The band is best known for their heavy yet anthemic music and their tendency to destroy their equipment at the end of their performances (a rock and roll tradition usually associated with The Who). According to the band's website, the name "...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead" is taken from both an ancient Mayan ritual chant and an Egyptian burial text. Band members have also claimed that they made it up because it sounded cool and discovered the association after the fact.
The chief creative element of the band consists of Jason Reece and Conrad Keely. The two switch between drumming and lead vocals and guitar, both on their records and during their shows. (On some songs, [former] bass player Neil Busch sings lead vocals). Keely and Reece have been friends since their youth, meeting originally in Hawaii. They each formed their first band in 1993 soon after moving to Olympia, Washington. Keely started a band called Benedict Gehlen that only lasted a year. Nancyville was Keely's next project, though it also was short lived. Reece started with Honeybucket and then formed Mukilteo Fairies while living in Olympia. Dissatisfied with the northwest, the two ventured south to Austin, Texas and started playing as a duo under the moniker, "You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead". The band expanded to include guitarist Kevin Allen and bassist Neil Busch. They then officially changed their name to "...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead" (adding the conjunction and then the ellipsis for effect). The band is also known by the shorter name "Trail of Dead".
By 1998 they had issued their first release (a live cassette on local Golden Hour Records), followed by a self-titled full-length on Trance Syndicate. In early 2002, Trail of Dead released Source Tags & Codes to immediate critical acclaim, and made numerous critics' year-end top 10 lists.
In 2003, an EP named The Secret of Elena's Tomb followed up, which included amongst others "Mach Schau", which was the first recording of a song the band had written in their early days, as well as "Intelligence", a song with dominant electronic sounds, which was pulled from Jason Reece's electro side-project called A Roman Scandal.
In 2004, Neil Busch left the band due to health issues and was replaced by Danny Wood of The Rise. Together with additional drummer Doni Schroader (ex-Forget Cassettes) and keyboarder David Longoria (The Black), a revamped Trail of Dead embarked on an extensive worldwide tour in 2004-2005, which covered USA and Canada, and cities throughout Europe to promote their album Worlds Apart, which was finally released in January 2005 after some annoying issues with the label's corporate policies.
After the tepid critical and commercial reception of Worlds Apart, Conrad Keely became very frustrated and considered quitting the band altogether. Luckily, the band regrouped to record an EP, but the group's creativity blossomed, resulting in enough material for an album. Their latest full-length album, X: The Godless Void and Other Stories, was released on January 20th, 2020.
Source Tags & Codes
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It feels so worn being chained here to this life
I've been around and seen one hundred scenes
Where those who dare to tread the wheel
One day find out what's behind that hill
Spend half a life deciding what went wrong
Trying to find out what took you so long
It conjures in your memories 'til
You discover what's behind that hill
You picked me up and we went for a drive
Into the stained glass cavern of the night
You turn to say, your eyes fixed on the rows
Take me from this place I know
The ruined landscapes that I once called home
I don't know what in this world is trying to save me
But I can feel its hand and it's guiding me in sign
From lives I've tried to lead
To the one that I received
Each painted sign along the road
Will melt away in source tags and in code
"Source Tags and Codes" by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead is a song that describes feeling lost and trapped in life. The first verse talks about being stuck in a city that has lost its meaning, feeling worn down by the mundane routine. The second verse explores the feeling of spending half of one's life trying to figure out what went wrong and why it took so long to get to where you are. The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there might be something out there guiding you towards a better future that you can discover.
The third verse takes a different turn, describing a drive into the "stained glass cavern of the night" with someone who offers escape from the ruined landscapes of the past. The final lines suggest a release from the search for meaning and understanding, as the painted signs that once pointed the way will "melt away in source tags and in code."
The lyrics are poetic and open to interpretation, but they speak to the universal experience of feeling lost and searching for meaning. The song's title refers to the idea of source code and the way that everything in life can be broken down into a set of instructions or algorithms.
Line by Line Meaning
This city has lost a certain holds inside
The city has changed in some inexplicable way and has lost the familiarity and comfort it once held
It feels so worn being chained here to this life
Living here has become monotonous and restrictive, causing exhaustion and a sense of being trapped
I've been around and seen one hundred scenes
The singer has explored many different places and experienced varying situations and emotions
Where those who dare to tread the wheel
People who are willing to take risks and live dangerously
One day find out what's behind that hill
Eventually discover the truth or reason behind their endeavors and struggles
Spend half a life deciding what went wrong
Reflecting on the past and trying to figure out where things went awry
Trying to find out what took you so long
Questioning why they didn't realize or act sooner
Until you feel it's all part of some crazy scheme
Starting to believe that everything that happened was planned or orchestrated
It conjures in your memories 'til
The thought or idea prevails in one's mind until
You discover what's behind that hill
Finally finding the answer or explanation for what happened
You picked me up and we went for a drive
Someone offered comfort or support and took the singer on a journey
Into the stained glass cavern of the night
Entering a mystical and surreal realm of darkness
You turn to say, your eyes fixed on the rows
Looking out at the passing scenery, lost in thought
Take me from this place I know
Desiring to escape from the familiar and mundane
The ruined landscapes that I once called home
The singer used to be comfortable in this place, but now it's become decayed and unappealing
I don't know what in this world is trying to save me
Feeling lost and unsure what to do, doubting whether anyone or anything is looking out for them
But I can feel its hand and it's guiding me in sign
Despite doubt, sensing that something is directing them towards a path or goal
From lives I've tried to lead
Attempts at different lifestyles and identities
To the one that I received
Coming to terms with the life they ended up with, even if it wasn't what they originally intended
Each painted sign along the road
Markers or signs that offer guidance or direction
Will melt away in source tags and in code
Eventually, all signs and directions will be rendered meaningless in the face of physical decay or technological advancement
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind