Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. "'Mon the Biffy!" is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band's recent output.
The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish. Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs. In 1997, they played their first gig as the support for a band called Pink Kross at a local youth centre. The trio then moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering respectively.They then progressed onto the bigger stage
After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from the audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label. "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, and led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record. thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow... was released on 13 June 2000, and after hearing it, BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway gave the band airplay. A few days prior to the release of thekidswho..., the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet, and on 30 October 2000, they re-recorded and released the single, "27", which became Kerrang!'s Single Of The Week.
On 1 October 2001, one of the songs from thekidswho... was re-recorded and released as a single, "Justboy". This was repeated on 4 February 2002, when the song "57" was released. On 11 March, the band's debut album, Blackened Sky, was released to generally positive reviews. It was around this time that the band began touring extensively, including being the support for Weezer on 20 March at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 15 July, the fourth single from the album, "Joy.Discovery.Invention" was released as a double A-side with a newly recorded song, entitled "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys", which later appeared on The Vertigo of Bliss.
In 2003, the band retreated to the Linford Manor recording studio in Great Linford, Milton Keynes, England to record the follow-up to Blackened Sky. On 24 March, a new single was released entitled, "The Ideal Height", followed by another new single entitled "Questions and Answers" on 28 May. The band's second album, The Vertigo of Bliss was released on 16 June, to positive reviews, which focused on the more experimental style of the album in comparison to Blackened Sky, as well as the introduction of string sections.
In 2004, after touring relentlessly for The Vertigo of Bliss, the band retreated to Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, Wales to record a follow-up. As with the previous album, two singles were released before the actual album; "Glitter and Trauma" and "My Recovery Injection" on 9 August and 20 September, respectively. A digital download was also released; "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake", on 31 May. On 4 October, the band's third album, Infinity Land was released, and on 14 February 2005, the last single from the album, "Only One Word Comes To Mind" was released. On 16 February, the band performed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" live from Maida Vale on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show. Simon Neil's side project, Marmaduke Duke, also released an album in 2005, The Magnificent Duke, and toured the UK, along with the Johnston twins accompanying on bass and drums, for it.
In 2006, Biffy Clyro left Beggars Banquet and signed a deal with 14th Floor, an offshoot of Warner Bros. In June, the band contributed a cover of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" to Kerrang!'s High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, which came free with Issue #1110 of the magazine. In September, the band moved temporarily to Canada to record their fourth album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, and The Farm Studio in Gibsons, which they finished doing in November. The song "Semi-Mental" was released as a digital download on 25 December. In 2007, the song "Saturday Superhouse" was released on 14 May, where it reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart; the band's highest single chart position to date. On 14 May, the song "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" was released, reaching #19 on the UK Singles Charts. On 21 May, Biffy were confirmed for T in the Park 2007, as well as being announced as one of the support bands for the 17 June gig at the new Wembley Stadium for Muse. On 1 June, Biffy were confirmed for Glastonbury 2007. On 4 June, Puzzle was released to critical acclaim, and eventually helped the band to reach their highest UK Albums Chart position ever, reaching #2 in the first week of release. On 6 June it was announced that Biffy were to support The Who at Marlay Park in Ireland. On 12 June, it was announced that "Folding Stars" was released as a single on July 16. On the 23rd of August 2007, Biffy Clyro were announced as the support act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, for the Stadium Arcadium tour.
The Joke's On Us
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reaching highs that we won't in the future
You can't say I didn't warn ya
It makes me wanna scream
Let's create our own fire
Rainbows in the shape of a girl
Take whatever you want from us
Is it our souls?
We embrace all the violence
With a small dose of happiness
Is it us?
Are we alive because God saved us
Or is life just a juggernaut?
Are we alive because God tricked us
And this is all just a joke on us?
Stab my heart it won't stop beating on
Cage my mind it won't stop tripping in
You can't say I didn't warn ya
It makes me wanna cream
Let's move to California
Find ourselves a whole new world
We embrace all the violence
With a small dose of happiness
Is it us?
