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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LifeTime
Better Than Ezra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got into a car, crashed along the way.
When we arrived late to the wake,
Stole the urn while they looked away,
And drove to the beach 'cause I knew you'd want it that way.
And you were standing on the hood of the car
And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes, felt like a lifetime
Felt like a lifetime
And you move like water, yeah
I could drown in you.
And I felt so deep once, till you pulled me through
You would tell me, "No one is allowed to be so proud
They never reach out when they're giving up."
And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes, felt like a lifetime
Are you sitting in the lights?
Or combing your hair again,
And talking in rhymes?
Are you sitting in the lights?
When I got home, heard the phone, your parents had arrived.
And your dad set his jaw, your ma just smiled and sighed.
But they left soon and I went to my room.
Played that disc that you'd given me,
And I shut my eyes, swear I could hear the sea.
We were standing on the hood of your car
Singing out loud when the sun came up.
And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes,
Three and a half minutes, felt like a lifetime.
"Lifetime" by Better Than Ezra tells the story of a graduation day that turns into a memorable and unconventional journey. Allie, who is supposed to make it to her own graduation, gets into a car accident. She and the singer eventually make it to the wake for another student, where they steal the urn and go to the beach as Allie would have wanted. The song is about living life in the moment and defying expectations.
The driving beat of the song echoes the urgency of the situation, and the lyrics capture the feeling of being caught up in a unique and meaningful adventure. The lines "I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good" suggest that the singer knows what he's doing is wrong but chooses to do it anyway because it feels right. The reference to a specific REM song adds a layer of nostalgia to the proceedings, hinting at the transformative power of music.
Overall, "Lifetime" is a song about seizing the moment, living life to the fullest, and celebrating the joy of being alive, even in the face of tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Allie woke up 8AM, graduation day.
The singer wakes up on a significant day in their life- the day of someone's graduation.
Got into a car, crashed along the way.
They got into a car accident on the way to the occasion.
When we arrived late to the wake, Stole the urn while they looked away, And drove to the beach 'cause I knew you'd want it that way.
The singer arrives late at the wake and doesn't want to face the consequences of it. They steal the urn and head to the beach because they believe the deceased would have liked it that way.
And you were standing on the hood of the car Singing out loud when the sun came up.
The artist envisions their loved one standing on the car, enjoying the sunrise, and singing aloud.
And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
Although the artist's actions weren't the most appropriate, they still feel incredible doing them.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
The singer expected the deceased's mother to be angry, but she wasn't bothered by their actions.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
While all of this was taking place, the singer imagined an REM song playing in their mind.
And three and a half minutes, felt like a lifetime
Despite the short period, the artist feels as though it lasts a lifetime, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.
And you move like water, yeah I could drown in you.
The artist compares their loved one to running water and suggests they could get lost in their attraction to them.
And I felt so deep once, till you pulled me through
The artist felt lost, but their loved one helped them find their way back.
You would tell me, "No one is allowed to be so proud They never reach out when they're giving up."
The deceased used to advise the singer against being too stubborn to ask for help when they needed it.
Are you sitting in the lights? Or combing your hair again, And talking in rhymes? Are you sitting in the lights?
The artist is curious about where their loved one is, and if they're spending time combing their hair and speaking in verse.
When I got home, heard the phone, your parents had arrived. And your dad set his jaw, your ma just smiled and sighed.
The singer finds out that their loved one's parents have arrived and can tell her father is upset while her mother accepts the situation with a resigned expression.
But they left soon and I went to my room. Played that disc that you'd given me, And I shut my eyes, swear I could hear the sea.
The parents leave, and the singer goes to their room and listens to a song their loved one gave them, experiencing a sensory memory of the beach.
We were standing on the hood of your car Singing out loud when the sun came up.
Returning to the memory that runs throughout the song, the singer recalls standing on the car and singing along with their loved one as the sun rose.
And three and a half minutes, Three and a half minutes, felt like a lifetime.
The song comes to a close and the artist returns to reality, once again emphasizing the importance of the memories that can be made in a brief moment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEVIN GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MARI MISAWA
Allie woke up 8AM
Graduation day.
Got into a car,
And crashed along the way.
When we arrived late to the wake,
Stole the urn while they
Looked away,
And drove to the beach
'Cause I knew you'd want it
That way.
And you were standing
On the hood of the car
Singing out loud
When the sun came up.
And I know I wasn't right,
But it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind,
Like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing
In my mind.
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime
It felt like a lifetime
And you move like water
I could drown in you.
And I fell so deep once,
Till you pulled me through
You would tell me
"No one is allowed to be so proud
They never reach out
When they're giving up."
And I know I wasn't right,
But it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind,
Like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing
In my mind.
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime
Are you sitting in the lights?
Or combing your hair again,
And talking in rhymes?
Are you sitting in the lights?
When I got home, heard the phone,
Your parents had arrived.
And your dad set his jaw
Your mom just smiled and sighed.
But they left soon
And I went to my room.
Played that disc that you'd given me,
And I shut my eyes
Swear I could hear the sea.
When we were standing
On the hood of your car
Singing out loud when the sun came up.
And I know I wasn't right,
But it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind,
Like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing
In my mind.
And three and a half minutes,
Three and a half minutes,
Felt like a lifetime.
thelurch88
I remember hearing this on the radio in the summer of 2005. Reminds me of that summer.
Monitor1CC
This song and Star Wars Episode III remind me of summer ‘05 more than anything.
Nerds Ahoy!
I heard this song again recently and it describes perfectly a scene/series of scenes in the book I'm writing. I'm glad it inspired me to write again.
Miles Lanning
My band and myself played this at my best friends funeral, and everyone was in tears clapping, i was balling my eyes out singing it, and all I could do is smile, her sister played the bass in her place, it was a good way to honor her, and keep the faith that she gave me for a lifetime....
overthehills92
one band that puts me back to my childhood as a little 90's- 2000's rat
emily
i've never fully appreciated how sad this song is until i listened to it after two years.
Alex Century
I'm in tears listening to this after yet another person in my life goes too soon. I first heard this song the day after my grandfather died while standing in a JCPenney store and I had to download it. I had no idea it would become such a symbol in my life.
rat pack
the song i listen to cope with BULLYING and DEPRESSION.....I was 16 back then this song saved me....: )
T Monay
Me tooo
Rajander Philip
Music can do that for ya!! :)