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.
Since When
54-40 Lyrics
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Only one thing I said I'd never do
I knew something was wrong
When you got all caught up
what was going on and not what was going in
Since when did it matter if the outside world fit in.
Make it believable, Love can be beautiful make it believable
I am leaving today on a loves' lost train
Never thought that I'd riding on the rails this way
You know as well as I do
That the question has nothing to do
With the money honey and all dem things
Since when did it matter what the outside world would bring.
Make it believable, Love can be beautiful
Make it believable
Lay that old burden down you got to turn around
We had a fever so right
And the dream was definitely real
As the fever broke so did the dream
Since when did it matter what the outside world would be
Make it believable, Love can be beautiful
Make it believable
Lay that old burden down you got to turn around
Be a believer
The lyrics of 54-40's song "Since When" suggest the singer's disillusionment with a relationship that they believed in. They feel like they are "falling away" from their partner and that they have become caught up in something that the singer cannot understand. The singer is questioning the importance of outward appearances and how much they actually matter in the grand scheme of things. They are urging their partner to let go of their burdens and to turn around and believe in something more positive.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but it would seem that the singer is grappling with the idea that love isn't always enough to sustain a relationship. They are dealing with a feeling of betrayal and have to come to terms with the fact that sometimes, even if something seems right and true, it may all fall apart.
Overall, the message seems to be one of hope: while the singer acknowledges that the dream may have broken, they are still urging their partner to believe in love and to move forward with hope and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
I am falling away from what was you
I am distancing myself from who you used to be
Only one thing I said I'd never do
But this is something I said I'd never do
I knew something was wrong
I had a feeling something wasn't right
When you got all caught up
When you became too consumed with something else
Since when did it matter if the outside world fit in.
When did it start to matter if we fit in with society?
Make it believable, Love can be beautiful make it believable
Make it real, love has the potential to be amazing, make it real
Lay that old burden down you got to turn around and be a believer
Let go of the past, turn around and have faith
I am leaving today on a loves' lost train
I am leaving today because my love has been lost
Never thought that I'd riding on the rails this way
I never expected to be in this situation
You know as well as I do
You understand this just as much as I do
That the question has nothing to do
That the question is irrelevant
With the money honey and all dem things
With material possessions
Since when did it matter what the outside world would bring.
When did it start to matter what society brings?
We had a fever so right
Our passion was intense
And the dream was definitely real
And our future together felt like a real possibility
As the fever broke so did the dream
As our passion faded, so did our future together
Lay that old burden down you got to turn around
Let go of the past and move on
Be a believer
Have faith in tomorrow
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BRAD MERRITT, MATT JOHNSON, NEIL OSBORNE, PHIL COMPARELLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind