Robert Tait - Vocals, rhythm guitar
Steve Cowgi… Read Full Bio ↴Bag of Toys is...
Robert Tait - Vocals, rhythm guitar
Steve Cowgill - Lead guitar
Brandon Hawks - Bass
Greg Phillips - Drums
Fresh from San Francisco, Bag of Toys is a four piece acoustic surf-rock band now based in Wilmington, NC. The band has released three albums and has sold thousands of CDs across the globe. Original music by Bag of Toys has been licensed for use on a national Microsoft commercial, an episode of "Bones" on the Fox network, two Universal Pictures movies as well as numerous surfing DVDs. They've also had the distinction to share the stage with bands like Fishbone, Pato Banton & Sean Kingston (to name a few).
The foundation was laid in San Francisco in late 2004 when lead vocalist Robert Tait and lead guitarist Steve Cowgill met through the musicans section of craigslist.com. After a single jam session and several beers at Tait's apartment, the two decided to start a band and eventually found the perfect fit with Joe Schewe holding a bass and Robert Stadler behind a drum set. The foursome spent the summer of 2005 in Tait's apartment molding his early creations into the addictive sound that has become known as Bag of Toys.
In 2006, the group released their full-length debut album, "Nooner" and quickly propelled to the top of the rankings for unsigned acoustic artists on myspace.com. Mastered by Dave Collins (Jack Johnson, No Doubt, Ben Harper), the CD has since sold thousands of copies worldwide and the band has since surpassed 1 million song plays on myspace. In 2007, "Share", one of the band's original songs from "Nooner", was prominently featured on both a national television commercial for the Microsoft Zune media player and San Francisco's KFOG Local Scene (Vol. 4) radio station compilation.Ê "Share" was later used in an episode of "Bones" on the Fox network, "Surf Song" was featured in the motion picture "Beethoven's Big Break" and numerous songs by the band were licensed for use in the film "Parfection: The Golf Movie".
Bag of Toys released their second full-length album in July of 2008.Ê Entitled "Afternooner," the album was recorded at Gadgetbox Studios in Santa Cruz and produced by Andy Zenczak. Mastered by John Cuniberti (Dave Matthews, The Grateful Dead, Aerosmith), "Afternooner" features 13 contagious tracks which not only have the signature sound that made their debut album popular, but also incorporates some new elements such as funk, country, and Latin rhythms. "Afternooner" was well received by both fans and critics alike and continues to sell thousands of copies worldwide.
2010 brought some big changes to the band as Stadler and Schewe left to pursue other interests while Tait and Cowgill relocated to Wilmington, NC. In May of 2010 Tait and Cowgill released a third album called "Stripped Alive" which captured the duo blasting through 12 of the band's biggest hits, recorded completely live in the studio. The two immediately started looking for a new rhythm section and found Brandon Hawks on bass and Greg Phillips on drums to once again bring the Bag back up to full power. Bag of Toys is currently playing shows throughout the southeastern US and is working on material for a fourth studio album that is sure to captivate current fans and new listeners alike.
The Raven
Bag of Toys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pull the shades back up to expose the sun
Walk outside or get a ride just get your ass there on time
Cuz we'll leave without everyone
we never did.
Everyone knows where to meet/Just behind pier 23
The weathers great I have to say It's gonna be a perfect day
And we haven't lost a single life yet
we never did...never did, never did, never did...
Oh! Drink it on up, tilt it on back and pass the rest on
Oh, Don't let these days pass you by, cuz they won't last that long
Rich is making drinks down stairs / Pass him down the empty beers
Could someone pass another one up?
Kinda sacked, the boat is packed / Christeen's puking off the back
If the coast guard see's us, man, we're fucked
but they never did.
Brady's got the music wired / The Bob Marley's still required
To get this vessel all in the mood
Get to Sam's is all we've plannned / Docking we could sure use a hand
Before the waitress brings us our food
she never did...never did, never did, never did...
