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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Winter
Two Gallants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a string tied 'round your tooth
Your mother slammed the door
Don't want to hear no more
From the corner of your mouth
As the truth came wandering out
You longed for something else
Out upon the open road you learned to say goodbye
Such a lovely day to die
And all these things I have seen within your two blue eyes
In the silence of this town
As the truth came wandering out
Your neighbor slams his door
Don't want to hear no more.
The song "Winter" by Two Gallants explores the theme of confronting truth and longing for something more significant in life. The opening lines set the tone of reminiscing the past, specifically the winter of one's youth, wherein the memory of a string tied 'round the tooth is mentioned that may be perceived as a symbol of forced maturity during childhood. As the truth comes wandering out from the corner of the mouth, the song shifts into present time, where the longing for something more significant is expressed metaphorically as wanting to be something more than just a life upon the shelf.
The second verse depicts the realization of this desire to be something else, to pursue something more meaningful, which led the singer out upon the open road taking risks, perhaps careless enough that it becomes a lovely day to die. The chorus echoes the melancholy sound of the song, as the singer catches a glimpse of the past through another person's eyes. It is a portrait of somber acceptance, as the singer is willing to confront even the cruel truths that lie in the hearts of the ones closest to them.
The final verse concludes the story with another mention of a slamming door, probably signifying the closing of the door to the singer's past. The neighbor's harsh rejection of the truth may reflect the fear that the truth represents something they cannot own or control. Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the yearning for something beyond the mundane while being aware that the pursuit of truth comes with the risk of facing its sometimes painful realities.
Line by Line Meaning
In the Winter of your youth
During a time in your past when you were young and inexperienced
With a string tied 'round your tooth
When you were losing teeth and tying a string to them to remove them
Your mother slammed the door
Your mother expressed anger or frustration, possibly due to your behavior
Don't want to hear no more
Your mother was tired of listening to you and wanted silence
From the corner of your mouth
When you spoke something that was true, but maybe not well-received
As the truth came wandering out
You could not control the honesty that came from your mouth
You longed for something else
You wanted something different from what you had or what you were experiencing
Than your life upon the shelf
You wanted something more exciting or fulfilling than your current situation
Out upon the open road you learned to say goodbye
When you left home and went out in the world, you learned how to leave things behind
Such a lovely day to die
You experienced something so beautiful or intense that it made you feel alive
And all these things I have seen within your two blue eyes
I can tell from your expression and gaze that you have experienced many things
In the silence of this town
During a moment of stillness in a place where not much happens
As the truth came wandering out
When someone spoke honestly, perhaps unexpectedly
Your neighbor slams his door
Someone nearby expressed annoyance or anger, possibly due to the truth being spoken
Don't want to hear no more
They are tired of listening and want the conversation to end
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Hayworth Stephens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickstayner
Such awesome, overlooked musicians. These guys have it all: Adam's fingerstyle Fahey-esque guitar cranked to 11, songwriting well versed in the American literary and folk/blues traditions, Tyson's fully unleashed drummer talent... so glad these guys got back together.
@TheBofSerenity
When the drummer put the headband on to keep his headphones on you knew right away the shit was about to get real. Continued awesomeness by KEXP.
@jeffgrotte
You don't need to believe in God when you believe in music....and this here is pure music.
@ClarenceFilms
As always, amazing performances and incredible camera work and editing. Keep it up kexp! You have a fan for life here.
@JustAKonsept
This song rocks so hard it broke a string on my guitar while I sat next to it.
@SuperTrancend
KEXP is the old school bbc of our time.
@EcoSolarSurfer
PEOPLE AT KEXP!!!!!.... this is better than their studio version...
@mguygh
this is very powerful music
@TheeMikeForce
Mic?... Mic?... Is that you Mac Fleetwood? You hit hard like a sun collapsing in on itself. great song.
@TheZatrahc
Aaaaaaaaaaaand done. Just bought the album.