be the same
Why am I so tired when all I do is sleep?
Is it the same dream that I keep having?
You were there with me lying in a naked seat
But there was ample shelter and padding
But the wind whispers in a darkened street
Selling simple warnings to you and me
Yeah it makes me die just a little
A little every day
Dawn McRobb Donoghue
If I could count the times trampled by turtles made life better with their songs, I'd be counting forever
Mike Huff
Tbt makes me happy ❤
FarceMartyr1229
Saw them open with this song at their recent show in Charlottesville. One of the best opening performances I’ve seen in a long time.
Terry Karm
Once again, awesomeness delivered! Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.
Jon Elson
WOW! Just WOW! I just discovered this song, and it blew me away. I've seen them twice live, unfortunateley they are not doing a show near me soon.
Mike Keefe
Seeing at TI in two weeks. Can’t wait, glad they are touring again. Amazing live performances.
Jake White
This song gives me chills.
Ashley Meadows
Oh it feels so good.
I hope you guys know just how much happiness you bring us.
G Smith
I wasn't higher than I was supposed to be
But the walls froze through then they shatter
I'm partially peaceful sitting in an empty room
While the lights outside never matter
There's a bitter pill on the other side
Smoky shaded space in a double-wide
We could come to the middle
Let it all pass through
I'm a pretender
It's like being the morning sun
All the lies I live make me wonder
I had a bottle
Filled it with the only one
That could turn my nights into thunder
How I wish it could be another way
And I wouldn't stumble and go away
Yeah, it makes you cry just a little
If it does us any good
I cannot see it
And I am shaping a madness
[?] were planned
While the world spins faster than ever
And they say it's burning
All the things you need to say
You better get out now while you're limber
Morning never cuts like I want it to
There's a canyon in between me and you
And I would bleed just a little
And never be the same
Why am I so tired when all I do is sleep
Is it the same dream that I keep having
You there with me lying in a naked seat
But there was ample shelter and padding
But the wind whispers in a darkened street
Selling simple warnings to you and me
Yeah it makes me die just a little
A little every day
HazeGrey
And I am shaping a madness,
*dinner's here, a mirrored plate.*