The band's second album 'Take Them On, On Your Own' featured several songs ('Generation' and 'US Government') which were critical of the United States' foreign policy and George Bush in particular.
After conflict with their label (Virgin Records), the band was dropped in 2004. Nick Jago left the band at the end of their summer tour in the same year due to "internal conflict".
Following Jago's departure Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been regrouped and recorded the band's third album. With their third record Howl, they added blues, folk and gospel, a la Spiritualized.
In 2005 the band inked a new deal with Echo in the UK, and RCA in the US. Nick Jago also returned to the fold. The band's third album "Howl" was released that same year to widespread critical acclaim. Jago returned after most of the album was recorded but played on "Promise".
"Baby 81" the band's fourth album was released on May 1st, 2007. In June 2008 Nick Jago once again left the touring line-up of the band being replaced by The Raveonettes' touring drummer Leah Shapiro. Nick stated that "...I am fired again and to be honest with you I respect their decision".
However Hayes and Been released a conflicting joint statement that read "Nick won't be joining us for the upcoming European tour, but it's not true that he is fired. We just feel Nick needs time to sort out exactly what he wants right now. His heart and all his energy and attention is on his own solo project and he needs to see that through".
Current:
On January 9, 2013, the band announced via Facebook the name of their seventh album called Specter at the Feast which was released on March 18 in the UK and Europe and on March 19 in USA, Canada and worldwide. It is considered a tribute to Michael Been (The Call), Robert Levon Been's father who died suddenly on tour with BRMC in August 2010.
It received mostly positive reviews; many critics noting that despite the band having been together for some time the album showed a mellower and moodier side with songs such as opener `Firewalker'.
The band made the first single from the record available, a cover of The Call's 1989 hit "Let the Day Begin", for free download on their official website. The decision to record the song was a tribute to Robert's father Michael, who used his experience from The Call to help BRMC before his death in the last couple of years. The single became Q Magazine's track of the day.[6] The band have also released the Let the Day Begin EP for free, consisting of the single and the album track "Returning", made available for streaming on the official website.[7]
On April 8, 2013 it was announced that the band would play at Rock Werchter, the largest rock festival in Belgium.
The band continues to show a willingness to tour despite the obstacles. During the 2013 tour, the organisers of the Harvest festival in Australia decided to abandon the multi-city event, of which BRMC were one of the lead acts, only a few months ahead of the performances. BRMC was the first band to announce it would still visit the country and play its own shows.
Many shows on the 2013/2014 tour have sold out.
BRMC's music/songs have been featured in many films, television programs and video games.
Visit blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com for tour/CD and merchandise info.
Discography:
2001 - B.R.M.C.
2001 - Screaming Gun (EP)
2002 - Spread Your Love (EP)
2003 - Take Them On, On Your Own
2005 - Howl
2006 - Howl Sessions Vol.1 (EP)
2006 - Howl Sessions Vol. 2 (EP)
2007 - Baby 81
2007 - Napster Live Session (EP)
2007 - American X: Baby 81 Sessions (EP)
2008 - The Effects Of 333 (Download)
2010 - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
2013 - Specter At The Feast
2018 - Wrong Creatures
Returning
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A part of you holds on
What leaves your life suspended
Cradled by the sun
You found what's right before your eyes
Speaking like a fool
You hide yourself inside your words
But you must leave and not turn back
Knowing what you hold
How much time have we got left
It's killing us, but carries us on
Carries us all
A part of you is able
A part of you is gone
With leads you from the table
Returning to the cold
You found yourself inside a tomb
Screaming to the sun
You feel your heart can only give
Pieces of a ghost
But you must leave and not turn back
Knowing what you hold
How much time have we got left
It's killing us, but carries us on
Carries us all
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know you'll carry us on
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us all
The lyrics of "Returning" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are about the constant struggle of letting go of something that we hold onto, even though it might be hurting us. The song talks about how a part of us is always ending, while another part is holding on, and we are suspended in a state of uncertainty. The lyrics describe the singer finding the thing they have been searching for right before their eyes. However, the singer hides within their words and leaves someone else. The song talks about the feeling of being trapped and suffocated, wanting to leave but being unsure if it's the right move.
The second verse talks about the singer finding themselves trapped inside a tomb, screaming at the sun. They feel their heart can only give pieces of ghosts. The singer must leave and not turn back, knowing what they hold. The song implies that time is running out, and it's killing us, but we are carried along. The chorus talks about following one another until we return, until we know our souls survived. The song ends with repeating the phrases "carry us on, carry us all," implying that we are all in this together, and we must support one another to move forward.
