Friends since they were five, the band grew up playing music together, from early teen-age house parties in their hometown of San Francisco, to multiple world tours. Throughout their extensive travels over the past 8 years – including recent tours through China and South Korea – Two Gallants have continued to evolve, both musically and personally.
The bands' very first single, "Nothing to You" (from their 2004 debut The Throes), started off a string of cult classics that helped define their signature sound. The success of the sophomore album, What the Toll Tells (2006), delivered a few more singles, including “Steady Rollin’” and “Las Cruces Jail”. The wistful “Seems Like Home to Me” from The Scenery of Farewell EP (2007) and “Despite What You’ve Been Told” from 2007’s self-titled album, provide the framework of the bands development into The Bloom and the Blight.
After six years of constant recording and touring, Two Gallants took a hiatus starting in the summer of 2008.
About their 2012 album, The Bloom and the Blight, Adam Stephens explained: “We’ve both gone through some hard stuff personally, so this album has that element of the cathartic, of a release of tension. We had taken time off, and we did different things, played in different bands. And in doing those things, being apart and redefining ourselves in that way, we were able to come together with a fresh approach.” The album's first single was "Broken Eyes".
The Bloom and the Blight Album Trailer: http://youtu.be/qOY07eRnAgU
We Are Undone, Two Gallants' fifth studio album and second for ATO Records, was released in February 2015.
A second hiatus began in 2016.
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Lady
Two Gallants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dressed in red from head to toe
You were all the thoughts I was knowing
And the sun gave shine, no care the season
While I learned my one, two, three's and
You fell in to teach me treason
Jumping on the monkey show
Jumping on the monkey show
Searching for a face I know
And I just walk for hours
Down the red-brick march of Market Street
Of Market Street
I spend my each days in repeat
And Lady, she's all right with me
Done borrowed all my empathy
Now you know she got the best of me
'Cause she's not lying next to me
And all things fine, sweet day beginning
I got up and fell right in and
Climbed up to where you was living
And you stood in the backdoor yawning
And I caught where you ease me on
You're the reason I wake each morning
And sunshine plays the puddles
Through the mornings, evenings, afternoons
Evenings, afternoons
I count my thoughts with coffee-spoons
And something reeks of Heaven
'Neath the highway where the hobos sleep
Where the hobos sleep
And laugh about the pains I keep
And Lady, she's a friend of mine
'Cause I know how to take my time
But I can't say that without lyin'
So I'll try not to try next time
And I got no one to bear my burden
Though I could pay with sips of wine
All men like me just tuck their shirts in
Too busy runnin' out of
Do my best to do without, still
Too busy runnin' out of time
Well Lady, I can't take no rest
With all this weight across my chest
Yesterday I loved the best
Done borrowed too much happiness
The lyrics of Two Gallants’s song ‘Lady’ tells a story about a deep personal relationship that has disintegrated long ago. The first verse of the song paints a picture of the past; it describes the singer’s childhood memories of falling in love with someone who taught him/her how to count and who was once all he/she thought about. As time passed, the relationship became rotten as the ‘you’ character turned out to be the one who betrayed him/her, teaching him/her the ways of deceit. As a result, the singer now wanders aimlessly around his/her city, Market Street, searching for someone he/she knows but never finding them.
The second verse showcases the character’s longing for an earlier relationship, Lady. The verse begins with him travelling to see her before they have a conversation. She greets him in her doorway with a yawn, and he is instantly reminded why he wakes up every morning. The singer then describes how he sees beauty around him, even under the highway where homeless people rest; he still admires the beauty of the sky and enjoys a cup of coffee.
The following verse alludes to the singer’s troubles in life, which make him unable to bear his burden. However, he seems to believe that he does not need anyone’s help and that he can handle his troubles by himself. He drinks wine and continues to perform his daily routines while too busy running out of time.
Overall, the lyrics for “Lady” are quite emotional, blending nostalgia, heartbreak, and a sense of loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Once when I was daily growing
When I was young and learning about the world
Dressed in red from head to toe
Wearing red clothing from head to toe
You were all the thoughts I was knowing
I was mostly thinking about you
And the sun gave shine, no care the season
The sunlight was always shining, no matter the season
While I learned my one, two, three's and
I was learning basic skills
You fell in to teach me treason
You taught me deceitful behavior
And now I spend my each day busy
Currently, every day is filled with activity
Jumping on the monkey show
Participating in monkey-like behavior
Searching for a face I know
Looking for someone familiar
And I just walk for hours
Walking for extended periods of time
Down the red-brick march of Market Street
Walking down the brick road of Market Street
I spend my each days in repeat
My daily routine is repetitive
And Lady, she's all right with me
I am content with Lady's presence
Done borrowed all my empathy
I have given Lady all of my empathy
Now you know she got the best of me
Lady has taken the best of my emotions
'Cause she's not lying next to me
Because Lady is not next to me, I have given her all of my emotions
And all things fine, sweet day beginning
The day is beginning wonderfully
I got up and fell right in and
I got out of bed and continued with my day
Climbed up to where you was living
I climbed up to where you were living
And you stood in the backdoor yawning
You were standing in the backdoor and yawning
And I caught where you ease me on
I enjoyed your presence
You're the reason I wake each morning
You are the reason I wake up every day
And sunshine plays the puddles
Sunlight reflects in puddles
Through the mornings, evenings, afternoons
Sunshine reflects throughout the day
I count my thoughts with coffee-spoons
I overthink everything
And something reeks of Heaven
Something smells divine
'Neath the highway where the hobos sleep
Under the highway where homeless people sleep
And laugh about the pains I keep
Laughing about my emotional pain
And Lady, she's a friend of mine
Lady is my friend
'Cause I know how to take my time
Because I know how to be patient
But I can't say that without lyin'
But I cannot say that without lying
So I'll try not to try next time
I will try not to act impatient next time
And I got no one to bear my burden
I have no one to share my troubles with
Though I could pay with sips of wine
Even though I can bribe them with alcohol
All men like me just tuck their shirts in
Men like me just conform to societal norms
Too busy runnin' out of
Too busy running out of time
Do my best to do without, still
I still try to do my best even without help
Too busy runnin' out of time
I am too busy and do not have enough time
Well Lady, I can't take no rest
Lady, I cannot rest
With all this weight across my chest
With all of this emotional weight on me
Yesterday I loved the best
Yesterday was the best day I had
Done borrowed too much happiness
I borrowed too much happiness and am now paying the price
Contributed by Lily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.