Song: The Lumineers – “Slow it Down”

I fell hard for The Lumineers when I saw them last summer at Capitol Hill Block Party.  It was, by far, my favorite performance of the weekend.  But if they played “Slow it Down,” I don’t remember it.  I was engrossed by their more upbeat, heart-filled, and impeccably arranged tunes like “Ho Hey” and “Classy Girls Don’t Kiss in Bars.”   When my hunger for some well-produced recordings beyond their burned demo was satiated by the best Daytrotter Sesssion I’ve ever heard, however, the solo performance of “Slow it Down” is the song that eventually bowled me over.

I have listened to this song a LOT of times and every time it just HITS a piece of pain inside of me that I still cannot articulate.  When I eventually move out of this apartment I will probably be brought back to this tiny room every time I hear this song.  That’s a whole lot of power… the power of a song to not only access feelings you can’t quite undertand but also lodge the accessing of those feelings within a particular time and space.  Take a listen to the song, follow along with the lyrics, and see if it has the same effect on you.

The Lumineers are set to release their first full length album on April 3 and hit the road a bit before on March 21.  No Chicago date, but instead a show in my hometown suburb of Evanston, IL at SPACE.   Their Seattle date sold out the Tractor, was moved to Neumos, and sold that out too.  If you go into Sonic Boom in Ballard, however, and preorder the record you get guaranteed access for their in-store performance on release day.

SLOW IT DOWN

I feel her filth in my bones
Wash off my hands till it’s gone
Your walls they’re closing in
With velvet curtains

Some love was made for the lights
Some kiss your cheek and goodnight
Lift up a red high heel
Lock up your doors with steel

You’re making noise in my street
My blinds are drawn, I can’t see
Smashed in my car window
Didn’t touch the stereo

Slow it down, Angie come back to bed
Rest your arms and rest your legs

Act like you’ve been here before
Smile less and dress up some more
Tie up your scarf real tight
These boys are out for blood tonight

Slow it down, Angie come back to bed
Rest your arms and rest your legs

And when she stood she stood tall
She’ll make a fool of you all
Don’t ask for cigarettes
She ain’t got nothing left for you

I never, she never, we never look back
That wasn’t what we were good at
And when it came to love
We were not good enough

Slow it down, Angie come back to bed
Rest your arms and rest your legs
Don’t you frown when you’re feeling like that
Only love can dig you out of this