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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The Killer Inside
Better Than Ezra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I'd be better off without her
And she believes in me
Well, she believes that time can make things right, yeah
And I want to believe there's been a change in me
And I, hope that she believes
Yes I, wonder if she sees the killer inside me
The lights go down, and the clouds are building outside
You close the door and turn the key
But there's no place to hide
And I, hope that she believes
Yes I, wonder if she sees the killer inside me
And I, hope that she believes
Yes I, wonder if she sees the killer inside me
The killer inside me
The killer inside me
The killer inside, yeah
In the song "The Killer Inside" by Better Than Ezra, the singer talks about his relationship with a woman who believes that he would be better off without her. Despite this belief, he still loves her and hopes that time will make things right between them. The chorus of the song is focused on the singer's fear that his partner will see the "killer inside" of him. It is unclear whether this is a literal reference to violence or a metaphor for some other dark aspect of his personality.
The song uses imagery to evoke a sense of unease and tension. The lyrics mention the clouds building outside and the feeling of being trapped with no place to hide. This adds to the sense of vulnerability and fear that the singer is experiencing. The chorus is particularly haunting, as the repetition of the phrase "the killer inside me" adds to the sense of foreboding.
Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of love, fear, and the darker aspects of the human psyche. It is an introspective work that invites the listener to reflect on their own relationships and inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she believes
The singer is recounting the beliefs of someone else (presumably a past lover).
That I'd be better off without her
The other person believes that breaking up was good for the singer.
And she believes in me
Despite breaking up, the other person still believes in the singer's abilities or qualities.
Well, she believes that time can make things right, yeah
The other person believes that given enough time, the wounds from the breakup can be healed.
And I want to believe there's been a change in me
The artist wants to believe they have grown or improved since the breakup.
And I, hope that she believes
The singer cares about the other person's opinion and hope they believe in the singer's improvements.
Yes I, wonder if she sees the killer inside me
Despite wanting to believe in their own improvements, the singer is weighed down by guilt or previous actions which they consider unforgivable.
The lights go down, and the clouds are building outside
A shift in the setting and mood is occurring, perhaps foreshadowing danger or unease.
You close the door and turn the key
The artist's control over the environment is emphasized, heightening the importance of their internal struggles.
But there's no place to hide
Despite their attempts at control, the artist still feels trapped by their own inner turmoil.
The killer inside me
The singer is haunted by their own dark thoughts and fears of being capable of terrible actions.
The killer inside me
The repetition of the previous line suggests the inescapability of the artist's own destructive potential.
The killer inside, yeah
The final line finishes the phrase from the previous two lines and emphasizes the unnerving sense of unease that permeates the entire song.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KEVIN GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind