The band was formed by Michael Feerick in 2004, who wrote and performed their self-titled debut album entirely by himself. The band has since expanded and now write and perform as a five-piece currently composed of Michael Feerick (guitar/vocals), Daniel Knowles (guitar/production), Peter Dale (drums), Gavin Poole (bass) and Joe Hardy (keyboard).
Feerick wrote and recorded ten songs on a minimal budget with close friend Daniel Knowles engineering the sessions. These efforts formed Amusement Parks on Fire's self-titled debut album released in the UK on INVADA Records, a label run by Geoff Barrow of Portishead in 2005.
The band signed to V2 Records in 2005 and went on to record their second studio album Out of the Angeles at Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin studio in Álafoss, Iceland.
The line-up altered to its current state in summer 2006 with the addition of Gavin Poole (Bass) and Joe Hardy (Keyboards). This was followed by a co-headline tour of the UK with US noise outfit Scarling. and a headline tour across mainland Europe and Scandinavia.
The band played in Japan for the first time at the Summer Sonic Festival 2006.
In addition to the second album "Out of the Angeles", the band recorded a series of limited edition 12" EPs — the first of which, "In Flight" was released early in September 2006. This was followed by "A Star Is Born" on the 2nd of April 2007 which was supported by a UK & Ireland headlining tour.
The band recently played a short UK tour and debuted some new material, and are currently in Nottingham recording new material for a possible release in 2008. In addition, they are currently playing some small live shows across the UK and Ireland, and mostly travelling by train.
A Star Is Born
Amusement Parks On Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the sun is about to come down
The clouds have bowed out
And the air will amount to ex-sound
Out of the dreams of my heart
Out of the inside
Nobody ask the question
All the world's in awe of
Nobody else die
You are the start and end of
You own the ex-life
You own the ex-life
A star is born
In a sky that's about to get torn
The days of our town
In the end will amount to ex-sound
Over the road's a moment
Already in sight
Nobody give the answer
Don't let the past die
All the world's in awe of
Nobody else die
You are the start and end of
You own the ex-life
You own the ex-life
You own the ex-life
The days take an age
You wait until the last show,
The last show decays
The nights light the way
You can't imagine how long
How long it takes
Over the road's a moment
Already in sight
Nobody give the answer
Don't let the past die
All the world's in awe of
Nobody else die
You are the start and end of
You own the ex-life
Out of the dreams of my heart
Out of the inside
Nobody ask the question
Don't let the dark light
All the world's in awe of
Nobody else die
You are the start and end of
You own the ex-life
The lyrics of "A Star Is Born" by Amusement Parks On Fire present a complex and very poetic meditation on themes like life, death, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of time. The song starts with a sense of ominous foreboding, as the word around town is that "the sun is about to come down" and the air will turn into "ex-sound." The tone is somewhat surreal, as the clouds "bow out" and the dreams of the heart come to life.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more introspective and philosophical, exploring the idea that nobody has the answers to the big questions in life, like what happens after we die or why we exist in the first place. The chorus introduces the idea of a star being born in a sky about to get "torn," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the transient nature of existence and the idea that everything has a beginning and an end.
The lyrics of "A Star Is Born" also touch on the concept of individuality and self-ownership, with the refrain "you own the ex-life" emphasizing the idea that each person is responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose. The song ends with a sense of elegiac longing, as the days take an age and the nights light the way, but ultimately, the mysteries of life remain elusive.
Line by Line Meaning
The word around town
People are talking and rumors are spreading
Is the sun is about to come down
The end is near and there's a feeling of impending doom
The clouds have bowed out
The sky is clear and there's a sense of openness and possibility
And the air will amount to ex-sound
There's a feeling of anticipation and excitement in the atmosphere
Out of the dreams of my heart
From the deepest desires and longings within me
Out of the inside
From within myself, my truest self
Nobody ask the question
No one is asking the important questions or seeking deeper meaning
Don't let the dark light
Don't succumb to negativity or despair
All the world's in awe of
Everyone is amazed and impressed by
Nobody else die
No one else is able to achieve or accomplish what you have
You are the start and end of
You are the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega
You own the ex-life
You have complete control over your existence
A star is born
Something new and brilliant is being created
In a sky that's about to get torn
In a world that's about to undergo major changes and upheavals
The days of our town
The everyday experiences and routines of our community
In the end will amount to ex-sound
In the grand scheme of things, our lives are temporary and fleeting
Over the road's a moment
There's a specific moment, a fleeting opportunity, that lies just ahead
Already in sight
It's visible and tangible, but also fleeting
Nobody give the answer
No one can provide the solution or the path forward
Don't let the past die
Hold onto the lessons and experiences of the past, and don't forget where you came from
The days take an age
Time seems to move slowly, and it feels like an eternity waiting for something to happen
You wait until the last show,
You're holding out for the final moment, the ultimate climax
The last show decays
Even the most spectacular events eventually come to an end and fade away
The nights light the way
In times of darkness and uncertainty, there's always a glimmer of hope
You can't imagine how long
It's impossible to accurately perceive or anticipate just how much time will pass before something happens
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.