Their music features a rare contribution to the genre, incorporating the use of a violin. Formed in 1997, the final line up consisted of Ryan Key (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ryan Mendez (lead guitar, vocals), Sean Mackin (violin, vocals), Nathan Young on drums, and Josh Portman on bass.
Yellowcard was formed in 1997 in Jacksonville Read Full BioYellowcard is a multi-platinum selling pop punk band from Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Their final album Yellowcard, released on September 30, 2016.
Their music features a rare contribution to the genre, incorporating the use of a violin. Formed in 1997, the final line up consisted of Ryan Key (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ryan Mendez (lead guitar, vocals), Sean Mackin (violin, vocals), Nathan Young on drums, and Josh Portman on bass.
Yellowcard was formed in 1997 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA after meeting at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. The band was made up of six members back then:
Ben Dobson (1997 - 2000) : vocals, Todd Clarry (1997 - 2001) : guitar, vocals, Sean Mackin (1997 - 2017) : violin, vocals, Warren Cooke (1997 - 2002) : bass, Ben Harper (not the same as Ben Harper) (1997 - 2005) : guitar, Longineu W. Parsons III (1997 - 2014) : drums.
Former members: Ben Dobson (1997 - 2000) : vocals, Todd Clarry (1997 - 2001) : guitar, vocals, Warren Cooke (1997 - 2002) : bass, Alex Lewis (2003 - 2004) : bass, backing vocals, Ben Harper (1997 - 2005) : lead guitar, Peter Mosely (2002 - 2003, 2004 - 2007) : bass, vocals, Sean O'Donnell of Reeve Oliver(2010–2012) : bass guitar, backing vocals
The band released their first album, Midget Tossing, in 1997 but with not much success.
Around that time their lead singer was replaced by Ryan Key who convinced the band that they couldn't be successful in Florida, so they decided to move to Southern California.
The new group released their debut album, One for the Kids (Lobster Records), in 2001, and followed up with The Underdog EP (Fueled by Ramen Records) in 2002.
Yellowcard signed with Capitol Records in 2003 and released Ocean Avenue, which is their most successful album to date.
Soon after, bassist Alex Lewis was let go by the band. Pete Mosely who had produced and played bass on most of the songs on Ocean Avenue took over on bass.
The Yellowcard popularity "skyrocketed" after this period, with a song from Ocean Avenue, Breathing appearing in the game Burnout 3: Takedown.
Lights and Sounds was released in January 2006. The title track, Lights and Sounds, was the first single released off the album. It is also featured on the game Burnout Revenge. How I Go features Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.
In 2005 the guitarist Ben Harper left the band. He chose to work with his record label TAKEOVER RECORDS and has signed bands since his departure. He was replaced by Ryan Mendez (formerly of Staring Back) shortly before the Lights & Sounds tour began.
Paper Walls released on July 17th, 2007. Light Up the Sky was the first single released off this album. The album debuted at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling about 40,000 copies in its first week. After their tour for Paper Walls in 2008, the band went on hiatus for almost 2 years.
While touring for Paper Walls, Peter Mosely announced in a MySpace blog message that he would be leaving Yellowcard. . Josh Portman took over on bass until the reformation of Yellowcard in 2010, upon which Sean O'Donnell became the bass player.
Yellowcard's official Facebook page announced on August 1, 2010, that the band has reformed and will be working on a new record. When You're Through With Thinking, Say Yes released on March 22, 2011. On October 24, 2011, the band released an acoustic version of the album.
Sean O'Donnell left the band in early 2012, replaced by Josh Portman.
Southern Air was released on August 14, 2012. It debuted at 10 on the US Billboard top 200, making this their second album to debut in the top 10 and their second-highest debut. The album's first single, Always Summer, was released May 22, 2012. Here I Am Alive was released July 31 as the second single.
An acoustic version of Ocean Avenue was recorded for the album's tenth anniversary. The album was released on August 13, 2013.
On March 13, 2014, the band announced that drummer and founding member Longineu Parsons III had left the band. Parson's departure left Sean Mackin as the only remaining original member of the band.
On August 4, 2014, Yellowcard announced that the next album would be titled Lift a Sail. On August 19, 2014, the band released the first single, One Bedroom. Lift a Sail released October 7, 2014. The album is a notable change of sound for the band, moving away from pop-punk.
On June 7, 2016, the band announced on Facebook that its next album would be a self-titled album. Yellowcard was released on September 30, 2016. On June 24, 2016, the band released the lead single titled Rest in Peace.
