A 1000 Times

Like a few of Hamilton Leithauser’s other great songs, “A 1000 Times,” a collaborative single with Rostam Batmanglij, takes place as things are winding down. But while “In the New Year” found Leithauser gazing triumphantly toward the future and “The Rat” chronicled the bitter, desperate end of a relationship, “A 1000 Times” is too smitten to even notice its surroundings. “The 10th of November, the year’s almost over,” Leithauser sings dreamily, although it really could be any day of the year: “If I had your number, I’d call you tomorrow.” As “A 1000 Times” evolves from a baroque, unmistakably Rostam lullaby into a blustery, Basement Tapes stomp, its instantly catchy chorus (“I had a dream that you were mine/I’ve had that dream a thousand times”) seems to have come and gone 1,000 times itself. It’s an affecting, infectious technique; the song’s shapeshifting structure elevates Leithauser’s simplistic, repetitive melody into something approaching a pop standard. As illustrated by the stars of the video, portraying Hamilton and Rostam at various ages, “A 1000 Times” is a song you can imagine growing old with. by Sam Sodomsky. August 25 2016

[Intro: Hamilton Leithauser] I had a dream that you were mine I've had that dream a thousand times A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times [Verse 1: Hamilton Leithauser] I left my room on the West Side I walked from noon until the night I changed my crowd, I ditched my tie I watched the sparks fly off the fire I found your old house, I didn't even try They'd closed the shutters, they'd pulled the blinds My eyes were red, the streets were bright Those ancient years were black and white [Pre-Chorus: Hamilton Leithauser, Together] The 10th of November, the year's almost over If I had your number, I'd call you tomorrow If my eyes were open, I'd be kicking the doors in But all that I have is this old dream I’ve always had [Chorus: Hamilton Leithauser] A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times [Verse 2: Hamilton Leithauser] I left my room on the West Side I walked from noon through the night I changed my crowd, I ditched my tie I watched the sparks fly off the fire I found your old house, I didn't even try They'd closed the shutters, they'd pulled the blinds I had a dream that you were mine I've had that dream a thousand times [Pre-Chorus: Hamilton Leithauser] But I don't answer questions, I just keep on guessing My eyes are still open, the curtains are closing But all that I have is this old dream I always had [Chorus: Hamilton Leithauser] A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times A thousand times, a thousand times I've had that dream a thousand times