54•40 is an alternative rock band which formed in Tsawwassen, British Colum… Read Full Bio ↴54•40 is an alternative rock band which formed in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada in 1981. For most of their career, the band consisted of Neil Osborne (vocals), Phil Comparelli (guitar, trumpet, vocals), Brad Merritt (bass) and Matt Johnson (drums). Comparelli left the band in 2005 and was replaced by former Matthew Good Band guitarist Dave Genn. The band's best known songs include "Baby Ran", "Ocean Pearl" and "I Go Blind", the latter of which was covered by Hootie & the Blowfish. The band takes their name from the slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight," coined to express the expansionist agenda of James K. Polk's presidency, intent upon controling a contested U.S.-Canada border area.

The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.

The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant radio airplay. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life".

Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough -- 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".

The band's song I Go Blind was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish.

The band's most recent album is 2008's Northern Soul released September 30th,2008 and they wrapped up their tour of Canada at the end of November 2008.

Goodbye Flatland
54-40 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Think it's time I went on my way
And say goodbye to Flatland today
What I'm saying, reaching out to the sky
It's not anything that you don't know why
Saying goodbye to Flatland

I love you more each day
You can explain away the days

'Cause it's already happening
The view is changed

No more are we centered
No more are we holding on to save it all
All it takes to say goodbye to Flatland

And it's not anything
Babe that you don't know why, don't know why

Not anything, it's not anything
Not anything, not anything

Overall Meaning

In 54-40's song Goodbye Flatland, the lyrics speak of a desire to break away from the mundane and reach for something greater. The singer is leaving behind the monotonous Flatland, a symbolic representation of the routine and sameness of everyday life, in search of something more fulfilling. The chorus "Saying goodbye to Flatland" signifies a turning point in the singer's life, as they leave behind the safety and comfort of the familiar, and venture into the unknown.

The lines "You can explain away the days, 'Cause it's already happening" suggest that the singer has been contemplating this decision for some time, and now it's finally coming to fruition. They no longer want to be confined to a life that can be easily explained and rationalized, and instead want to embrace the mystery and excitement of the world around them. The use of the phrase "reaching out to the sky" further emphasizes the singer's desire to break out of their everyday existence and experience something greater.

Overall, the lyrics of Goodbye Flatland are a testament to the human desire for adventure, growth, and change. The singer is taking a leap of faith, leaving behind the familiar for the possibility of something more fulfilling and rewarding.

Line by Line Meaning

Think it's time I went on my way
I believe it is time for me to leave and move forward

And say goodbye to Flatland today
Today marks the end of my attachment to familiarity and comfort

What I'm saying, reaching out to the sky
I am expressing myself and seeking something greater

It's not anything that you don't know why
The reason for my departure is clear to both myself and others

Saying goodbye to Flatland
I am leaving behind my old, limited way of living

I love you more each day
My affection for you grows with each passing day

You can explain away the days
You can try to justify how we spend our time

'Cause it's already happening
But this change is already in motion

The view is changed
Our perspective has shifted

No more are we centered
We are no longer focused solely on ourselves

No more are we holding on to save it all
We are not trying to cling on to the past in an effort to preserve everything