Overall, the song talks about the paradox of letting go of something we are holding onto even when it is hurting us. It speaks to the feeling of being lost in the world and unsure about where to go next. The song is a powerful reminder that, while we might feel trapped at times, we are all in this together and we need to help each other find our way.
Line by Line Meaning
A part of you is ending
A significant aspect of your life is coming to a close.
A part of you holds on
You seek to retain some aspect of the ending chapter of your life.
What leaves your life suspended
You are left in the uncertainty and ambiguity of change.
Cradled by the sun
You find comfort and warmth in the guiding light of the sun.
You found what's right before your eyes
You discover something important that was always in plain sight but was previously overlooked.
Speaking like a fool
You struggle to articulate your thoughts and feelings coherently and effectively.
You hide yourself inside your words
Your words serve as a shield, concealing your true self and creating a barrier between you and others.
Leaving someone else
Your inability to communicate effectively results in a missed connection with someone important.
But you must leave and not turn back
It is imperative that you move forward and not look back, despite the challenges and uncertainties ahead.
Knowing what you hold
You recognize the value and importance of what you possess.
How much time have we got left
You are acutely aware of the fleeting nature of time and its preciousness.
It's killing us, but carries us on
The pressure of time and its limitations is a burden, but it also propels us forward and motivates us to achieve our goals.
Carries us all
The passage of time is a universal experience that affects all of us equally and connects us.
A part of you is able
You possess a certain capability or strength that enables you to move forward.
A part of you is gone
You have lost something integral and significant from your past.
With leads you from the table
You are drawn away from the security and familiarity of what you know and must venture out into the unknown.
Returning to the cold
You are moving towards something that is unpleasant or unwelcoming.
You found yourself inside a tomb
You feel trapped and confined, unable to escape from a situation that is suffocating you.
Screaming to the sun
You express your frustration and pain, hoping for some kind of relief or resolution.
You feel your heart can only give
You believe that despite your efforts, you can only offer a small part of yourself to others.
Pieces of a ghost
You feel like a mere fragment of who you once were, a shadow of your former self.
I will follow you till we all return
I will stand by you and support you until we all reach some sort of resolution or conclusion.
Till we know our souls survived
Until we reach a point where we are confident that we can overcome the challenges and emerge stronger.
Till we know you'll carry us on
Until we trust that someone or something will guide us through and help us persevere.
Carry us on, carry us all
We depend on each other to navigate through the difficulties of life, and the burden of time is shared by everyone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEAH JULIE SHAPIRO, PETER B HAYES, ROBERT L BEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fra Fra
A part of you is ending
A part of you holds on
What leaves your life suspended
Cradled by the sun
You found what's right before your eyes
Speaking like a fool
You hide yourself inside your words
Leaving someone else
But you must leave and not turn back
Knowing what you hold
How much time have we got left
It's killing us, but carries us on
Carries us all...
A part of you is able
A part of you is gone
With leads you from the table
Returning to the cold
You found yourself inside a tomb
Screaming to the sun
You feel your heart can only give
Pieces of a ghost
But you must leave and not turn back
Knowing what you hold
How much time have we got left
It's killing us, but carries us on
Carries us all...
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know our souls survived
I will follow you till we all return
Till we know you'll carry us on
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us on, carry us all
Carry us all
Inss
so beautiful, i will always listen to this... much love and respect from France.
M. 2018
Much love from England. 👍
Kharii Romero
mejor banda no pudo existir los amo... ame esta cancion con un toque de gospel song y howl!!
WhatTheZack
BRMC is kind of the most underrated rock band of the 21st century.
Angela Renteria
God speaks to me thru BRMC
Warren Jason Carling
Kind of? They are the most underrated rock band of the 21st Century!!
Rafael Fontana
BRMC are truly rock n rollers. This song's a born classic. Seems like all their songs are. Amazing.
Furdi Santero
No artist i have ever came across has expressed the feelings of loss & returning that comes with losing all you've known than these soulful american lads. This Music Saves Souls.
Stefan Duncan
I have just heard this song for the first time. It literally struck a chord in me....the words are beautiful and sweetly haunting. I am writing the Waccamaw series...and I could not had written the words and music that seem so fittingly perfect for my character Cayleb Long. The songs are like keys that unlock these huge reservoirs of emotions, images, scenes, etc. for my characters. I wish I was able to declare the band....the music for Waccamaw and have their songs played in the background of my scenes. Bravo... the words and music are "soul music."
TallyVanWyngarden
Amazing, BRILLIANT ! We couldn't expect less from you!