1) A f… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands that use the name Battleships.
1) A four-piece indie rock band from Sydney, formed in early 2011 and named after a song of the same name by Travis. Bandmembers include Jordan Sturdee (vocals/guitar), Jonathan Bowden (bass/keys), Nato Hannaford (guitar), and Dan McMurray (drums). On their Triple J Unearthed profile, they cite their influences as Elbow, The Boxer Rebellion, and The National. Their first single "In Retrospect" was written over Skype.
2) Post Hardcore? Screamo? Progressive? Post Rock? Mariah Carey? You Decide. Led by two vocalists, this six piece lays it down hard. They stay heavy, even during their most calm and melodic parts, and flawlessly intertwine it all with quite frequent time/signature changes. Epic? Yeah, but you probably shouldn't take our word for it. Just listen.
3) A hardcore band based out of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Their first EP is available for free download here.
In Retrospect
Battleships Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tried to warn me
It was over before it began
I
Said who is there
Who can tell me I'm not my own man
And
Guess who was true
Cant
change her can you
It was being wrong I cannot stand
And
What do you do?
You can hide, you can run or can rage
But
seems it is true
once they're set stupid people can't change
How could we've known the truth?
Right there in front say you
Why did we see it through?
Easiest thing to do
We just could not sustain
All of the gentle pain
building with out a frame
On vacant real estate
The lyrics of Battleships’s song ‘In Retrospect’ depicts the aftermath of a failed relationship. Through the song, the singer laments over their inability to see the signs that the relationship was doomed from the start. They mention that someone warned them, and that someone turned out to be right, but they were too stubborn and naive to listen. They acknowledge that they made mistakes and tried their best to make it work, but it was ultimately futile. The singer is left feeling overwhelmed with a sense of regret, realizing that they should have seen the truth that was right in front of them all along.
The song brings to light the timeless theme of hindsight and the regret that naturally follows a mistake made in the past. As the title of the song suggests, the singer is reflecting on the past and evaluating what went wrong. The phrases “building without a frame” and “on vacant real estate” suggest a sense of emptiness and futility. From the lyrics, we can infer that the singer is struggling to come to terms with how they missed the writing on the wall and feeling helpless over the fact that they cannot undo what has already been done.
Line by Line Meaning
You tried to warn me
Someone attempted to caution the singer
It was over before it began
The relationship was doomed from the beginning
I said who is there
The singer questioned the identity of the person providing the warning
Who can tell me I'm not my own man
The artist believed they were in control of their own actions and didn't want to be told otherwise
And guess who was true
The person who warned the artist was correct
Even though I did all that I can
The singer still made an effort to salvage the relationship
Can't change her can you
The singer recognizes that they cannot change the other person
It was being wrong I cannot stand
The artist is uncomfortable with admitting fault
And what do you do?
The artist is questioning how to move forward
You can hide, you can run or can rage
The artist is considering different reactions to the situation
But seems it is true
The singer ultimately realizes that some people cannot change
once they're set stupid people can't change
The artist is frustrated with the other person's inability to change their behavior
How could we've known the truth?
The singer is questioning how they missed the warning signs
Right there in front say you
The warning signs were obvious
Why did we see it through?
The singer is questioning why they didn't end the relationship sooner
Easiest thing to do
Ending the relationship would have been the simplest solution
We just could not sustain
The relationship was unsustainable
All of the gentle pain
The subtle emotional pain of staying together
building with out a frame
The relationship lacked a solid foundation
On vacant real estate
The relationship was built on emptiness
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Supahypa1031
yes