With "Speaking in Cursive", Two Cow Garage has brought on a permanent keyboard player with Andy Schell, helping the band expand on their guitar-bass-drum assault, adding depth and richer melodies to the heartbreak-on-the-sleeve lyrical bite and rock attack that Two Cow Garage is already known for.
From the opener of "Your Humble Narrator", starting out with Schnabel's tattered, smoke-filled voice, the song builds, from a toned-down guitar-bass-drum attack that turns into something melodic and poignant with the addition of keys, before quickly busting into the chorus and ripping through you with pure adrenaline.
Through the all-out classic-rock-gone-punk vigor of "Brass Ring", ringing with the line, "don't ever be second stage, apathetic melancholy is all the rage, there was never any brass ring to be found", as the band comes to grips with the fact they do music for the love of it, not for the "Brass Ring" or any other reason.
To "Bastards and Bridesmaids", a song that questions youth and wasted youth with plenty of guitar noise buzzing as the rhythm section pounds it out, before quickly sliding into an unforgettable hook, and "Swingset Assassin", a haunting acoustic number that is anything but soft and pretty: abrasive and cutting, Two Cow Garage can rock out and bring you to tears with nothing more but voices and an acoustic guitar:
The album's "Sadie Mae" really shows off the beauty of keys in a melancholy rock song, reeling you in while the lyrics and the story line bring you to your knees in tears as you wrap yourself up in the story of "Sadie Mae", and when the line "If the love doesn't kill me, the loneliness will. And if these drugs don't thrill me, then nothing else will".
Ending with "Swallowed By the Sea", one of two songs bassist Sweeney sings lead on, the band gets more roots-y and ends with a heart-wrenching, alt. country song to put others to shame.
Yes, Two Cow Garage have done it again, delivering a record that surpassed their last ("III"), while moving forward, expanding their trademark sound, but still making it sound wholly Two Cow Garage.
Lydia
Two Cow Garage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna feel like the second verse of Let's Get It On
With scraped up knees, and a fresh black eye
You stumbled and passed out into my life
And it could be sweet if it wasn't so tragic
A little more magic, a little less wrong
I can't live this way
It's a terrible circumstance
That the x's on the back of your hands
Keep me awake at night
Lydia, you're much too young
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
If your lips were just a little bit older
Well, in my defense, I've got a plan
That doesn't involve a witness stand
But at my best, I'm still just a mess
They're little trainwreck hearts, let 'em rest
And it could be sweet if it wasn't so tragic
A little more magic, a little less wrong
I can't live this way
Like a tired and clichéd country song
It's a terrible circumstance
That the x's on the back of your hands
Help me sleep at night
Lydia, you're much too young
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
If just your lips were just a little bit older
Lydia, you're much too young
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
If just your lips were just a little bit older
And, Lydia, you're much too young
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
But now we'll let this fire smolder
And, Lydia, you're much too young
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
If only your lips were just a little bit older
The lyrics of "Lydia" by Two Cow Garage express the singer's desire for love and the difficulties in finding it. The singer envisions finding a love as powerful and classic as an old soul song (usually referring to classic R&B or soul music), and compares it to the intense romance and sensuality of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." However, the situation they find themselves in is far from idyllic - the object of the singer's affection, Lydia, is much younger and inexperienced. The singer sees the marks on Lydia's hands from being underage as an obstacle in pursuing their attraction.
The chorus describes the contradiction of wanting something sweet and magical, but being stuck in a situation that feels tragic and wrong. The singer is tired of living in this clichéd "country song" scenario and wants to move on to something more fulfilling. However, despite the difficulties, the singer can't seem to let go of the attraction they feel towards Lydia.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lydia" paint a picture of a complicated and unfulfilling relationship that the singer can't resist, but also knows is not sustainable or healthy.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be in love like an old soul song
I want a deep and meaningful kind of love, like the ones described in classic soul songs.
I wanna feel like the second verse of Let's Get It On
I want to experience the sensuality and passion depicted in the second verse of Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' song.
With scraped up knees, and a fresh black eye
You came into my life battered and bruised, physically and emotionally.
You stumbled and passed out into my life
You entered my life in a chaotic and unexpected manner, without really knowing what you were getting yourself into.
And it could be sweet if it wasn't so tragic
Our situation has the potential to be beautiful and loving, but it is overshadowed by sadness and misfortune.
A little more magic, a little less wrong
If we could just add a bit more positivity and wonder to our relationship, instead of the negativity and mistakes, we could make it work.
I can't live this way
I cannot continue to exist in this kind of situation or relationship, it is not healthy for me.
Like a tired and clichéd country song
Our situation feels like a typical country song, full of the same old heartbreak and pain that has been sung about for ages.
It's a terrible circumstance
Our situation is difficult and unfortunate.
That the x's on the back of your hands
The marks on your hands are signs of your struggles and inner turmoil.
Keep me awake at night
Your problems are constantly on my mind and they are preventing me from getting a good night's rest.
Lydia, you're much too young
You are not yet mature enough or experienced enough to handle the kind of relationship that I desire.
To have your teeth on the tip of my tongue
I should not be romantically interested in you, especially not to the point where I am physically attracted to you.
If your lips were just a little bit older
If you were more mature and experienced, both emotionally and physically, then maybe we could pursue a relationship.
Well, in my defense, I've got a plan
I am not completely without strategy or foresight when it comes to our situation.
That doesn't involve a witness stand
I do not want our situation to become public or bring negative attention to us.
But at my best, I'm still just a mess
Even when I try my hardest, I still have my own issues and shortcomings to deal with.
They're little trainwreck hearts, let 'em rest
Our hearts and emotions are fragile and unstable, so we should just take a break and let them recover.
But now we'll let this fire smolder
We may not continue our relationship right now, but we will let our feelings for each other simmer and see what happens in the future.
Contributed by Brody E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cornell Waters
🙍 Music!
marshall kenneth
wooo! Two Cow Forever!