Like many bands in the then-burgeoning alt-rock movement of the mid-'90s, Better Than Ezra enjoyed their period of greatest chart success immediately following their debut major-label release (Deluxe), which spawned their highest-charting hits. At least commercially (and in terms of mainstream radio play), the band has experienced slightly diminishing returns with each successive release; however, unlike the majority of their contemporaries, Better Than Ezra's extremely loyal fan base has kept the group from dropping off of the musical map. Ezra's followers, who refer to themselves as Ezralites, have never cared whether radio stations play the band or not--in fact, many fans follow the band religiously, attending scores of their performances. It is Ezra's loyal fans and a relentless touring schedule which has allowed them to continue to produce new music, remain extremely viable in the music world, and out-live their projected shelf life. Additionally, Better Than Ezra's independence and survival in a business that has chewed up and spat out many bands who they used to jockey for chart position seems to indicate that the band will be around to satisfy their fans' rapacious appetite for their music for many years to come.
In addition to vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin from Monroe, Louisiana, the current members of Better Than Ezra are bass guitar player Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb. Original drummer, Cary Bonnecaze, left the band after the release of Deluxe. Original lead guitarist, Joel Rundell, committed suicide in 1990. Multi-Instrumentalist James Arthur Payne also from Monroe, Louisiana tours with the band, fills in vocal, keyboard, guitar, and harmonica parts, and is a fan favorite.
Who or what Ezra might be is a mystery that the band members have no interest in clearing up. Drummond once told a reporter that the meaning of the band's name is "so lame you wouldn't even want to print it." However, it has also been said that the name came into being when the then nameless band entered a battle of the bands in competition with a group named Ezra. Needing a name to register they simply said that they were better.
In 2005, Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry used the band's song "Juicy" as the background music for the second season of the show's promotional advertisement.
The band is slated to headline A Taste of Fort Collins in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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In 2009 there were line-up changes and a new album released. Drummer Travis McNabb left to tour with the Country music group Sugarland. The split was friendly and McNabb still serves on the Ezra charitable organizations. McNabb was replaced by Michael Jerome as touring and ?future? drummer, with Blair Sinta filling in on parts of the album Paper Empire and 2 dates of the bands summer 2009 concert tour.
Travis McNabb played his last show with Ezra on Feb. 15, 2009 in Metairie, Louisiana.
Paper Empire was released on May 12, 2009.
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Beautiful Mistake
Better Than Ezra Lyrics
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In your wallet with the unpaid bills
And you show it like it means something
You could never know the pain it brings
And here you are
Standing in our drive
(when absence suits you best)
Letters and your cards
With no return address
Now you come around
Now you come around
Your familiar sounds
We are your beautiful,
We are your beautiful mistake.
Waiting for this day
Well I memorized the things I'd say
How you broke her when you disappeared
How I hear her say,
"You'd make your father proud."
It echoes through the years
As if I could forget all a mother's tears
No, don't say a word
Leave while you still can
Put out your light
Now I guess you're going
A figure through the door
And your taillights faded
Like twenty years before
In "Beautiful Mistake" by Better Than Ezra, the singer addresses a person who has turned up after being absent for a long time. The singer describes how this person carries around old photos of unpaid bills and shows them off as if they are meaningful. The singer points out that this person could never understand the pain that these photos bring, and it serves to show how out of touch they are. Despite their absence, the person shows up at the singer's home, and the singer seems to be waiting for this moment to face them. They have prepared to confront this person, rehearsing what they would say about how this person broke someone's heart when they disappeared. The singer remembers hearing the person's ex say that they would make their father proud, and this statement still echoes throughout their life, particularly with their mother's tears. In the end, the singer tells the person to leave while they still can and to put out their light.
Overall, the lyrics describe the complicated relationship between children and their absent parents. The singer is both angry and nostalgic, trying to reconcile the good memories they may have had with this person with the pain that they've brought into their lives. The song is heavy and emotional, describing the harsh realities of life that many people face growing up.
Line by Line Meaning
Photo stills
Old photos preserved in a wallet
In your wallet with the unpaid bills
The wallet contains unpaid bills along with old photos
And you show it like it means something
Even though it's just old stuff, you act like it's important
You could never know the pain it brings
You never know how those memories hurt others
And here you are
You are present now
Standing in our drive
You are standing in front of our house
(when absence suits you best)
You chose to be absent earlier, but now you are here
Letters and your cards
You sent letters and cards
With no return address
The letters/cards have no sender address
Now you come around
Now you appear after being away
Now you come around
You return to our lives after being gone
Your familiar sounds
Your voice and actions are recognizable
We are your beautiful,
We are the pleasant outcome of your past mistake
We are your beautiful mistake.
We are the positive result of your past misdeeds
Waiting for this day
Looking forward to this moment
Well I memorized the things I'd say
I prepared myself for this encounter by memorizing what to say
How you broke her when you disappeared
How you hurt her by leaving suddenly
How I hear her say,
I still remember her voice saying
"You'd make your father proud."
She believed you would make your father happy
It echoes through the years
The memory of her words continues to linger after all these years
As if I could forget all a mother's tears
I could never forget how much my mother cried because of you
No, don't say a word
I do not want to hear from you
Leave while you still can
Go away while you still have the chance
Put out your light
Disappear from our lives and stay away
Now I guess you're going
I assume you are leaving now
A figure through the door
I see your silhouette exiting through the door
And your taillights faded
I watch as your car drives away and the taillights gradually disappear
Like twenty years before
Just like it happened twenty years ago
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind