The band’s trademark fashion consists in wearing rather formal attire during live events and a use of orchestral instruments. When asked about the rumour that the band's name refers to a fire in an arcade, Win Butler replied: "It's not a rumour, it's based on a story that someone told me. It's not an actual event, but one that I took to be real. I would say that it's probably something that the kid made up, but at the time I believed him." Win Butler and his brother Will grew up in Texas.
Band formation
Arcade Fire formed around the husband and wife duo of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne. Joining together as recently as mid-2003, the current line-up solidified in late 2003/early 2004, when their first full-length album Funeral was recorded. Before this an eponymous EP (often referred to by fans as the Us Kids Know EP) had been sold at early shows. The EP was subsequently remastered and given a full release once the band started becoming more prominent. Arcade Fire are known for their enthralling live performances, as well as its use of a large number of musical instruments. In addition to mainstays guitar, drums, and bass guitar, members play piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, xylophone, keyboard, French horn, accordion, and harp. With several able musicians, the band take most of their instrumental diversity on tour and members switch instrumental duties throughout their shows. The number of instruments, along with a wide set of musical influences has provided a substantial number of resources on which to draw from during the recording process. The promise showed by the band in its live shows allowed it to land a record contract with Chapel Hill-based independent record label Merge Records.
Funeral
Without a major label backing, the success of the band and the album Funeral has been acclaimed as an Internet phenomenon. After a 9.7 rating from Pitchfork, Merge Records sold out their inventory of Funeral and it became the label's first album in the Billboard 200 chart. An early tip from David Bowie was also influential. The band booked small clubs for their 2004 tour but growing interest forced many venue changes, far beyond the band's expectations, and continued internationally into mid-2005. The MTV2 2005 Review hosted by Zane Lowe named Funeral Album of the Year, and NME named Funeral Number 2 in their list of 2005's best albums and "Rebellion (Lies)" the best track. By November 2005, Funeral had gone gold in both Canada and the UK and sold in excess of half a million copies worldwide, a phenomenal number for an independent release with minimal television or radio exposure. It has also surpassed Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea as the biggest selling Merge Records album to date.
Arcade Fire were featured on the April 4, 2005 cover of Time Magazine's Canadian edition, and hailed as a band who "helped put Canadian music on the world map". On April 2, 2006, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they received the Juno Award for Songwriters Of The Year for three songs from Funeral: "Wake Up", "Rebellion (Lies)" and "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)". Arcade Fire then planned to begin recording a follow up to Funeral in the winter of 2005-2006, having bought an old church forty minutes from central Montreal which they converted into a studio.
Neon Bible
In mid-December 2006 www.neonbible.com went live containing nothing more than a phone number, 1-866-NEONBIBLE where people can listen to a new track called Intervention. Built in the style of customer support lines, the number has other features including a contest and a chance to talk to a live person at a specific time each week.
Then in January 2007, they finally announced that the new album Neon Bible would be released March 5th in UK, March 6th in US. The announcement was made with a video in the album's website, with guitarist Richard Reed Parry using a gramophone and a paper mask of Parry's own face, and sitting on Win Butler´s chair. After the announcement of the album´s release, the website was updated with a streaming version of "Black Mirror", new art and a few phone messages sounding like the band´s members.
The Suburbs
The band released their third album "The Suburbs" on August 2, 2010 in the UK and August 3, 2010 in the United States. It debuted at #1 in both countries. On February 13, 2011, the album won Album of the Year at the 53rd Grammy Awards.
Arcade Fire recorded a song for The Hunger Games soundtrack (The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond), called "Abraham's Daughter". The song is featured in the movie's end credits. The soundtrack was released on March 20, 2012, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold more than 175,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the first theatrical film soundtrack to top the chart since Michael Jackson's "This Is It" debuted at No. 1 on the list. It is also only the 16th soundtrack to debut at No. 1 in the history of the Billboard 200 chart (those soundtracks include film, television, and straight-to-video efforts).
Reflektor
Arcade Fire and Mercury Records confirmed that they would release a fourth album in late 2013. In December 2012, the band's manager Scott Rodger confirmed that Arcade Fire was in the studio working with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. The official Arcade Fire pre-order website sets the release date on October 28, 2013. The band announced on January 18, 2013 that they were selling the church they had been using as a studio due to a collapsed roof. Throughout 2013, the band worked on the album in several different recording studios - including Murphy's DFA Records studio in New York. On June 22, 2013, Rolling Stone reported that new material from the album would be released on September 9, 2013.
