Colours Run are a Manchester band, and all hail from the area (except for Tim, who comes from Liverpool). They devote themselves to writing and playing music with genuine emotional depth and catchy hooks. "Could be, and should be, absolutely massive", say www.manchestermusic.co.uk with "the sort of tunes you could imagine filling stadiums".
They've recently recorded and self-produced an EP (The Sticks), which can be previewed at www.myspace.com/coloursrun, and have headlined many of Manchester's finest venues, including Night & Day and The Late Room. Colours Run are currently listening to a lot of Rufus Wainwright and Elbow. "Tim would very much like to meet Guy Garvey since he seems like a really sorted bloke who wears great scarves".
From www.coloursrun.com
Before The War
Colours Run Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All our brains got replaced
And these robots never laugh
At my jokes
So take me back, before the war
And take these things - they're all yours
There is nothing
Nothing worth fighting for
You stole my drugs, crashed my car
But you left no lasting scars
Retribution slipped so soft, like a blade
We blew it up, knocked it down
But never tried giving ground
Now there's nothing left of love
But what I saved
I get tired winning games
When the pieces never change
And all the clever moves you make
Seem so tame
And you can sulk if you want, but don't you wonder
What's the point
When there's nothing left of love
Worth sulking for
And did you cry when you left me
Another year older, the world on my shoulders
And I'm still no closer
To finding a girl who won't bore me to tears
Not here
There's nothing worth fighting for, no
Don't remember what I did
Before the war
In Colours Run's song Before The War, the singer reflects upon a war-ravaged world in which humans have been replaced by robots. The singer's frustration and loneliness come through in the opening lines as they speak of how the robots never laugh at their jokes. The singer longs to go back to a time before the war, before they lost the human race, and before all their brains were replaced by artificial intelligence. Each passing moment feels pointless and lackluster as the singer can find nothing worth fighting for.
The singer continues by recounting how their love has been eroded away by the war. They speak of how their partner stole their drugs and crashed their car, but left no lasting scars. The singer appears to be disillusioned with notions of retribution, which they describe as slipping softly like a blade. The singer also acknowledges the futility of their side's efforts in the war, as they "blew it up, knocked it down, but never tried giving ground." The only thing they have left of love is what they saved, a sentiment that feels bittersweet and mournful.
In the second verse, the singer speaks about how they've grown weary of winning games that have no tangible reward. They're tired of making clever moves that ultimately feel futile. The singer questions the point of sulking when there's nothing left of love worth sulking for. The song's final lines suggest that the singer's experiences have left them jaded and world-weary, and they have yet to find a partner who doesn't bore them to tears.
Line by Line Meaning
When we lost the human race
We, as a society, have devolved to the extent that we no longer embrace humanity.
All our brains got replaced
Our thought process has been distorted to the extent that we have lost sight of who we used to be.
And these robots never laugh
The artificial intelligence we have created, neither possesses genuine emotions nor appreciates the human sense of humor.
At my jokes
As a result, my jokes or any other emotions are no longer appreciated nor considered.
So take me back, before the war
Take me back in time to the period before the war and its ensuing conflict; a time of relative calm and order.
And take these things - they're all yours
Everything that we have accumulated or created belongs to somebody, and therefore, it should be left for them.
There is nothing
In the grand scheme of things, there are no possessions or relationships that are priceless.
Nothing worth fighting for
Therefore, there are no material possessions, social relationships, or political ideals that are worth fighting to defend.
You stole my drugs, crashed my car
You have stolen and caused me material loss, and I am left with nothing tangible.
But you left no lasting scars
The injuries you inflicted did not leave permanent damage nor impact my life in any significant way.
Retribution slipped so soft, like a blade
The desire for revenge or justice was so subtle and fleeting that it failed to make an impact or change anything.
We blew it up, knocked it down
We, as a society, have destroyed or disrupted everything to the point of no recognition or value.
But never tried giving ground
However, rather than compromise or seek common ground, we have only sought victory or supremacy.
Now there's nothing left of love
As a result, very little of human love or affection exists, if any at all.
But what I saved
Nevertheless, some vestiges of love and tenderness still exist in my mind, and I have chosen to hold onto them and cherish them.
I get tired winning games
The cycle of winning and losing, whether in the personal or the societal arena, can become tedious and repetitive.
When the pieces never change
The tools and methods we use to fight this cycle are unchanging, and we are in dire need of originality and fresh ideas.
And all the clever moves you make
Regardless of how intelligent, shrewd, or savvy our decisions or strategies are, they are ultimately unproductive.
Seem so tame
Our achievements or strategies have become predictable and commonplace, and we require a new approach.
And you can sulk if you want, but don't you wonder
Your opinions and feelings bear no impact on the overall situation. Instead, we should focus on a fresh approach to better our future.
What's the point
What would be the point of sulking or dwelling ineffectively on the past. Instead, we should focus on a fresh approach to better our future.
When there's nothing left of love
There is no significant emotion left among people, no deep sense of commitment to a larger ideal or common good.
Worth sulking for
There is nothing transpiring in today's environment that is worth the emotional investment you are currently giving.
And did you cry when you left me
Looking back on our experiences, did you feel any pain or sorrow upon leaving me and the situations before us?
Another year older, the world on my shoulders
Though I am now a year older, the situation remains the same, with the pressures and complexities of life resting on my shoulders.
And I'm still no closer
Despite my best efforts, I have yet to make any significant progress, and I remain as far away as ever from my goals.
To finding a girl who won't bore me to tears
I have yet to locate a girl who is sincerely interesting to me, and who can fill my life with enjoyment and purpose.
Not here
In this particular setting or environment, I am proven unsuccessful in my search for an intriguing person.
There's nothing worth fighting for, no
I am in a state where there is no cause or incentive strong enough to warrant a fight or a pursuit.
Don't remember what I did
At this juncture, I cannot recall the specific actions I took before the war or the events that led to my present state.
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.