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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Overcome
Better Than Ezra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the window to where you lie
Disjointed, dust and silence
Quite at a loss
[Chorus:]
I feel strange
I feel changed
overcome
overcome by you
I fell in too deep
But I learned to swim
In an undertow
Since I'm giving in
I feel strange
I feel changed
I feel strange
overcome
overcome
I'm a little bit wiser, I'm a little bit sadder
I'm a little bit less, you might have guessed
But if you could be staying
Tell me now, darlin', I think I'm fading
I swear I'll never trade your love for a lie
[Chorus]
(overcome, overcome,
Sometimes it helps me to give it up
In some ways you're never gonna get it
Some nights I feel I'm gonna give it
Sunlight, every night
Overcome, overcome)
hold still, come on and save me
hold still, come on and let me
hold still come on again
hold still, come on and let me
hold still, come on and let me
The lyrics of Better Than Ezra's song Overcome depict a feeling of being lost and detached from oneself due to the influence of a significant other. The use of light as a metaphor for this person, where they are "overcome" or overwhelmed by them, is expressed through the first verse. The singer feels disjointed, dusty and silent, almost losing track of who they are. The chorus repeats the phrase "I feel strange, I feel changed, overcome, overcome by you" multiple times, emphasizing the power this person holds over them.
The second verse, "I fell in too deep, but I learned to swim, in an undertow, since I'm giving in", highlights the singer's realization that they have let this person take control over them, but have adapted to keep up with them. The imagery of swimming in an undertow is a metaphor for the difficulty of staying afloat when someone is dragging you under. The line, "I'm a little bit wiser, I'm a little bit sadder, I'm a little bit less, you might have guessed," could indicate that the singer has learned something from this experience, but it has come at a cost. They have lost a part of themselves in the process.
The final verse seems to plead with this person to stay with them, as the singer feels they are "fading" without them. However, they also make it clear that they will not trade their love for this person for something fake or untrue. The repetition of "hold still, come on and let me" in the outro could imply a metaphorical grasping, as if the singer is trying to hold on to this person, and the repetition reinforces the desperation and longing expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
North light comes uninvited
The sunlight shines into the room unexpectedly and wakes the person up.
Through the window to where you lie
The sunlight shines through the window and onto the person who is lying down.
Disjointed, dust and silence
The room has a weird atmosphere, with a feeling of disconnection, dust, and silence.
Quite at a loss
The person is feeling lost and unsure about their situation.
I feel strange
The person is feeling peculiar and unusual.
I feel changed
The person has undergone some kind of transformation or change.
I feel strange
The person continues to feel peculiar and unusual.
overcome
The person is overwhelmed by their feelings and emotions.
I fell in too deep
The person got too involved or invested in something.
But I learned to swim
The person learned how to cope or deal with the situation.
In an undertow
The person had to navigate through a difficult situation.
Since I'm giving in
The person has surrendered to their feelings or situation.
I'm a little bit wiser, I'm a little bit sadder
The person has gained some knowledge and experience, but it has come at a cost.
I'm a little bit less, you might have guessed
The person has lost something in the process of gaining wisdom.
But if you could be staying
The person wishes that their love interest would stay with them.
Tell me now, darlin', I think I'm fading
The person is feeling like they are losing themselves and needs reassurance from their love interest.
I swear I'll never trade your love for a lie
The person promises to never betray their love interest for a falsehood or deception.
overcome
The person is still overwhelmed by their feelings and emotions.
overcome
The person continues to be overwhelmed by their feelings and emotions.
(overcome, overcome,
The person repeats the word "overcome" as a way to cope with their emotions.
Sometimes it helps me to give it up
The person sometimes find relief by giving up or letting go of their emotions.
In some ways you're never gonna get it
The person feels like their love interest won't fully understand their situation.
Some nights I feel I'm gonna give it
The person sometimes feels like they can't handle their emotions anymore.
Sunlight, every night
The person is trying to find comfort in the sunlight that comes into their room every night.
Overcome, overcome)
The person repeats the word "overcome" again, as a way of coping with their feelings.
hold still, come on and save me
The person is asking their love interest to help them and be a source of comfort.
hold still, come on and let me
The person wants their love interest to be close to them and not let go.
hold still come on again
The person continues to ask their love interest to be with them and support them.
hold still, come on and let me
The person repeats their request for their love interest to be close and not leave them.
hold still, come on and let me
The person continues to hold onto their love interest and seeks comfort in their presence.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D M
North light comes
Uninvited
Through the window
To where you lie
Disjointed
Just in silence
Quite at a loss
I feel strange
I feel changed
I feel strange
Overcome
Overcome by you
I fell in too deep
But I learned to swim
In an undertow
Since I'm giving in
I feel strange
I feel changed
I feel strange
Overcome
Overcome
I'm a little bit wiser
I'm a little bit sadder
I'm a little bit less you might have guessed
But if you could be ?
Tell me now darlin' I think I'm fading
I swear I'd never trade your life
For a lie
I feel strange
I feel changed
I feel strange
Overcome
Overcome by you
Overcome...
AVE anagramma
"We're just friends, nothing more." I'm in love with this song. <3
Uproot Meditations
That quarter quote brought me here today!
ultrageekChris
Started watching this on Netflix recently. It's funny how shows like these can remind us of how we might have been in our teen years. Even more amazingly is that we as adults still have so much in common as to how we were as teens. Still trying to find our way and our place in the world.
mendez5525
this is probably one of my most favorite songs.... ever. It truly spoke to me when I was going through a rough time in my life and even now when I listen to it, it's like the first time
Jileek
my favorite part of the song is from 3:40-3:45 the climax is superb !!
Suhaas Arora
Love this song so much!
Sharon Whitehead
I love this song!!!!!!!
Nicole Nagl
wow.... sounds sooo wunderfull with a lot of emotion in it..... amazing
Genesis Olivarez
Love this song ❤️❤️❤️😭😭
Mary Valencia
Samez