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.
Who's Got A Match?
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one with the eye patch or the one who's highly strung
I know you can't trust anyone
How do you capture a photograph?
Put it to sleep pretend you're having a laugh
I know you thought you'd have the last
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
The midget is frigid I put it to you
Who's got a match I've got the petrol to set it too
I know I shouldn't have trusted you
It's making me tense when you're telling me
It's just the facts that don't compute the classic way
I guess I'm wrong again anyway
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
I'm a fire
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
I'm a fire
I'm a fire
I'm a fire
The lyrics to Biffy Clyro's "Who's Got a Match?" are hard to pin down to any specific meaning. The opening line "Which of the witches do you belong?" creates a sense of duality and choosing between two options. The line "The one with the eye patch or the one who's highly strung" implies that there are two different types of people: one who is tough and the other who is high-maintenance. The repetition of "I know" in the following lines adds to this sense of knowing someone's true nature, but also the inability to trust anyone.
The line "How do you capture a photograph? Put it to sleep, pretend you're having a laugh" could be interpreted as how one captures a fleeting moment in time through humor and lightheartedness. The line "I know you thought you'd have the last" suggests that someone is trying to have the upper hand in a situation. The chorus repeats the line "I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight," which brings about an image of destruction and action.
Overall, the lyrics are abstract and open-ended, allowing listeners to interpret them in their own way. However, there is a sense of tension, distrust, and recklessness throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Which of the witches do you belong?
Asking which side you are on, either the one who is tough and intimidating or the one who is nervous.
The one with the eye patch or the one who's highly strung
Referring to the two types of witches mentioned in the previous line.
I know you can't trust anyone
Acknowledging the universal truth that people cannot be trusted.
How do you capture a photograph?
Posing a rhetorical question on how to immortalize a moment in time through a still image.
Put it to sleep pretend you're having a laugh
Suggesting a trick to capture a candid picture by pretending to joke around.
I know you thought you'd have the last
Implying that someone thinks that they will win in the end.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
Repeating the chorus as a declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
The midget is frigid I put it to you
Making a crude and offensive statement about a small person.
Who's got a match I've got the petrol to set it too
Asking who is ready to start something, with gasoline as the metaphorical fuel.
I know I shouldn't have trusted you
Admitting that a decision to trust someone was a mistake.
It's making me tense when you're telling me
Expressing frustration at being given information that is not adding up.
It's just the facts that don't compute the classic way
Blaming the inconsistency on how things are traditionally done.
I guess I'm wrong again anyway
Conceding defeat in the argument, but with a hint of sarcasm.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
Repeating the chorus as a declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn burn tonight
Repeating the chorus as a declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire and I'll burn burn
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
I'm a fire
Repeating the declaration of being a force to be reckoned with.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SIMON ALEXANDER NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@litefade
The most underrated band of all time.
@connor7342
They were top of the charts and already overplayed when you wrote this.
@jackcarson2053
@Renegade 1661 6 years ago yea?
@scotstirling4946
Cracked America and up there with the best musicians from my country. Couldn't name anyone better off the top of my head.
@g-man9911
What a lot of pish
@johndarling485
@@smokersnhcapaldi more yer scene?
@MrGrombie
Took me a week to remember who sung this. Had it stuck in my head from past memories.... I’m happy I found it again. 💕
@sakurakuro2417
My all time favourite Biffy track. So good live.
@chloepoole2896
They are not mindless heavy metal noise nor are they sentimental soft-soap, if that's what you meant, but they have complete emotional integrity and can go to any emotional extreme more than any other band.
@Travalma
This is the awesomest playback video ever made. The timing, the length of the shots...damn near perfect. Right up there with the Foos' ''All My Life''. Good job!