Love Song For A Schuba's Bartender

I saw this song live at the Bowery Ballroom three days ago, it was amazing.

I think in the first verse, Mary is short for mary-jane (marijuana). He requires the drug to find any happiness or new beginning in life.

Then, he addresses a woman, or society, or unknown and admits jealousy. Then asks if they can tie a tie. Tying a tie, is something friends did to help friends who did not know how to, perhaps not wearing them often, before a special occasion. So, he needs help preparing himself for dressing up.

Then, he accuses 'you' of being the cause of all of his stress, referring to himself as a child, as he was turned to marijuana to chase happiness.

Then, after a beautiful interlude.

He requires alcohol now to be anything but miserable to him and everyone around. Then accuses the unknown 'you' for all of his problems. perhaps it is a love song for a pretty bartender who doesn't realize what she encourages by her flirtation and enabling of all these people around her at the bar.

"You're the reason People lose their minds"

Perhaps he is talking to the drugs themselves. I'm not sure. Beautiful song regardless.

Pretty much right on. :) This songs on the Daytrotter EP they just released, and oh my lord. Beautiful. :)

i think this song is simply a love song for some bartender he saw at schuba's. he did play there on news years last year, maybe saw a pretty bartender girl he admired and wrote a song about her

I THink in the second verse he sayd " Can you tie it TIGHT" not " Tie a tie" And that means Users of certain Drugs that inject needles , You need to tie something on your arm to find a vein in your arm. and they ask, can you tie it tight. Tie a Tie could mean parents that dont raise they're Kids right or are neglectful. Often wouldnt even show they're kids easy stuff like tying a tie. Which would lead to the child later to get into bad things like drugs. " your the reason children turn to dope"

first line sounds like "hang that reath" =]

Here are the correct lyrics.

hang that reath. so I can have a happy new year.

you're so pretty, people envy you.

Can you tie a tie?

You're the reason children turn to dope. pour my drink so we can have ourselves a good time.

you're the reason people lose their minds and they're all around you but you don't know what you've done.

This is one of my favorite songs of this album. It has a great patient build.

Yeah its for sure tie it tight not tie because its fallowed by "you're the reason children turn to dope" and dope in this case is not herb but "dope" heroin.

I think it's very silly if you try to interpret this as anything other than Richard attempting to bang the Schuba's Bartender. He did play there solo on New Year's eve a few years back.