Left and Leaving

The Weakerthans

Biography

The Weakerthans are a Canadian indie band originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba

The band is made up of four main members:Stephen Carroll – Guitars, Vocals, Pedal Steel, Keyboards

John K. Samson – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards

Greg Smith – Bass, Vocals, Keyboards

Jason Tait – Drums, Percussion, Vibes, Glockenspiel, Keyboards, Banjo, Loops

The Weakerthans began playing together in 1997.

They have released six albums to date:Fallow (1999)

Left and Leaving (2000)

Reconstruction Site (2003)

Reunion Tour (2007)

Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre (2010)

The Falcon Lake Incident (2010)

The Weakerthans are known for their ingenious lyrics

They make a point of creating music about the people and events in and around Winnipeg

For example, they write about a Winnipeg bus driver in the song “Civil Twilight”

They have also written a song about curling, a popular winter sport in Winnipeg, called “Tournament of Hearts”

Their lyrics often make jokes about their real-life experiences. Their fourth album is called Reunion Tour, even though they have never broken up, nor have they staged a reunion.

Left and LeavingMy city's still breathing (but barely it's true)through buildings gone missing like teeth.The sidewalks are watching me think about you,sparkled with broken glass.I'm back with scars to show.Back with the streets I knowWill never take me anywhere but here.The stain in the carpet, this drink in my hand, the strangers whose faces I know.We meet here for our dress-rehearsal to say "I wanted it this way"Wait for the year to drown.Spring forward, fall back down.I'm trying not to wonder where you are.

All this time lingers, undefined.Someone choose who's left and who's leaving.Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me:a blanket, some matches, this pain in my chest,the best parts of Lonely, duct-tape and soldered wires,new words for old desires,and every birthday card I threw away.I wait in 4/4 time,Count yellow highway lines that you're relying on will lead you home.

My city's still breathing (but barely it's true)

Personification: Suggests that the city is alive

through buildings gone missing like teeth.

Personification: creates a picture of urban decay, with gaps in the buildings of the inner city

The sidewalks are watching me think about you,

Personification: this person feels like he or she is being watched, even by the sidewalks

sparkled with broken glass.

I'm back with scars to show End Rhyme

Back with the streets I know

Will never take me anywhere but here.

The stain in the carpet, this drink in my hand, the strangers whose faces I know.

Contrast: Strangers, yet known

We meet here for our dress-rehearsal to say "I wanted it this way"

Wait for the year to drown. End rhyme

Personification: Not just for the year to end, but for it to come to a tragic end.

Spring forward, fall back down. End rhyme

Personification: Suggests the movement of the year; also evokes the passing of the seasons

I'm trying not to wonder where you are.

All this time lingers, undefined.

Personification: time is not moving along at the usual pace.

Someone choose who's left and who's leaving.

Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me:

Personification: memory is being lost with time

a blanket, some matches, this pain in my chest,

the best parts of Lonely,

duct-tape and soldered wires,

new words for old desires, End rhyme

and every birthday card I threw away.

I wait in 4/4 time,

Count yellow highway lines that you're relying on will lead you home.

Personification: the lines are the guides who will take you home

AnalysisThis song about an unnamed city is full of the Figurative Language device of Personification, which works to create an image of a city full of life.

This city appears to be somewhat run-down, with gaps in the buildings and broken glass on the sidewalk

The person in this song has returned to this city after some traumatic event which has left him with scars.

He seems to feel trapped: the streets will never lead him anywhere else

Analysis (cont’d)This is a city well-known to the person, but still full of strangers. Somehow even those strangers seem familiar.

The seasons pass, the years pass; he tries not to think about the fact that the person he is waiting for has not appeared.

We learn that the person has separated from the loved one, but seems to be unsure about who left whom

The person goes through the list of what is left over from the relationship. First the day-to day objects are listed. Then we get the unexpected list items that illustrate this lover’s anguish: this pain in my chest; the best parts of lonely

Analysis (cont’d)

Finally, we understand that the lover is hoping for the return of his partner: that the lines on the highway will somehow lead his partner back home.

The song illustrates the pain of a broken relationship, one in which the writer has returned home hoping to find his lover, but finds only the remains of the relationship. Still he lives in hope.