- David McCormick (lead singer)
- Alan… Read Full Bio ↴A Rotterdam November is:
- David McCormick (lead singer)
- Alan Schwaderer (keys, guitar, backup vocals)
- Jared Nelson (guitar, backup vocals)
- Andy Baker (bass)
- David Niacaris (drums)
- Dylan Anitok (guitar, backup vocals)
The band formed in late 2006, Boise, Idaho.
Their name alludes to what happened in the aftermath of the bombing of the city of Rotterdam during WWII. After the heart of the venerable city had been completely destroyed, architects reconstructed it from scratch. The band's name reflects the interpretation of this idea of "an old city with a new heart" as a Christian metaphor for the renewing transformation of a heart damaged by sin.
City Without A Heart
A Rotterdam November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky was blue yesterday, but today,
it's turned to the darkest shade of grey.
Oh,oh,oh I walk the streets of a
European ghost town.
Interlude:
empty. When will we be understood?
Somethings broken here. It's gotta be.
Chorus:
I don't want to live my life thinking and
pacing. I don't want to say goodbye to
all feeling. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Verse 2:
Once people talked amongst these
markets. But now, the cobblestone is
all alone. Oh, oh, oh, these fires have
burned to a few embers.
Bridge:
We could rebuild this city without a
heart. This isn't hopeless. City
without a heart. After all that's gone
wrong, City without a heart,I'm
stronger than a bunch of
bombs, City without a heart. These
were our dreams once,
what looks like piles of ashes. The fires
of destruction burn hot. But not as hot
as my passions.
Chorus:
I don't want to live my life thinking and
pacing. I don't want to say goodbye to
all feeling. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Chorus2:
I don't want to give up now. We've
come so far. You can't do this alone,
I don't care who you are.
Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Bridge continued:
Resurrect these buildings, let the
melodies ring. Set the captives free,
set the captives free. We could rebuild
this city without a heart. We could
rebuild this city without a heart
The Rotterdam November's song "City Without A Heart" is a haunting tribute to a city that has been through destruction and heartbreak. The lyrics convey the feeling of hopelessness and emptiness that one experiences when a city is left desolate and devoid of life. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as the singer walks through the streets of a European ghost town. The once-bustling marketplace is now deserted, with only a few embers left from the fires that burned everything down. The sky that was bright blue yesterday has now turned into the darkest shade of grey, adding to the feeling of despair.
In the interlude, the singer questions when they will be assured and understood, highlighting the sense of isolation and loneliness that comes from living in a city without a heart. The chorus expresses the singer's desire to hold onto their feelings, knowing that they could easily become desensitized to the pain of the world. This sentiment is echoed in the second verse when it is revealed that once people talked amongst these markets, but now, the cobblestone is all alone.
The bridge introduces a glimmer of hope, as the singer suggests that the city can be rebuilt without a heart. They speak of their passions burning hotter than the fires of destruction and their dreams rising from the ashes. The chorus is repeated twice, but the second time, the lyrics deepen the desperation, with the singer begging not to give up now, as they have come too far to do so alone.
Overall, "City Without A Heart" is a powerful commentary on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of destruction and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky was blue yesterday, but today,
it's turned to the darkest shade of grey.
The once happy and vibrant atmosphere of the city that one saw yesterday has suddenly turned into a gloomy, dark and unpromising place.
Oh,oh,oh I walk the streets of a
European ghost town.
The city that once bustled with activity, is now lonely and devoid of people.
When will we, be assured? I feel so
empty. When will we be understood?
Somethings broken here. It's gotta be.
There is a feeling of helplessness, frustration and brokenness that pervades the air. People are unable to understand the situation, and hope is hard to come by.
I don't want to live my life thinking and
pacing. I don't want to say goodbye to
all feeling. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.
The idea of being in a situation where one is lost without any escape or hope leaves one feeling numb and filled with despair.
Once people talked amongst these
markets. But now, the cobblestone is
all alone. Oh, oh, oh, these fires have
burned to a few embers.
The bustling city where people once thronged the markets feels like a distant memory. Now, silence hangs heavy in the air and the only reminder of the past is the few remaining embers of fires that destroyed the city.
We could rebuild this city without a
heart. This isn't hopeless. City
without a heart. After all that's gone
wrong, City without a heart, I'm
stronger than a bunch of
bombs, City without a heart. These
were our dreams once, what looks like
piles of ashes. The fires
of destruction burn hot. But not as hot
as my passions.
There is a glimmer of hope amidst the destruction. The idea that they could rebuild the city and make it vibrant again is what keeps them going. The passion and dreams that once formed the fabric of the city are not gone, and they can use that to rebuild.
I don't want to give up now. We've
come so far. You can't do this alone,
I don't care who you are.
Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Despite the odds, despite the destruction, there is still hope. To give up now would be to lose all the progress they have made so far.
Resurrect these buildings, let the
melodies ring. Set the captives free,
set the captives free. We could rebuild
this city without a heart. We could
rebuild this city without a heart
The idea of rebirth and resurrection for the city is possible. They could set things right, rebuild the city with the same love and passion that once formed the heart of the city.
Contributed by Jonathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.