Everything Now
Arcade Fire's first announced its fifth record, "Everything Now," on May 31, 2017 when it released the record's title track and lead single. The album's release came July 27, 2017. In the weeks leading up to the album's release, the band released three additional lead singles, "Creature Comfort," "Signs of Life," and "Electric Blue." Upon the week of its release, "Everything Now" reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the band's third-straight and third overall #1 record.
WE
On October 21, 2020, Butler was interviewed for the Broken Record podcast, where he commented about Arcade Fire's sixth album. The band had been writing for a year before the COVID-19 lockdown. In March 2022, fans received postcards marked with the band's logo; the postcards included the note "We missed you", musical notations, as well as an image of an eye with the word "Unsubscribe" written below. Those same images began to appear in signage around London as well as on the band's social media pages, indicating the earliest signs of a new album. On March 14, the band announced a new song titled "The Lightning I, II" would be released on March 17.
On March 17, 2022, Arcade Fire announced that the album would be titled WE and be released on May 6, 2022. Later that week, Will Butler announced he had amicably left the band in 2021 shortly after the completion of WE.
Following the release of WE on May 6, 2022, Arcade Fire announced the group’s first world tour since 2018, starting in August 2022. They again appeared on Saturday Night Live on May 7, 2022, playing "Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)", "The Lightning I, II", and "End of The Empire II" over the closing credits.
Half Light II
Arcade Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I'll just pack it in
Wanna wash away my sins
In the presence of my friends
You and I, we head back east
To find a town where we can live
Even in the half light
When we watched the markets crash
The promises we made were torn
And my parents sent for me
From out west, where I was born
Some people say
We've already lost
But they're afraid to pay the cost
For what we've lost
Pay the cost for what we've lost
Now that you have left me here
I will never raise my voice
All the diamonds you have here
In this home which has no life
Oh, this city's changed so much
Since I was a little child
Pray to God I won't live to see
The death of everything that's wild, woo
Though we knew this day would come
Still, it took us by surprise
In this town where I was born
I now see through a dead man's eyes
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
The lyrics of Arcade Fire's "Half Light II" are about the longing for home and the fear of losing it forever. The song's opening lines paint a picture of someone who used to call San Francisco their home, but the city is now gone, and they are left with nothing but memories. The next verse talks about a journey back east to find a new town to live in, but they feel that something has to give even in the half light, which indicates a feeling of uncertainty and doubt about the future. The song touches upon the anxiety of losing everything in the form of the financial crash and how it affected the promises made, and the narrative shifts to the singer's realization of the changes in the city they called home since they were a child. There's a certain sadness in the lines, "In this home which has no life, pray to God I won't live to see the death of everything that's wild," which suggests that the singer feels disconnected from their current environment and longs for an era of purity and authenticity. The final lines of the song repeat the phrase "One day they will see it's long gone" thrice, indicating a sense of resignation that the loss of home and memories is inevitable.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that San Francisco's gone
Now that the singer's home and the city he grew up in (San Francisco) is no more, he feels it's time to move on.
I guess I'll just pack it in
He's lost his attachment to his home and will leave it behind by packing his bags.
Wanna wash away my sins
He hopes to cleanse himself from the sense of loss and sadness he's feeling after the destruction of his home.
In the presence of my friends
Finding comfort in the company of his friends, he wishes to move forward from his past.
You and I, we head back east
Together with the person being addressed, the artist sets out to find a new place to call home.
To find a town where we can live
Their goal is to find a new location that's more suitable for them to start anew.
Even in the half light
Even in the worst-case scenario, with limited visibility or information, they won't give up their search for a better future.
We can see that something's gotta give
In the face of inevitable change, the artist acknowledges that it's time to take action.
When we watched the markets crash
The artist recalls a moment when financial markets crashed, a catalyst for their decision to look for other options.
The promises we made were torn
The artist is disappointed as many of the commitments they had taken towards their past life gets blown away.
And my parents sent for me
The parents of the singer invites him to leave and stay with them.
From out west, where I was born
They come to assist the artist in returning to his roots from where the artist belongs.
Some people say
The singer addresses people who think differently about their situation.
We've already lost
According to them, the singer has lost everything already.
But they're afraid to pay the cost
Despite their concern, the singers have to bear the cost of leaving their old life behind.
For what we've lost
They accept that they have lost something in the process of moving forward.
Pay the cost for what we've lost
The artists accept that they must pay a price to leave the past behind and embrace change.
Now that you have left me here
A moment of lament over separation from somebody who's no longer with him and has moved on.
I will never raise my voice
The singer decides not to resist the loneliness that comes with the absence of his friend in his life.
All the diamonds you have here
The lost companion's worldly treasures that are no longer meaningful for the artist after the loss.
