The original band was Ian Romano (drums, percussion), his brother Daniel Romano (vocals, lead guitar), guitarist Spencer Burton, and bassist Aaron Murphy. Murphy soon quit and was replaced by another Welland-area musician Matthew Ellis, and the band recorded a self-titled EP for Grimsby, Ontario label Skate Ahead Records, which released it in 2004.[2] Ellis did not stay in the band long, and was replaced by bassist and singer Ian Kehoe, who had previously been in a band with Burton. Kehoe took on the job of writing most of the lyrics for the band. Solo artist Kendra Foord played keyboards briefly, leaving shortly before they toured western Canada due to creative differences.
Closely following the lineup change, Attack in Black toured the west coast of Canada. Upon their return, they spoke with promoter Joel Carriere, who had just founded Dine Alone Records. They were signed in early 2006; the four-song Widows EP was released September 16, 2006. Shortly after that, they released the EP Northern Towns. That fall, they opened for Cancer Bats and Alexisonfire and, in the UK, Bayside.
The band's debut album, "Marriage", was released on July 31, 2007. The album "The Curve Of The Earth" followed closely.
The band's third album "Years (by One Thousand Fingertips)" was released on March 10, 2009. This was followed by a split LP with Baby Eagle, the solo project of Constantines' guitarist Steve Lambke, released on You've Changed Records in May 2009. The band members then went their separate ways, with their last show taking place on August 27, 2010 at the Mansion House in St. Catharines, ON.
Footprints
Attack In Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in every year gone by.
my addresses now so lovely penned
the blind would shed a tear
maybe I don't need the things that you and you need
and maybe I'm the shadow cast
on drying grass and dying trees.
forgiveness rests upon weight
of what we give and what we keep
maybe there's a footprint I left a life ago.
if so, there's something beautiful
out there, somewhere, I know
words can only reach the ears
of whom you aim to speak
a stone can only roll
so far as the ground is not too steep
and I aim to speak to generations
I wish to touch but one
drive to tears that something beautiful
may never come undone
In "Footprints," Attack in Black's lead singer, Daniel Romano is grappling with the idea of leaving a lasting impression in the world. He acknowledges that while his distraction and yearning for meaning have grown over the years, he finds solace in the idea that he has already made an impact. The references to his "lovely penned" addresses and the potential of a footprint he left a lifetime ago highlight his introspection and self-doubt. He wonders if his contributions are enough, if they will last, and if they are truly beautiful.
The idea that a scar is only as deep as the cuts one endures emphasizes the idea of weight and impact. Romano acknowledges that forgiveness and beauty rest upon what we give and what we keep. The singer seems to understand that his words and actions can only reach those he aims to speak to and that there are limitations to what one can do. However, he still aims to touch and drive his audience to tears with the belief that something beautiful can withstand the test of time.
Overall, the song, "Footprints," delves into the concept of legacy, the beauty of impermanence, and the weight of our actions. It is a reflective piece that encourages the listener to think about their own mark in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
My distraction grows in leaps and bounds
My lack of focus exponentially worsens over time
in every year gone by.
with each passing year
my addresses now so lovely penned
the places I have lived are now beautifully written about
the blind would shed a tear
it is so beautifully described that even the blind would be moved to tears
maybe I don't need the things that you and you need
perhaps I do not require the same things as others
and maybe I'm the shadow cast
and maybe I am like a shadow falling upon
on drying grass and dying trees.
drying grass and dying trees
a scar is only so when cuts run too deep
a wound only becomes a scar if the injury was substantial
forgiveness rests upon weight
forgiveness depends upon the gravity of the offense
of what we give and what we keep
both what we give and what we hold back
maybe there's a footprint I left a life ago.
there may be a mark I made long ago
if so, there's something beautiful
if there is, it is something wonderful
out there, somewhere, I know
I am sure it exists out there somewhere
words can only reach the ears
speech can only be heard by those for whom it was intended
of whom you aim to speak
of the person you are directing your words to
a stone can only roll
a rock can only roll
so far as the ground is not too steep
as long as the inclination of the ground is not too extreme
and I aim to speak to generations
I aspire to address future eras
I wish to touch but one
I only hope to have an impact on a single person
drive to tears that something beautiful
inspire an emotional reaction to something exquisite
may never come undone
may always remain intact
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mishpaa Flus
there is nothing that makes me more sad than the fact that this band is no more. One of the best bands to emerge on the Canadian Indie music scene and it goes virtually unnoticed until way later. I'm happy for Daniel Romano and his country music project, but I feel like Attack in Black would have been so much more successful in this day and age, especially with bands of their genre gaining more and more popularity, like Mumford and Sons and Beirut.
TheLobonegro3
My favorite song ever
Steve Tomey
1:44!