The first ASU incarnation came together in 1996 when founding member Ian Eskelin decided to broaden his solo act and take a bunch of mates out on the road. The good old rock 'n' roll and notorious stage antics won them immediate acclaim.
Heady days ensued. The boys were signed to a leading record label, and after five No. 1 singles, watched their American youth group following grow into a legion of loyal fans. Over the past six years ASU has played more than 1000 shows. And only recently, during a rare yearlong break from the road in 2000, Ian took time to properly court and wed his new bride Peggy. The couple lives in Nashville, Tennessee, as do the newest faces in the ASU line-up.
Brothers Matt and Mike Payne, originally from Rockford, Illinois, have joined Ian on drums and guitar respectively, and Jeremy Hunter, a Seattle-native, is bassist and Revolution recording engineer. While the four-piece ASU team worked on the new album they took the time to rethink the ASU platform. Ian wanted to communicate something more personal. "I've written all kinds of songs, but the thing I really love and get most excited about is when I write songs that express my faith in three minutes in new and creative ways. That for me is an outpouring of my faith, my calling."
Certainly Ian's savvy use of metaphor, imagery and twisted cliché could charm a literature student for hours. His song-writing skills are clearly illustrated throughout the new record and particularly in songs like the Lennonesque "We Are The Future" and title track "Revolution". "Sweet Jesus" and the worshipful "Making It Beautiful" are perhaps more obvious in their spiritual message, but the common thread of all the tracks is the one thought-provoking challenge that Ian claims has never been more pertinent. "There are several songs on this new record that talk about change, the idea that we can make our lives better by helping to make the world better. Each of us, individually through Christ can make small differences. More than ever, I feel these songs are relevant — no matter what the circumstances of the day."
Revolution was two-and-a-half years in the writing and is the result of an artist honing his craft while personally living the themes of exploration, change, discovery and challenge. Ian has remained very "hands-on" in the production and long-term friend Mark Freegard (Manic Street Preachers, Del Amitri, and The Breeders) has mixed Revolution and ASU's self-titled debut album. Ian is not shy to express his satisfaction. "It's a ten song record and I really tried hard to trim the fat. I wanted the album to have a strong message and for people to be able to enjoy listening to every song. The guys are extremely talented musicians and really helped me with a fresh perspective on these songs."
Musically, Ian, Matt, Mike and Jeremy promise more emphasis on solid rock 'n' roll fundamentals without loosing the fun elements fans have come to love. "It's been easy to perform the songs on Revolution with the same excitement we had when we first started. The new material is written from the heart, and I feel extremely passionate about it. I want the music to be as important to the listener as it is for me. Whether in a car, living room or concert hall, I want people to leave an ASU experience reflective, energized and uplifted."
From http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/allstarunited.html
drive
All Star United Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm seeing signs I can't ignore
You've been holding something deep inside
And I can't keep quiet anymore
Of the urgency, I'm well aware
I'll take you anywhere
[Chorus]
Let's just drive
Take a deep breath and I swear
Everything will be alright
Let's just drive
Until it gets us somewhere
Even if it takes all night
Let's just drive
I know you thought we were the same
We're two different kinds
I've been following a narrow lane
You follow yours where it winds
Now it's time to get in gear
I'll take you far from here
If you're dissatisfied
[Chorus]
Let's just roll, away tonight
Let's just roll away until we get it right
Let's just drive
[Chorus]
In All Star United's song "Drive," the lyrics speak to the desire to escape from a situation that has become suffocating. The singer is privy to seeing "signs" that indicate that something is wrong with their companion. They want to help and won't let the person suffer in silence. The sense of urgency is high, and the singer is willing to drive anywhere to escape the feeling of dissatisfaction. There is an evident willingness to prioritize the needs of the companion over their own.
The chorus is the core of the song, with the singer encouraging their companion to get in the car and take a drive to clear their minds. The use of repetition highlights the singer's desperation to escape from their current situation. The image of taking a drive to an unknown destination is a powerful metaphor for escaping problems and finding clarity. The singer is assuring the companion that everything will be okay and that they can take all night if necessary. The beauty of the song lies in the message that it's okay to take a break, clear your mind, and start fresh.
In conclusion, "Drive" is a song of hope and reassurance about getting away from life's complexities to find a sense of contentment. It takes courage to confront problems head-on, but sometimes, hitting the open road and driving without a destination in mind can be the best thing to do. The song highlights the beauty of taking a drive to find clarity, and sometimes, that's all we need to do to find the answers we seek.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mean to pry
I don't want to interfere
But I'm seeing signs I can't ignore
But it's obvious that something is wrong
You've been holding something deep inside
You've been keeping a secret within yourself
And I can't keep quiet anymore
And I can't ignore it any longer
Of the urgency, I'm well aware
I understand the gravity of the situation
I'll take you anywhere
I'm willing to go wherever you need to go
If you're dissatisfied
If you're unhappy
[Chorus]
Refrain
Let's just drive
Let's just hit the road
Take a deep breath and I swear
Relax, I promise
Everything will be alright
Everything will be okay
Until it gets us somewhere
Until we reach our destination
Even if it takes all night
Even if we have to drive all night
I know you thought we were the same
You thought we were alike
We're two different kinds
But we are fundamentally different
I've been following a narrow lane
I've been sticking to a particular path
You follow yours where it winds
You go where the wind takes you
Now it's time to get in gear
Now it's time to get moving
I'll take you far from here
I'll take you away from here
If you're dissatisfied
If you're not happy
[Chorus]
Refrain
Let's just roll, away tonight
Let's just leave tonight
Let's just roll away until we get it right
Let's keep going until we make things right
Let's just drive
Let's just hit the road
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN, MATTHEW HAYES, TOM PELLERIN, MARK BREAZEALE, WILLIAM CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind