Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: garage
Song Meaning of “Gremlins Crawl” by Shannon & The Clams
‘Gremlins Crawl’ by Shannon & The Clams is a nostalgic song about trying to hold on to a feeling of youth and innocence in the face of growing up and feeling out of place in the adult world. The protagonist wants to find the nostalgia of childhood, but knows that it may be an unattainable dream.
The song brings to mind images of nightmarish creatures, a metaphor for the anguish and uncertainty that growing up can bring. In the chorus, the sense of disorientation is echoed with the words “Gremlins crawl…back into my brain”. The person in the song knows that trying to recapture the innocence of childhood is likely to bring only nightmares and disillusionment.
The musical arrangement of ‘Gremlins Crawl’ is upbeat and bouncy, which contrasts with the darker lyrics of the song. It is almost as if the protagonist is going through the motions, actively trying to suppress the feeling of angst that comes from growing up.
At the end of the song, the protagonist is still struggling to reconcile the idea that the past is gone and can’t be recaptured.“Gremlins crawl…back into my brain” is both a reminder of the past and a hopeful plea that one day it can be regained.