Oh! Drink it on up, tilt it on back and pass the rest on
Oh, Don't let these days pass you by, cuz they won't last that long
I'd like to see, be it, feel it, need it,
Don't repeat the shit your seeing, dealing with the feeling that your needing (its a)
long ride, high...tide...brain's fried, I think it's done, I think it's leaking out the other side
Go low, so-lo, ain't got no posse cuz their getting loaded on the boat
I'd like to see, be it, feel it, need it,
Oh! Drink it on up, tilt it on back and pass the rest on
Oh, Don't let these days pass you by, cuz they won't last that long
The lyrics to Bag of Toys's song "The Raven" capture a day in the life of a group of friends, who are determined to make the most of their time together. The opening lines are a little bleak as they speak of a "suicidal warning", suggesting that one of the friends is struggling with some mental health issues. However, instead of dwelling on this, they choose to focus on the positive and head outside to enjoy the sunshine. The group has a ritual established, meeting behind Pier 23 with a 12 pack of beer in tow, and nothing can get in the way of their plans.
As the day proceeds, the friends have a raucous time on their boat, drinking, listening to Bob Marley, and enjoying the camaraderie. There's some drama when one of the friends gets sick, and they worry about getting caught by the coast guard. Still, they manage to carry on without consequence, safe in their bubble of friendship.
The overarching message of the song seems to be to make the most of every moment, as time passes quickly and these moments won't last forever. While the lyrics aren't particularly deep or complex, they capture the spirit of carefree, youthful joy that is hard to replicate as we grow older.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up in the morning / a suicidal warning
Starting each day can feel like a daunting task and can often come with feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Pull the shades back up to expose the sun
Even when things feel dark and difficult, there is always light and beauty in the world if we are willing to seek it out.
Walk outside or get a ride just get your ass there on time
Cuz we'll leave without everyone
we never did.
In order to enjoy life and have shared experiences with those we care about, it's important to make the effort to show up and be present.
Everyone knows where to meet/Just behind pier 23
Don't forget your 12 pack of beer
The weathers great I have to say It's gonna be a perfect day
And we haven't lost a single life yet
we never did...never did, never did, never did...
Sometimes the simple things in life, like gathering with friends and enjoying the sun, can bring immense joy and create lasting memories.
Rich is making drinks down stairs / Pass him down the empty beers
Could someone pass another one up?
Kinda sacked, the boat is packed / Christeen's puking off the back
If the coast guard see's us, man, we're fucked
but they never did.
Part of enjoying life and having fun is taking risks and doing things that might be a little reckless, but it's important to be mindful of the potential consequences and take responsibility for our actions.
Brady's got the music wired / The Bob Marley's still required
To get this vessel all in the mood
Get to Sam's is all we've plannned / Docking we could sure use a hand
Before the waitress brings us our food
she never did...never did, never did, never did...
Having a good soundtrack is essential for creating a fun and lively atmosphere, and it's important to take care of one another and work together in order to achieve our goals.
I'd like to see, be it, feel it, need it,
Don't repeat the shit your seeing, dealing with the feeling that your needing (its a)
long ride, high...tide...brain's fried, I think it's done, I think it's leaking out the other side
Go low, so-lo, ain't got no posse cuz their getting loaded on the boat
I'd like to see, be it, feel it, need it,
Life is a journey and it's important to take risks, explore our desires and emotions, and live in the present moment, even when things feel uncertain or overwhelming.
Oh! Drink it on up, tilt it on back and pass the rest on
Oh, Don't let these days pass you by, cuz they won't last that long
Life is short and it's important to savor every moment and make the most of our time with the people we care about.
Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Álvaro González
Feel this song...
Koush Al
american pie 8 openning creditss <3 it
jennrock Orola
american pie 8 soundtrack <3
Vladimir Vhuzhgha
Man, hole in one brought me here. I've been looking for this song.
Sara Chalstrom
love this song :o) p.s anything after American wedding sucks, and American wedding wasn't even that good.
Leonardo DaVinci
yes its ap8 ost dude