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.
Miss You
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you know what I've seen lately
To a land we call our own
Look for the inside
What was there I couldn't find
It seems the place is now a cave
And so I wander on through the empty fibers
And then I found another
You could ask me how come I did nothing
To change my ways
Miss you miss you all my soul
Miss you miss you can't feel whole
Go to where people stare
But what they watch still ain't there
I climbed up there anyway
You never know what it may show
The view was something like time
Ever changing life's endless glow
I saw a future sign
Said 'don't fall behind'
I imagine that is what it meant
Don't want to miss the time for
Getting together on to the land of
Better minds hearts and souls
Miss you miss you all my soul
Miss you miss you need that hole
What are you looking for
Let's take a little time
Knowing that you're whole
Do you know where you are now
Do you know if you've been found
Do you know how long you've been away
Don't mean to bring you down
Don't mean to make you bound
It only means that you hear me
Miss you miss you all my soul
Miss you miss you where'd you go
Everyone flies faster than light
Just to beat the gun
Breakin' it down
Makin' a sound
Not the only one
'Cause I know everybody feels
Everybody's real
Everybody needs a chance
To make a little love someday
Then I'll pray then I'll have to say
That I am with you
Oh, I miss you
The song "Miss You" by Canadian band 54-40 seems to be about a person who is missing someone or something important in their life. The first verse asks if anyone knows where the singer has been and what they've seen lately, and then suggests that they are searching for something inside themselves. They are looking for something that was previously there but somehow seems to have been lost. The second verse describes how the singer has been wandering through the emptiness and found only a hole that could be filled. They seem to be in search of something that can make them feel complete.
The chorus "Miss you miss you all my soul, Miss you miss you can't feel whole" emphasizes the sense of longing and incompleteness that the singer is feeling. They are searching for something that is missing from their life. The bridge of the song suggests that there is hope for finding what is missing - "Go to where people stare, But what they watch still ain't there". The singer seems to be saying that material possessions and fame are not what will make them happy or complete.
The last verse seems to be addressing the listener directly, and asking them if they know where they are in life and if they've been found. The singer doesn't want to bring the listener down or make them feel trapped, but they do want to communicate their feelings of missing something vital. The song ends with the singer saying that they miss the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know where I've been
Have you any idea of the places I've been to?
Do you know what I've seen lately
Are you aware of what I've witnessed recently?
To a land we call our own
We are looking for a place that we can claim as ours
Look for the inside
Explore your inner-self
What was there I couldn't find
Despite searching, I was unable to locate what I was looking for
It seems the place is now a cave
The place that I had hoped to find has become enclosed and isolated
And so I wander on through the empty fibers
I keep walking through this empty place
I found a hole that could be filled
I finally found something that could make me feel complete
And then I found another
Soon after, I discovered something else that I needed
You could ask me how come I did nothing
You might question why I took no action despite finding what I needed
To change my ways
To alter my behaviors in order to improve my life
Miss you miss you all my soul
I'm yearning for you, and I miss you with all of my being
Miss you miss you can't feel whole
I cannot be complete without you
Go to where people stare
Let's go to a place where we can easily attract attention
But what they watch still ain't there
Even though people are watching, they're not seeing what they expect to see
I climbed up there anyway
But still, I proceeded and faced the situation
You never know what it may show
You never know what you might discover if you are brave enough to take a risk
The view was something like time
The sight was reminiscent of the passing of time
Ever changing life's endless glow
Life's light is constantly evolving and never-ending
I saw a future sign
I came across a sign that pointed to the future
Said 'don't fall behind'
The sign warned not to lag behind
I imagine that is what it meant
That's what I assume the sign was trying to convey
Don't want to miss the time for
I do not want to miss out on the opportunity
Getting together on to the land of
Joining together on the grounds of
Better minds hearts and souls
Combining our strengths and spirit to create something better
Miss you miss you all my soul
I ache for your presence every minute
Miss you miss you need that hole
I need you to fill that void in me
What are you looking for
What is it that you seek?
Let's take a little time
Let's slow down and do this at our pace
Knowing that you're whole
Being certain that you are complete
Do you know where you are now
Are you aware of your current position in life?
Do you know if you've been found
Have you come across what you were searching for?
Do you know how long you've been away
Do you realize how long it has been since you last felt content?
Don't mean to bring you down
I do not intend to make you feel low
Don't mean to make you bound
I do not want to restrict or limit you
It only means that you hear me
It simply means that you understand my intentions
Everyone flies faster than light
Everybody seems to move quicker than they should
Just to beat the gun
To get ahead of others before a specific event occurs
Breakin' it down
Destroying something systematically to learn how it works
Makin' a sound
Creating noise - expressing oneself
Not the only one
I'm not alone in feeling this way
'Cause I know everybody feels
I'm certain everyone experiences
Everybody's real
Everyone's experience is genuine and authentic
Everybody needs a chance
Everyone deserves an opportunity
To make a little love someday
To find love in the future
Then I'll pray then I'll have to say
I'll pray and then I'll express the message
That I am with you
That I am there for you, always
Oh, I miss you
Oh, how much I yearn for your company
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind