The band released their debut self-titled album, Young the Giant, on 25 January 2011, which was preceded by a digital-only release in October 2010. The first single, "My Body," reached #5 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and a second single, "Cough Syrup," reached #3 on the same chart.
Previously, the band was known as The Jakes. They released a 7 song EP, Shake My Hand, in 2008, which including two songs ("Garands" and "Cough Syrup") now on the current self-titled album Young the Giant.
Garands
Young the Giant Lyrics
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Scour the forest
Through the night
Searching for a
Sign of life
Memories of fears and strife
Keep his legs from
Turning blue
Running through the fields I knew
Join the ranks of the favored few
What have I become?
Before the day is done
Now that we have
Got what's left
Lost my rights when I was young
Taken by the
Ones I trust
Long before I knew of love
All the things I understood
Fighting for the greater good
Now tell me why this feels so wrong
Feels so wrong, to hold this gun
Now look what I've become
Before the day is done
Now that we have won
The cold wind, you notice
The sky
It blows in to show us
The sign
It falls down before us
It lies
The cold wind, you notice
My eyes
The lyrics to Young the Giant's "Garands" describe a soldier's experience in war, highlighting the physical pain and emotional turmoil of battle. The opening line invites a bright light to scour the forest, suggesting the search for a sign of life. Memories of fears and strife inhibit the soldier's movements, with the lyrics "keep his legs from turning blue" indicating a struggle to keep moving forward. As the soldier runs through the familiar fields, they join the ranks of the favored few, implying camaraderie among fellow soldiers or a sense of victory.
The chorus reveals a sense of confusion and loss, with the lyrics "What have I become? Before the day is done, now that we have got what's left." The soldier has lost their rights, likely through conscription or other military obligations. They were taken by the ones they trusted, suggesting a loss of agency or autonomy. The soldier reflects on their past understanding of fighting for the greater good, but questions why it feels so wrong now, holding a gun and potentially killing others.
The second verse echoes the soldier's questioning of their current situation, with the lyrics "now look what I've become before the day is done, now that we have won." The final lines of "Garands" paint a vivid picture of the cold wind and sky, suggesting a sense of desolation and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Go bright light
Move forward with shining confidence
Scour the forest
Search every inch of the surrounding environment
Through the night
Despite the darkness and uncertainty
Searching for a
Sign of life
Looking for any indication that there is hope
Memories of fears and strife
Recollections of past hardships and difficulties
Keep his legs from
Turning blue
Don't let fear or indecision paralyze you
Broken bones and muddy shoes
Running through the fields I knew
Join the ranks of the favored few
Despite the challenges and obstacles, persevere and push forward
What have I become?
Questioning one's actions and choices
Before the day is done
Now that we have
Reflecting on the situation and the consequences of one's actions
Got what's left
Lost my rights when I was young
Feeling like something has been taken away or stolen
Taken by the
Ones I trust
Long before I knew of love
Betrayed by those who were supposed to protect and guide
All the things I understood
Fighting for the greater good
Believing in a noble cause and purpose
Now tell me why this feels so wrong
Feels so wrong, to hold this gun
Questioning the morality and ethics of one's actions
Now look what I've become
Realizing the change that has occurred within oneself
The cold wind, you notice
The sky
The environment reflects the turmoil and uncertainty within
It blows in to show us
The sign
Mysterious and cryptic messages from fate or destiny
It falls down before us
It lies
The uncertainty and deception of fate or destiny
The cold wind, you notice
My eyes
A personal connection to the chaos and turmoil of the environment
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EHSON HASHEMIAN, ERIC MATTHEW CANNATA, FRANCOIS PAUL COMTOIS, JACOB JOHN TILLEY, SAMEER GADHIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clicheguevara5282
Same here. I get the added cool points for being specifically drawn to this song because I already appreciated what a M1 Garand was - and I'm a sucker for anti-war songs just as much as I'm a sucker for military grade rifles.
*tips fedora straight into r/iamverysmart
PS: the dudes missed a great opportunity to low key sample the "ping" of a Garand clip being ejected and incorporate it into the song. ..but maybe they just aren't quite high IQ enough to be that meta.
PPS: I'm a professional musician so my opinion outweighs everyone else's by default. I'm appealing to my own authority and pre-emptively resorting to ad hominem on you irrelevant buttholes. I not only expect you to tolerate my megalomania and narcissism - but celebrate it enthusiastically.
UPS: Does anyone else find it extra ironic that on the same album as this masterpiece is a hit song licensed for alcohol ads? Especially since the hook is
"My body tells me no but I won't quit cuz I want more.."
please enjoy our product responsibly
@williamstlouis3368
Just happen to be cruising through the Tube and thought about this song, my favorite. I am 69 years old. Love my classic rock but this is the BEST band I have heard over the last five years or so. They are as good as any band I heard in the mid to late 60s and early 70s. I play guitar but the percussionist is one of the better drummers I have heard. Peace.
@NumBaONeHaTeRz
Here because I've always had a great taste in music and discovered this band on my own ;)
@clairebutfromwhere5675
me too ;)
@RandomTessellate
WOW. COOL. YOURE A BUCK SHORT AND YEARS LATE.
@heavenlymxss4198
Sean P just because they were recommended by a celebrity, doesn't mean their taste in music is bad. It's not like you were born with a taste for this band, you developed it, just like them. 🙃
@clicheguevara5282
Same here. I get the added cool points for being specifically drawn to this song because I already appreciated what a M1 Garand was - and I'm a sucker for anti-war songs just as much as I'm a sucker for military grade rifles.
*tips fedora straight into r/iamverysmart
PS: the dudes missed a great opportunity to low key sample the "ping" of a Garand clip being ejected and incorporate it into the song. ..but maybe they just aren't quite high IQ enough to be that meta.
PPS: I'm a professional musician so my opinion outweighs everyone else's by default. I'm appealing to my own authority and pre-emptively resorting to ad hominem on you irrelevant buttholes. I not only expect you to tolerate my megalomania and narcissism - but celebrate it enthusiastically.
UPS: Does anyone else find it extra ironic that on the same album as this masterpiece is a hit song licensed for alcohol ads? Especially since the hook is
"My body tells me no but I won't quit cuz I want more.."
please enjoy our product responsibly
@pragyasingh2297
this song gave me goosebumps!! Young the Giant's music has gotten me through so much in my life. It would be a dream come true if I actually met them one day :)
@faithlmao5082
Young the giant has such a lovely fan base and we're exactly right about the magic this band holds. Cant wait to see them December 8th😩👏💖
@dustynathan6442
Someone asked me last night, "What's your call for best album in recent years?" Took me about 15 seconds. Not sure why this L.A. act didn't become one of the all-time bands. This album's cuts bleed excellence over every groove. This song is the strongest anti-war song since the 1960s.
@thewhitemask
Cough Syrup has always been special to me for a number of instances in my life, but after so long of only listening to that, I've finally gotten around to exploring the rest of this magical CD and I just don't believe what I've been missing, this and Guns Out are even better than what I had hoped for!