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.
Greatest Mistake
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It took me too long to realize
that the only thing that matters is right now
Because no one knows if the soul exists
They don't know where it goes
when it gets too hard to lift
I gotta be part of
the greatest mistake called love
I shouldn't have let you read my mind
And that the only thing that matters is right now
Because no one knows how the heart can feel
They don't know where it goes
when it gets as cold as steel
I gotta be a part of
The greatest mistake called love
La La
Here's to tomorrow and old yesterdays
But no taste is finer than today
The song "Greatest Mistake" by 54-40 delves into the idea of mistakes made in relationships and how they can impact one's life. The opening line, "I treated you wrong, and that ain't right," acknowledges the fact that the singer has made a mistake in the past that has affected their relationship. However, they realize that it took them too long to understand the importance of the present moment. The line "the only thing that matters is right now" highlights the importance of living in the moment and cherishing relationships at present rather than worrying about the past or the future.
The next verse focuses on the concept of the soul and where it goes after death, which is unknown to many. The idea of lifting the soul and how difficult it can be when weighed down by the pressures of life is also touched upon. The singer then admits that they want to be part of the "greatest mistake called love," which is a paradoxical statement. They acknowledge that love can be messy and cause pain, yet they still desire to be a part of it. The chorus is repeated, emphasising the theme of love as the "greatest mistake" and how it can lead to both beautiful and painful experiences.
The song concludes with the idea of cherishing today and letting go of the past. The line "no taste is finer than today" emphasises the significance of living in the present moment and treasuring the relationships that one has.
Line by Line Meaning
I treated you wrong and that ain't right
I behaved poorly towards you and that was unfair and uncalled for
It took me too long to realize
I didn't understand my mistake until much later
that the only thing that matters is right now
The present moment is the only thing that truly matters in life
Because no one knows if the soul exists
There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of the soul
They don't know where it goes
No one knows what happens to the soul after death
when it gets too hard to lift
When life becomes too difficult to bear
I gotta be part of
I feel compelled to be a part of something
the greatest mistake called love
The tumultuous, painful experience of love can be seen as a mistake
Forgetting my best to treat you kind
I didn't do my best to treat you with kindness
I shouldn't have let you read my mind
I regret being so open and vulnerable with you
Because no one knows how the heart can feel
It's impossible to fully comprehend the emotions of others
They don't know where it goes
No one knows where love goes when it fades or ends
when it gets as cold as steel
When love turns into indifference or even hatred
I gotta be a part of
I can't help but be involved with
The greatest mistake called love
Even though love can lead to pain and heartbreak, I can't stay away from it
La La
Musical interlude
Here's to tomorrow and old yesterdays
Let's raise a toast to both the future and the past
But no taste is finer than today
There is no better feeling or experience than the present moment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COMPARELLI, JOHNSON, MERRITT, OSBORNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bever Oz
The only thing that matters is right now