In this home which has no life
The artist is unable to find life and energy after the events that have taken place and the loss of his home.
Oh, this city's changed so much
The city that the artist knew has changed so much that it's now unfamiliar territory for him.
Since I was a little child
The singer has known the city from his childhood and remains sad about the changes that have been brought to it over time.
Pray to God I won't live to see
The fear of witnessing the complete end of what is left of the city becomes so overwhelming that it causes a calling to God.
The death of everything that's wild, woo
The progress has resulted in urbanization, which is destroying the natural balance and wildlife of the environment.
Though we knew this day would come
The singer and friends knew all along that the current situation would arise at some point.
Still, it took us by surprise
Despite anticipating the change, the speed at which it all took place caught them off guard.
In this town where I was born
The place of birth of the artist has experienced a massive change that is difficult to accept.
I now see through a dead man's eyes
The impact of the sudden rise has caused him to see things and feel emotions that he never thought would befall him.
One day they will see it's long gone
The realization of the death of the culture and environment comes slow for some people.
One day they will see it's long gone
Ultimately, people will understand that the city's once-thriving atmosphere has been lost.
One day they will see it's long gone
Finally, people will come to know that the loss of the city is too significant as it carries with it values of social and environmental responsibility.
One day they will see it's long gone
The city's decay will only be felt profoundly in hindsight, as one looks back on what was once a beautiful and lively place.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeremy Gara, Regine Chassagne, Richard R Parry, Tim Kingsbury, William Butler, Win Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IDontKnowCorp
"Now that San Francisco's gone
I guess I'll just pack it in
Wanna wash away my sins
In the presence of my friends
You and I we head back East
To find a town where we can live
Even in the half light
We can see that something's gotta give
When we watched the markets crash
The promises we made were torn
Then my parents sent for me
From out West where I was born
Some people say we've already lost
But they're afraid to pay the cost for what we've lost
Pay the cost for what we've lost
Now that you have left me here
I will never raise my voice
All the diamonds you have here
In this home which has no life
Oh this city's changed so much
Since I was a little child
Pray to God I won't live to see
The death of everything that's wild (Woo!)
Though we knew this day would come
Still it took us by surprise
In this town where I was born
I now see through a dead man's eyes
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone"
these lines hits me so hard when I hear this song.
@nocarsgo
Now that San Francisco's gone
I guess I'll just pack it in
Wanna wash away my sins
In the presence of my friends
You and I we head back East
To find a town where we could live
Even in the half light
We can see that something's gotta give
When we watched the markets crash
The promises we made were torn
Then my parents sent for me
From out West where I was born
Some people say we've already lost
But they're afraid to pay the cost for what we've lost
Pay the cost for what we've lost
Now that you have left me here
I will never raise my voice
All the diamonds you have hid
In this home which has no life
Oh this city's changed so much
Since I was a little child
Pray to God I won't live to see
The death of everything that's wild
Though we knew this day would come
Still it took us by surprise
In this town where I was born
I now see through a dead man's eyes
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
@meredithlong5964
This song is so underrated and deserves so much more attention. I have the line "Pray to god I don't live to see the death of everything that's wild" tattooed on my arm.
@amber2777
It's honestly one of the best lyrics I've ever heard and no offense please but you've just given me an epiphany. Thanks
@esabarbaridad
"Some people say we've already lost
But they're afraid to pay the cost for what we've lost" these lines hits me so hard when I hear this song.
@IDontKnowCorp
"Now that San Francisco's gone
I guess I'll just pack it in
Wanna wash away my sins
In the presence of my friends
You and I we head back East
To find a town where we can live
Even in the half light
We can see that something's gotta give
When we watched the markets crash
The promises we made were torn
Then my parents sent for me
From out West where I was born
Some people say we've already lost
But they're afraid to pay the cost for what we've lost
Pay the cost for what we've lost
Now that you have left me here
I will never raise my voice
All the diamonds you have here
In this home which has no life
Oh this city's changed so much
Since I was a little child
Pray to God I won't live to see
The death of everything that's wild (Woo!)
Though we knew this day would come
Still it took us by surprise
In this town where I was born
I now see through a dead man's eyes
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone
One day they will see it's long gone"
these lines hits me so hard when I hear this song.
@panicinmind
Best song of the album PERIOD
@Juandomngz
Not when "City With No Children", "Suburban War" and "We Used To Wait" exist.
@Edo88Italy
Ehm... Sprawl II would like a word :P
@thementalorder1233
Half Light I and The Suburbs, that's all I need to say
@Iron-Bridge
We Used To Wait, Empty Room and Suburban War.
@Abhi_sr99
We used to wait .......