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.
Make a Sound
Autopilot Off Lyrics
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All we can do for now is hope
I don't know if we'll make it home
Water all around could swell and wash us all away
Away
And if we never said I'll be on land again
This will be one last song I will not forget
And if you drown
You won't even make a sound
You'll just swallow water down
At the bottom you'll find out
That it's quiet when you drown
I'm losing track of all the days
Lost inside a life boat
Drifting out with all the waves
The waves
And some will find their way by looking towards the sky
And some will leave their fate up to these ocean tides
And if you drown
You won't even make a sound
You'll just swallow water down
At the bottom you'll find out
That it's quiet when you drown
And when you drown
You'll never even make a sound
And when you drown
You're gonna swallow water down
The water gets so heavy
The water gets so heavy
The water gets so heavy
The water's heavy when you drown
You won't even make a sound
You'll just swallow water down
At the bottom you'll find out
That it's quiet when you drown
You'll never even make a sound
You'll just swallow water down
At the bottom you'll find out
That it's quiet when you drown
The song "Make a Sound" by Autopilot Off is a haunting yet powerful ballad that speaks to the uncertainties of life and the inevitability of death. The lyrics suggest that we are all on a journey that may or may not lead us home, but that all we can do is hope for the best. The image of being lost at sea in a lifeboat is central to the song, representing the feeling of being adrift in life and facing the unknown. Some may give up, while others will fight to survive, looking towards the sky for guidance or trusting in the tides of fate.
The chorus, "And if you drown, you won't even make a sound, you'll just swallow water down, at the bottom you'll find out that it's quiet when you drown," is particularly poignant, emphasizing the finality and silence of death. The repetition of this chorus throughout the song drives home the message that we will all face death eventually, but we have the power to choose how we face it.
Overall, "Make a Sound" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the essence of the human condition and speaks to the universal fears and hopes that we all share.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know if we'll make it home
There's uncertainty and danger ahead, and reaching home is not a guaranteed outcome.
All we can do for now is hope
Despite the uncertainty, there's still a glimmer of hope that they can make it through.
And if we never said I'll be on land again
There's a chance that they might not make it to land again, and this thought is haunting.
This will be one last song I will not forget
This song is a tribute to the fear and uncertainty of the situation, and it will be remembered.
And if you drown
There's a possibility of drowning, which is a real fear that they might have to face.
You won't even make a sound
When you drown, you won't be able to scream or make any kind of noise.
You'll just swallow water down
The drowning process will not be pretty or painless, the person will be choking on water.
At the bottom you'll find out
If they do drown, they will find out what lies at the bottom which is the ocean floor.
That it's quiet when you drown
Drowning is horrible because you're not only dying, but you will also experience complete silence.
I'm losing track of all the days
Being lost at sea can play tricks on your mind, making it hard to keep track of the passing of time.
Lost inside a life boat
Even though you're technically 'safe' on a lifeboat, there's still the underlying fear of danger.
Drifting out with all the waves
You're at the mercy of the ocean, and can't control where the waves will take you.
And some will find their way by looking towards the sky
In a difficult situation, some remain optimistic and use hope as a means to survive.
And some will leave their fate up to these ocean tides
Others might be defeated by the situation and give up control, letting the ocean take them where it may.
The water gets so heavy
As the situation becomes graver, the weight of the problem can feel oppressive.
The water's heavy when you drown
The physicality of drowning is felt in the weight and pressure of the water on your body.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, 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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