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.”
Dance
Anberlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says she's got time on her side
Running the room
Commanding the late boys' eyes
She runs around
Knows all the streets by name
Knows all the streets by name
She's intoxicating, soon your favorite drink
Your black dress in disarray
Only dance floor prayers can save
Temperatures rise and I start to move
But it's you that's coursing through my veins
Says she's got hope
Took shelter to the Hollywood list, taking control
Wanted my heart but I gave her my soul
She's like a Paige Davis with a Monroe kiss
Disappeared today, left no trace
But someday I'll know your name
Your black dress in disarray
Only dance floor prayers can save
Temperatures rise and I start to move
But it's you that's coursing through my veins
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, swear I'm clinical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, no, not cynical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
She's no saint, she's no saint
She's no saint but she'll take you to your knees
Try her boy but she'll still do what she please
Do you believe in science? She's perfect chemistry
She wanted my love but I gave her the rest of me
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, swear I'm clinical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, no, not cynical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
You'll adore me before the night is over
You'll adore me before the night is over
If London's calling don't you dare pick up the phone
Only you entwined could make this orphan feel at home
Lips that need no introduction but now waiting for your call
If picture's worth a thousand words then your touch is worth them all
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, swear I'm clinical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
Now I'm dependent, no, not cynical
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
You're my chemical
Swear I'm clinical
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
You're my chemical
No, not cynical
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible] leave us in the dark
The lyrics to Anberlin's "Dance Dance Christa Paffgen" tell the story of a mysterious and alluring woman who has captured the attention of the singer. Although she's no saint, she commands attention wherever she goes, running the room and captivating the late boys' eyes. The singer describes her as intoxicating and addictive, comparing her to a favorite drink and proclaiming that he doesn't need drugs because she's his chemical. She's a master of the streets and seems to have connections to Hollywood, causing the singer to give her not only his love but the rest of him, becoming dependent on her glances and touch.
The song's title is a reference to Christa Paffgen, who was better known as the singer and model Nico. Nico was a prominent member of Andy Warhol's Factory and was known for her beauty and enigmatic personality. She famously sang with The Velvet Underground and had a solo career, but her life was tumultuous and she struggled with addiction, ultimately dying of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1988.
Interestingly, the song contains references to other well-known cultural figures, such as James Dean and Paige Davis. The latter is a reference to the host of the TV show "Trading Spaces," and the line describes the woman as having a combination of domestic charm and sex appeal. The reference to James Dean speaks to both the woman's mysterious nature and the glamour associated with old Hollywood. The lyrics also mention London, which might be a nod to the narrative of the song "West End Riot" from the band's previous album.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got the time
She claims to have time on her side
Says she's got time on her side
Reinforcing the fact that she has time, and she knows it
Running the room
She has the power and control over the people she is with
Commanding the late boys' eyes
She has all the men's attention with her presence
She runs around
She moves quickly and often
Knows all the streets by name
She is well-versed with her surroundings
So mysterious, shadows meet James Dean
She is mysterious and attractive just like the famous actor James Dean
She's intoxicating, soon your favorite drink
She is irresistible and addictive
Your black dress in disarray
The woman's dress is messy, messy just like the situation
Only dance floor prayers can save
Nothing can save this scenario except for divine intervention
Temperatures rise and I start to move
The intensity is growing, things are heating up
But it's you that's coursing through my veins
The woman has become an addiction and is consuming the person
Says she's got hope
The woman has ambitions and aspirations
Took shelter to the Hollywood list, taking control
She has a hold on things even in Hollywood
Wanted my heart but I gave her my soul
She asked for one thing but was given much more than that
She's like a Paige Davis with a Monroe kiss
She is a combination of two famous female personalities
Disappeared today, left no trace
She vanished without leaving any hints or signs
But someday I'll know your name
He is still hoping to find out her true identity
Don't need no drugs, you're my chemical
She is everything he needs like a drug
Now I'm dependent, swear I'm clinical
He is entirely relying on her, and the addiction is taking over
Addicted to those glances, taking chances tonight
He is risking everything just to be around her and bask in her attention
I need a fix in those heroin eyes
He wants to get lost in the powerful gaze of the woman
She's no saint, she's no saint
The woman is not innocent or pure
She's no saint but she'll take you to your knees
She is very overpowering and can make a man fall under her control
Try her boy but she'll still do what she please
Even though he tries to influence her, she still does what she wants
Do you believe in science? She's perfect chemistry
Their relationship, even though dangerous and unhealthy, has the right components for a perfect match
She wanted my love but I gave her the rest of me
He gave her more than what she asked for, and he regrets it now
You'll adore me before the night is over
He is very confident that she will fall for him soon
If London's calling don't you dare pick up the phone
Even if he is called to a different place, he will still remain faithful to the woman
Only you entwined could make this orphan feel at home
Only she has the power to make him feel complete, even though he's alone
Lips that need no introduction but now waiting for your call
Her lips are well-known, yet she is waiting for his sign to reach out to her
If picture's worth a thousand words then your touch is worth them all
The impact of her touch is worth more than any words he can describe it with
You're my chemical
She is the exact potion he needs
Swear I'm clinical
He promises he's not crazy, just addicted
No, not cynical
He believes in her and their connection
[Incomprehensible]
Uninterpretable lyrics
[Incomprehensible] leave us in the dark
The unclear lyrics make it hard to determine what is happening
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: DEON REXROAT (16581), JOSEPH MILLIGAN (16580), NATHAN YOUNG (16578), STEVEN ARNOLD (16579)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind