The first Atlas Genius single, “Trojans”, was released on May 4, 2011.
Andrew Hwang reviewed the single on Neon Gold Records (New York) and posted the following review, June 4, 2011.
“Like an invitation you weren’t expecting to get, Atlas Genius knocks on your door and creeps into your peripheries in stealth mode. Fair warning: “Trojans” will invade your head, all dressed up in a clever disguise of earnest vocals riding a hooky riff that easily approaches Phoenix-esque levels of infectiousness. And then there’s that driving bassline gliding over a frenetic bridge with athletic ease, the kind of thing cruise control dreams are made of. It pulls up outside your window, blasting from a fully functional boombox, shouldered by some dude in a trenchcoat holding the weight of the world. It won’t leave. And then you realize you never want it to. If you need protection from generic brand “party indie”, try this one on for size.”
Within hours of Andrew’s review, the Atlas Genius inbox started filling with mail from, record companies, music lawyers and radio promoters, as well a whole new community of bloggers and tweeters.
In the 24hr period following the review, “Trojans” had in excess of 2000 downloads.
The band is committed to releasing individual tracks as soon as they are recorded, and playing the songs live.
On February 19, 2013, Atlas Genius released their major label (Warner Bros.) debut "When It Was Now".
Trojans
Atlas Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
Take a look, hesitate
Take a picture you could never recreate
Write a song, make a note
For the lump that sits inside your throat
Change the locks, change the scene
Change it all but can't change what we've been
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
It's OK if it's gone
The thoughts that you had that it was the one
And oh what is left?
For all those times is that what you get?
Oh regardless
The walls get painted anyway
Oh you're guarding
The gates, but it all got away
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
Take it off, take it in
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
Take a look, hesitate
Take a picture you could never recreate
Write a song, make a note
For the lump that sits inside your throat
Change the locks, change the scene
Change it all but can't change what we've been
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
Your Trojan's in my head
Take it off, take it in
All the thoughts of what we've been
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
The lyrics of Atlas Genius's song "Trojans" are a contemplation of past romantic relationships and their lingering effects. It starts with the instruction to "take off all the thoughts of what we've been" - wanting to forget the past and moving on. The desire is to take a look back and take a picture to remember the memories made but know they could never recreate them. The song then goes on to talk about writing songs and making notes about feelings but no matter what they do, it can't change the past.
The chorus expresses that the persona's mind has been taken over by the other person's memories - "Your Trojan's in my head." A Trojan is a reference to the Trojan horse, a sneaky and deceptive trick from Greek mythology. In the context of the song, it refers to the other person's memories and the lingering feelings that they have left in the persona's mind.
The second verse emphasizes that it's okay to move on, but there will be lingering feelings left behind. The walls may have been painted over, but the Trojan is still there. The other person guarded and protected their relationship, but eventually, it all fell apart. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, driving home the idea that the other person's memories are still firmly planted in the persona's mind.
Overall, "Trojans" is a song about the struggle to move on from a past relationship and the difficulty in completely erasing someone from your thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it off, take it in
Let's forget about everything from the past
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
Let's erase all the negative thoughts about our past relationship
Take a look, hesitate
Let's pause and evaluate where we are right now
Take a picture you could never recreate
Let's cherish this moment as it can never be replicated in the future
Write a song, make a note
Let's create an artwork to capture our emotions
For the lump that sits inside your throat
For the feelings that are hard to express
Change the locks, change the scene
Let's move on and create a new environment
Change it all but can't change what we've been
Despite changes, we can't change our past
Oh, oh your Trojan's in my head
I can't stop thinking about you
It's OK if it's gone
It's alright if what we had is no longer there
The thoughts that you had that it was the one
The idea that you thought we were meant to be together
And oh what is left?
Now that it's over, what do we have?
For all those times is that what you get?
Is it worth it after all the time we spent together?
Oh regardless
Even if we can't change the past
The walls get painted anyway
We can make new memories regardless
Oh you're guarding
You're trying to protect yourself
The gates, but it all got away
Your efforts were not enough and we drifted apart
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Darren Norman Sell, Keith William Hamilton Jeffery, Michael Douglas Jeffery, Steven Roger Jeffery
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AngelTouch PT
"Trojans"
Take it off
Take it in
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
Take a look
Hesitate
Take a picture you could never recreate
Write a song
make a note
for the lump that sits inside your throat
Change the locks, change the scene
Change it all but can't change what we've been
Your trojan's in my head
It's ok if it's gone
The thoughts that you had that it was the one
And oh what is left?
For all those times is that what you get?
Oh regardless
The walls get painted anyway
Oh you're guarding
The gates, but it all got away
Your trojan's in my head
Julian Torres
9 years later and this song is still a banger i wish more people knew about this song
Alcinous23
Love this song. Just heard it on the radio, bought the album, and I love it too!
HornburgMX
Sounds like a song they would play in hollister or A&F. Nice remix, feel good song!
Sophia Wang
@Gabriel Hornburg Forever21 led me to this video yaaay
AngelTouch PT
"Trojans"
Take it off
Take it in
Take off all the thoughts of what we've been
Take a look
Hesitate
Take a picture you could never recreate
Write a song
make a note
for the lump that sits inside your throat
Change the locks, change the scene
Change it all but can't change what we've been
Your trojan's in my head
It's ok if it's gone
The thoughts that you had that it was the one
And oh what is left?
For all those times is that what you get?
Oh regardless
The walls get painted anyway
Oh you're guarding
The gates, but it all got away
Your trojan's in my head
AngelTouch PT
@Optimatium what?......sorry I can speak just 3 languages and read 5 and the one u use is not one of them....anyway, I´m off to bed, see u tomorrow baby. Dream about me...bitch ;)
Optimatium
@AngelTouch PT u r mad im good ur a dumass how cant fight
Optimatium
@AngelTouch PT what kind of man makes his name angeltoy?? i am only proving fact all skill no luck
AngelTouch PT
@Optimatium uuuuuhhhh, I knew u would reveal your gayness punk, I am happy for u :)
AngelTouch PT
@Optimatium honey, why dont u send me a selfy cause "I dont whant anybody else, when I think about u I touch myself"