Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
The shaking awful
I'm shaking, asshole
In weather remote
The snowfall, oh
The snowing, the color
We recover from, oh
The Christmas-time coming
Hangover approaching
We've been drinking for months
This Christmas-time though, I'm coming over
Coming from the north
I'm already done
Wrapping up the presents I bought
Overcoat
Now take me anywhere, oh
We've suffered enough
Scary to leave
When they're leaving from work
They're cutting us off
Knowing not why
They're calling on the telephone
Roy, do I know anyone?
No, I don't know anyone
I'm shaking, asshole
In weather remote
The snowfall, oh
The snowing, the color
We recover from, oh
The Christmas-time coming
Hangover approaching
We've been drinking for months
This Christmas-time though, I'm coming over
Coming from the north
I'm already done
Wrapping up the presents I bought
Overcoat
Now take me anywhere, oh
We've suffered enough
Scary to leave
When they're leaving from work
They're cutting us off
Knowing not why
They're calling on the telephone
Roy, do I know anyone?
No, I don't know anyone
Lyrics submitted by a town like paris, edited by bassmaster, NickG420, drawrof
The First Song Lyrics as written by Christopher Early Benjamin Bridwell
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
i swear this is the song ive been searching for my entire life.. im obsessed with it.. i love everything about it... the only way it sounds like the shins is the guys voice... possibly, which in any case is more comparible to... early neil young?
janexsays, that was an amazing comment. seriously. i couldn't agree more about this song. I've been listening to band of horses for 2 years now, and not until recently did i realize just how incredible this song is. the structure of the lyrics in this song is something that's never been done before.
After reading all the comments here, I'm really surprised that no one really gets it...
He's singing about the dreaded family gatherings that come around the holidays with the people you're supposed to be close to you, but you aren't. At least that's what I get out of it.
Brilliant song to say the least.
I agree, I just imagine some guy struggling to deal with the holidays and his family/coworker gatherings. Getting drunk, getting cut off in traffic by people rushing to buy shit. The beauty of Christmas.
Sorry about bad English, I'm from Russia:) I think this beautiful song is about birth of a child. It seems that in the first part of the song unborn child talks about his feelings from the womb of his mother (he's saying WE mostly). It's winter time and he's suffering from cold too, although "the weather remote". "We've been drinking bordeaux" - pretty good from this perspective... It's Christmas time coming and the child decides that it'd be a good time to present himself as a Christmas gift to his parents ("I'm wrapping up the presents I bought").
"an overcoat will take me anywhere oh, we've suffered enough"
This lines shows how child and mother tired of being Ñconnected, the child dreams of himself having an overcoat and being able to go wherever he want to. But: "it's scary to leave and they're leaving from birth cutting us off knowing not why calling on the telephone"
He doesn't understand why parents and chilren cutting off and leave each other at a given time of their lifes and eventually the only connection left between them is a Saturday evening telephone calls. Why can't they forever be as close together and strongly connected, as they were in the beginning. Very deep and a little depressive song.
@pterodactille <br /> You're reading WAY too much into this, LOL. It's about getting drunk at Christmastime, that is all.
This is what I hear:
shaking awful shaking asshole the weather remote snow fall the snowy cover we recover from love
christmas time coming and over approaching we've been drinking bordeaux as christmas times go I'm coming over
coming from no, you're already gone
I'm wrapping up the presents I bought
an overcoat take me anywhere we've suffered enough
it's scary to thee and they're leaving from earth cutting us off knowing not why calling on total
why do I know anyone? no, I don't know anyone
I love the lyrics; they're supposed to be abstract, but they really paint a strong picture. You get such a mixture of feelings and emotions throughout the song.
i think there are some changes needed. everyone seems to have a bit of the right lyrics.
i'm shaking awful i'm shaking ass cold the weather remote snow fall the snowy cover we recover from both
christmas-time coming and over approaching we've been drinking bordeaux it's christmas-time though I'm coming over
coming from no, you're already gone
I'm wrapping up the presents I bought
an overcoat will take me anywhere oh, we've suffered enough
it's scary to leave and they're leaving from birth cutting us off knowing not why calling on the telephone
roy? do I know anyone? no, I don't know anyone
I love this song with a passion. And the bands good in general. And i had sex to everything all the time.
magic.
yeah i thought it was "shaking ass cold" as well
i agree. but i still love them :]
I think the voice sounds more like Jim James from My Morning Jacket on some songs. Maybe if Jim James and James Mercer had a bastard child. whoa... Jim James Mercer, Jim Mercer maybe? James James. :)
This song is something special, alright!
I wonder if this lyrics are accurate... hard to check, though.