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.”
Closer
Anberlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be or believe you?
Do you accept me?
When it's me you can see through?
Are you keeping safe distance?
Are you arms length away?
Are you keeping safe distance?
Are you there, can someone answer me?
Closer, closer, closer.
Closer, closer, closer.
Do you expect me?
To keep from crawling back.
Do you accept me?
When we both know my past.
Am I keeping safe distance?
Pushing you arms length away?
Am I keeping safe distance?
Oh, it's you that feels betrayed.
Are you there, can someone answer me?
Come where I can see.
Closer, closer, closer.
Closer, closer, closer.
I know you're out there somewhere.
Come where I can see.
Closer, closer, closer to me.
Come closer.
Come closer.
Come closer.
Closer, closer, closer.
Closer, closer, closer.
Are you out there somewhere?
Go where I can see.
Closer, closer, closer to me.
The song "Closer" by Anberlin speaks of a relationship between two individuals in which one person feels distant and seeks closeness. The lyrics express the desire of the singer to be understood, accepted and loved, yet these emotions are mingled with uncertainty and fear.
The song starts with the singer questioning the intentions of their partner. The first two lines read, "Do you expect me? To be or believe you?" This phrase shows the singer's confusion, as they are not sure if they are expected to believe their partner or whether they should feel disappointed. The next two lines, "Do you accept me? When it's me you can see through?" continue with the expression of doubt, as the singer questions whether they are accepted for who they are, or whether their partner only sees through them.
Then, the chorus of the song repeats the word "Closer" three times, emphasizing the need for increased intimacy in the relationship. The second verse continues with doubts and fears as the singer questions whether it is possible to keep the distance, "Am I keeping safe distance? Pushing you arms length away?" The line "it's you that feels betrayed" implies that there might be a conflict between the two individuals that caused the distance in the first place. The singer also questions their own perception of the relationship, wondering if they are pushing their partner away or if they are taking necessary steps to protect themselves.
The song concludes with an earnest plea for the partner to come closer. The repetition of the phrase "Closer, closer, closer to me," underscores the desperation of the singer's situation. The final lines, "Are you out there somewhere? Go where I can see. Closer, closer, closer to me," express the wish to connect with the partner on a deeper level and for them to be present emotionally and physically.
Overall, "Closer" by Anberlin portrays the complicated emotions and struggles that can arise in a relationship, specifically the tensions that can surface when one partner craves a closer connection while the other keeps a safe distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you expect me?
Do you have expectations from me?
To be or believe you?
Should I become like you or trust you?
Do you accept me?
Will you acknowledge me?
When it's me you can see through?
Even though you know me inside out?
Are you keeping safe distance?
Are you purposely keeping a distance?
Are you arms length away?
Are you unreachable?
Holding me arms length away?
Preventing me from getting too close?
Are you there, can someone answer me?
Is there someone who can respond to me?
Closer, closer, closer.
I want you to come closer.
To keep from crawling back.
To resist going back to you.
When we both know my past.
Even though you know about my history.
Pushing you arms length away?
Am I keeping you away?
Oh, it's you that feels betrayed.
Realizing that you feel betrayed instead.
Come where I can see.
Come out in the open.
I know you're out there somewhere.
I believe you exist somewhere out there.
Go where I can see.
Revealing yourself to me.
Closer, closer, closer to me.
I want you to be closer to me.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHEN CHRISTIAN ARNOLD, CHRISTIAN EDWIN MCALHANEY, JOSEPH MILLIGAN, DEON REXROAT, NATHAN RUSSEL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind