Anberlin was formed in 2002 in Winter Haven, FL, USA and disbanded after th… Read Full Bio ↴Anberlin was formed in 2002 in Winter Haven, FL, USA and disbanded after the release of their final album, lowborn, in 2014. Their debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market, was quite successful. Spurred on by popular singles Readyfuels and Change the World, it sold over 60,000 copies and raised Anberlin's profile. They released their sophomore album, Never Take Friendship Personal, in February 2005. The album was praised by critics, garnering favourable reviews and winning the band new fans.

Prior to its release, the band promoted the album by releasing a track per week on their Purevolume and Myspace website accounts, as well as on their own website. So far, two radio singles have been released from the album: A Day Late and Paperthin Hymn. Both have been quite successful on alternative rock radio. A video for A Day Late has been released and the video for Paperthin Hymn released on March 17, 2006.

Furthermore, Anberlin recorded covers of the Bob Dylan song Like a Rolling Stone, the Depeche Mode song Enjoy the Silence, The Cure's Love Song, and the popular Christmas song Baby Please Come Home, included on the compilation album Lost Songs in 2007.

Singer Stephen Christian is also working on some solo music under the name of Anchor & Braille with Aaron Marsh of Copeland, which is expected to take the form of a full length album sometime in 2008.

The band performed on G4's Attack of the Show on March 23, 2006

Anberlin's third album, Cities, was released on Feburary 20, 2007. There are two different versions: a regular version and a special edition containing three extra songs and a documentary on DVD. So far music videos have been released for Godspeed and The Unwinding Cable Car.

The singles Godspeed and The Haunting were available as of December 28, 2006 from the iTunes music store and may still be purchased.

Anberlin's final album with Tooth and Nail records, Lost Songs, was released November 20, 2007. It features many of its original hits, as well as live recordings and unreleased tracks.

They are now signed with Universal Republic and released their fourth LP, New Surrender, September 30, 2008.

They released their fifth LP, Dark is the Way, Light is a Place on September 9, 2010.

Songfacts reports that, Self-Starter, the first release from Vital, Anberlin's sixth album, was the band's first ever song to feature female vocals.

On July 22, 2014 they released what would be their final album - Lowborn. It was announced that after a final tour following the release of Lowborn the band would be parting ways.

The end of Anberlin is not sad but hopeful. There is no animosity or drama, but rather a celebration of what these five musicians have achieved both in the studio and onstage. “Usually breakups happen quickly and suddenly, an implosion of sorts,” McAlhaney says.
“What is unique about the end of Anberlin is that we discussed where people were at in their lives, what that meant for the band, and then made plans for the end on our own terms.”

Baby Please Come Home
Anberlin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Christmas)
The snow's coming down
(Christmas)
I'm watching it fall
(Christmas)
Watching the people around
(Christmas)
Baby, please come home

(Christmas)
The church bells in town
(Christmas)
They're ringing a song
(Christmas)
Oh the happiest sound
(Christmas)
Baby, please come home

They're singing Deck the Halls
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

(Christmas)
Pretty lights on the tree
(Christmas)
And I'm watching them shine
(Christmas)
You should be here with me
(Christmas)
Baby, please come home

They're singing deck the halls
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

(Christmas)
If there was a way
(Christmas)
I'd hold back these tears
(Christmas)
But it's Christmas day

(Christmas)
Baby, please come home

Overall Meaning

Anberlin's song Baby Please Come Home is a classic Christmas song that expresses a sense of loneliness and longing for someone that has already left the singer's life. The lyrics describe the Christmas season, a time for joy and celebration, but it still feels incomplete without the person he is addressing to return to him. The song's opening lines describe the snow falling down, and the singer watching it, feeling the festive atmosphere around him, but still yearning for the one that left.

As the song progresses, the singer describes the bells ringing in the town and sings about the happiest sound, but it still feels incomplete without the person he's addressing. He recalls the memories of last year's Christmas season and the fun he had with the person he's addressing. The chorus repeats, but the lines about holding tears back indicate that the singer is emotional but tries to conceal it.

The song's lyrics reflect on the emotional conflicts many go through during the holidays. While it's meant to be a cheerful time, many people feel lonely, unfulfilled, and sad. Anberlin's interpretation of the classic song with their unique style related to many audiences and became a holiday favorite across the world.

Line by Line Meaning