On June 25, 2016, the band announced on via its website that the group would be breaking up after a final tour, stating: "Please come and join us on our last trip around the globe. We hope to share this final record and tour with each and every one of you." The band's final show was on March 25, 2017 in Anaheim, CA.
In 2019, it was reported that they were suing American rapper Juice WRLD over his hit song 'Lucid Dreams'.
Ocean Avenue
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our barefeet
We were both eighteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah yeah
There's a piece of you that's here with me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight
That you're here tonight
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah
I remember the look in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
You were begging me not tonight
Not here, not now
We're looking up at the same night sky
We keep pretending the sun will not rise
We'll be together for one more night
Somewhere, somehow
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah yeah
The song "Ocean Avenue" by Yellowcard talks about a nostalgic reminiscence of the past, the moments of love, friendship, and life shared with a person in a particular place. The lyrics are divided into two parts, with the first section taking place when the protagonists were sixteen years old, and the second section taking place when they were eighteen. It's all about their adventures of staying up all night, sleeping during the daytime, and walking on the beach.
Throughout the song, the speaker wishes to find that person again so that they could escape their current town and start a new life together. The lyrics are emotional, taking the speaker through their dreams and desperate need to be with that person again. Each verse also repeats the line, "if I could find you now, things would get better." This longing expresses the need to go back to a simpler, more carefree time in their life.
Overall, the song "Ocean Avenue" captures the feeling of endless summer, freedom, and youthful love. It is the perfect anthem for anyone that longs for the simplicity of young love and the freedom of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
There's a location near Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
I had conversations with someone at that location
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Both parties were sixteen years old and content with the situation
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Was awake at night and slept during the day
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
A location is situated on the intersection of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our barefeet
Both parties walked barefoot on the beach
We were both eighteen and it felt so right
Both parties were eighteen years old and happy with their actions
If I could find you now things would get better
If I found you presently, our circumstances would improve
We could leave this town and run forever
We could evacuate this region and leave permanently
Let your waves crash down on me
Let the sea waves strike me
And take me away, yeah yeah
And take me away to a better situation
There's a piece of you that's here with me
A part of you still exists within me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
I detect your presence everywhere I travel and everything I observe
When I sleep I dream and it gets me by
In my slumber, I dream, helping me cope
I can make believe that you're here tonight
I'm able to imagine you being with me this evening
I remember the look in your eyes
I'm able to recall particular emotions that existed in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
When I informed you that it was time to bid farewell
You were begging me not tonight
You pleaded with me to not leave at that time
Not here, not now
You did not want me to abandon you where we were or at that moment
We're looking up at the same night sky
We both gaze at the same nighttime sky
We keep pretending the sun will not rise
We're continuing to act like the sun won't come up
We'll be together for one more night
We'll stay together for another evening
Somewhere, somehow
In some capacity, in some place
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
I'm positive that we'll be together at some point in the future
Let your waves crash down on me
Let the waves of water collapse onto me
And take me away, yeah yeah
And take me away to another place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin Eric Harper, William Ryan Key, Peter Michael Mosely, Longineu Warren Parsons III, Sean Michael Wellman-Mackin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steven Ortiz
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both 16 and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our bare feet
We were both 18 and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
There's a piece of you that's here with me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep, I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight
That you're here tonight
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
I remember the look in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
You were begging me not tonight
Not here, not now
We're looking up at the same night sky
And keep pretending the sun will not rise
Be together for one more night
Somewhere, somehow
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
Nextraker
I love Yellowcard’s music!!!!
Man of culture
Yeah
Chino de Magico
Griffin White go out here,we discuss this great group,but not your juice
ItsSkyy Clone
@Chino de Magico yep :)
Gen Long Tsang Gamer
Me too
Jessi
Now I know how my Dad feel when he constantly talks about how he misses the 60s and 70s when he was growing up. I really miss the 90s and early 2000s. This song really takes me back
Sean O'reiley
I was watching Len’s don’t steal my sunshine, The thing I notice most watching these older music videos....no cell phones. Even if it’s a music video people are just interacting with each other even the background people. I really think it’s not just nostalgia people were happier back then.
Pedro Pimentel
i was thinking the same, everything changed so much, i miss the 90s early 00s
macewbee
Same here
Simon B89
100%. I was born in ‘89 and really miss 1997-2004.