Are we alive because God saved us
Or is life just a juggernaut?
Are we alive because God tricked us
And this is all just a joke on us?
I want to take it back, I want to take it back
I want to live in the dark, I want to live in the dark
I'm in love with somebody else
I'm in love with somebody else
I'm in love with somebody else
I'm in love with somebody else
Are we alive because God saved us
Or is life just a juggernaut?
Are we alive because God tricked us
And this is all just a joke on us?
The Joke's On Us by Biffy Clyro is a song that touches on the subject of the human condition and the mysteries of life that leave us with unanswered questions. The song starts with a line that highlights the truth that is within us, and how it can reach highs that we may not reach in the future. The chorus of the song questions the very essence of our existence and whether we are alive because of divine intervention or merely because of the sheer force of life.
The lyrics then take a darker turn in the verse with the lines "stab my heart, it won't stop beating on, cage my mind, it won't stop tripping in." These lines could be interpreted as a person being unable to escape their emotions, or even their own thoughts. The chorus follows with the same existential questions that are asked in the first chorus. It appears as though the singer is struggling with the meaning of life, and if it all amounts to nothing but a cruel joke.
The bridge of the song indicates a desire for change in the singer's life, as they seek to move to California to achieve a fresh start. The song ends with the repeated phrase "I'm in love with somebody else", which could represent the singer's renewed hope for the future.
Overall, The Joke's On Us by Biffy Clyro is a thought-provoking song that invites listeners to question their own understanding of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
What's that sound? It's the sound of the truth in us
We hear the truth in ourselves
Reaching highs that we won't in the future
We are at a peak in our lives that we won't achieve again
You can't say I didn't warn ya
I gave a warning
It makes me wanna scream
I feel so strongly that I want to scream
Let's create our own fire
Let's make our own excitement
Rainbows in the shape of a girl
Our dreams and desires are represented in the image of a girl
Take whatever you want from us
You have the power to take from us
What are you staring at?
Why are you looking at us?
Is it our souls?
Are you judging who we truly are?
We embrace all the violence
We accept aggression and conflict
With a small dose of happiness
But we try to find some happiness among the chaos
Is it us?
Are we the ones causing the violence?
Are we alive because God saved us
Are we here as a result of divine intervention?
Or is life just a juggernaut?
Or is life a relentless, unstoppable force?
Are we alive because God tricked us
Did God deceive us by creating us?
And this is all just a joke on us?
Is life just a cruel joke on us?
Stab my heart it won't stop beating on
Even if I experience heartbreak, I will continue to live
Cage my mind it won't stop tripping in
Even if my thoughts are trapped, I won't stop dreaming
Let's move to California
Let's start a new life somewhere else
Find ourselves a whole new world
Begin a new chapter of our lives
I want to take it back, I want to take it back
I wish I could undo what has happened
I want to live in the dark, I want to live in the dark
I want to ignore unpleasant truths and live in ignorant bliss
I'm in love with somebody else
I'm in love with someone who is not my partner
Are we alive because God saved us
Are we here as a result of divine intervention?
Or is life just a juggernaut?
Or is life a relentless, unstoppable force?
Are we alive because God tricked us
Did God deceive us by creating us?
And this is all just a joke on us?
Is life just a cruel joke on us?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SIMON ALEXANDER NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephen Broadley
another biffy banger.this band are fantastic live and are an absolute joy to watch.
Mathieu Greenwood
Excellent track with great riffs!
Abhishek Basnyat
Dope song! Should have been released as a single.
TaranLoses
it's pretty underrated
trzigweid
The band is pretty underrated. Everyone should be listening.
Organic Grower
Great song! Love all of his music.
Adam
+Jamie Richardson His music? Good lord...
Pyro
''his music''
Organic Grower
+Adam .....and? You don't like how I talk?
Pyro
+Jamie Richardson its ''their music"' as theyre a band smh