In 2004, under the current name Autopilot Off, they released their debut album, Make a Sound, which includes the single "What I Want", co-written by Rancid's Tim Armstrong.
"Clockwork" was featured on the soundtrack of the games SSX3 and NHL 2004. "Chromatic Fades" was used in NASCAR Thunder 2004. "Make a Sound", was included in Burnout 3. All of these games were developed by Electronic Arts.
On August 26, 2005, the band decided to take an indefinite hiatus and released the following statement on their official website:
"So, it's been quite a while since we have posted any news. We've been off the road for well over 6 months now. We played a couple of shows over the holidays in NY. But that is about all that has gone on. Rumors have started to fly around about what we are up to. We think its about time that we filled you all in.....
We've decided to take an indefinite break from Autopilot Off. It has been nearly 10 years since the band started, and it has been full speed ahead for the majority of that time. We have all decided to take some time for our lives outside of the band. We are all still the best of friends. In addition to this we decided a few months back to leave our home of 4 years at Island Records. We apologize for leaving you all hanging for so long. Thank you so much for all the support and friendships that you all have given to us over the years. We could never have done it without you."
In 2011, the band reunited and began recording again.
Long Way to Fall
Autopilot Off Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stuck staring out,
So jaded and frustrated,
Dragging you down,
You can only see so much when you're relying on your eyes,
There's an instinct in everyone,
It's the engin and the drive
(pre-chorus)
Once you lose those aspirations,
It's a long way to fall,
(chorus)
What i've got in my heart and my head,
I won't give it away because it's all that I am,
So listless,indifferent,distant and cold,
No feeling,no meaning,
Stuck in a hole,
Leave your ideals with your memories like they're something you've outgrown,
And the days go by you're paralized and you slowly turn to stone.
The lyrics to Autopilot Off's "Long Way to Fall" present a contemplative commentary on the dangers of losing one's drive and aspirations. The song opens with the image of eyes that are "fixed and dialated" and unable to see beyond their immediate limitations. The pre-chorus speaks to the complexities of human desire, the "engine and the drive" that push us to go after what we want despite the obstacles. But the chorus warns that once those aspirations are lost, it's a "long way to fall" - an emotional descent that is difficult to recover from.
The rest of the lyrics describe the emptiness and hollow feelings that come with losing one's direction in life. The singer feels "listless, indifferent, distant and cold" and begins to lose touch with their own emotions. They warn against leaving one's ideals behind and growing stagnant; it's a fate that turns you into "stone" and leaves you feeling trapped. Ultimately, the song is a call to hold onto one's desires and ambitions despite life's challenges, as they are what give us purpose and define who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes are fixed and dialated,
Staring intently, your eyes are wide open with excitement and anticipation.
Stuck staring out,
You are unable to move or look away from what's in front of you.
So jaded and frustrated,
You're tired and annoyed from past experiences and struggles.
Dragging you down,
The weight of your past experiences is weighing heavily upon you.
You can only see so much when you're relying on your eyes,
There is a limit to what you can see when you solely depend on what you can physically observe.
There's an instinct in everyone,
We all have an innate sense of what's right and wrong.
It's the engin and the drive
It's the motivator and the force that keeps us going.
It's a long way to fall,
Losing sight of one's goals can be a long, difficult journey downward.
Once you lose those aspirations,
When you let go of your hopes and dreams, you begin to lose yourself.
What i've got in my heart and my head,
My thoughts, feelings, and desires are what make me who I am.
I won't give it away because it's all that I am,
I won't let go of my dreams and desires because they are the essence of who I am.
So listless,indifferent,distant and cold,
You feel apathetic, uninterested, and emotionally detached.
No feeling,no meaning,
You feel numb and without purpose.
Stuck in a hole,
You feel trapped and unable to move forward.
Leave your ideals with your memories like they're something you've outgrown,
You abandon your values and beliefs as if you've matured beyond them.
And the days go by you're paralized and you slowly turn to stone.
Time passes by while you're stagnant and you slowly lose touch with your humanity.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HUGHES, CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER C. HUGHES, CHRISTOPHER C. JOHNSON, PHILLIP ROBINSON, PHILLIP W. ROBINSON, ROBERT KUCHAREK, ROBERT GEORGE KUCHAREK
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