The band was formed by Jack Steadman (vocals, guitar, bass), Jamie MacColl (bass, guitar, banjo, vocals), Suren De Saram (drums) under the name of The Canals when they were 15. Ed Nash (bass, keyboard, mandolin) later joined the trio as they switched between various aliases before picking Bombay Bicycle Club. The band took their name from a chain of curry houses in the London Area and have released four studio albums, "I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose" (2009), "Flaws" (2010), "A Different Kind Of Fix" (2011) and "So long, See You tomorrow" (2014).
After winning the opening slot at V Festival 2006 ('Road to V' competition) and also played Reading / Leeds Festival for the three years running, in Febuary 2007 they released their début EP The Boy I Used To Be. This was followed up in October with the release of their second EP How We Are. In mid-July of 2009 they released their first album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose consisting of 12 tracks. The album peaked at number 46 on the UK Official Album Charts.
In Summer 2010 they released their second album, Flaws . A UK tour co-incided with the release of the album which - surprisingly - is an acoustic recording. Venues on the tour reflected this new acoustic orientation, which gained them a number 8 on the album charts.
The lead single from their third album, A Different Kind Of Fix was released on June 23, 2011 and peaked at #40 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States, the band's first chart appearance in the country. The album reached the number 6 position on the UK album charts.
The band added Amber Wilson to their live party as an additional keyboardist and background vocalist. Singer/songwriter Lucy Rose also joined the live performances on vocals, after featuring on several songs from the albums "Flaws" and "A Different Kind of Fix".
On November 5th, 2013 "Carry me" was released as an advance of their fourth studio album through Island Records. "Luna" was the second single to be extracted from the album "So long, see you tomorrow" which coveted the band their first UK number 1.
After a long 6-year hiatus, the band made a comeback in 2020 with "Everything Else Has Gone Wrong", their fifth record. The album was released on January 16th via Mmm... Records, with eleven tracks.
"We’re thrilled to say that our 5th album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong, is out now.
When we started discussing the possibility of making another record after our a few years away as a band, we said we’d only release an album if we were confident that it stood up to our previous work. We’ve ended up with an album we’re really proud of, and we hope you agree that it’s been worth the 6-year wait.
Recording this one was definitely one of the most enjoyable recording processes we’ve had as a band. Working with John Congleton, we had an initial session in London in early Spring last year at Konk studio, where we’d done our first and fourth albums. We then went to LA in late Summer to record the majority of it with John. Spending 3 weeks in LA was an unforgettable experience for the four of us. It was the first extended period of time we’d spent together in a long while and reinforced what we’d been missing during these few years. We hope that positive energy that was there during those 3 weeks has translated onto the record.
We’ve touched previously on how the album is about the comfort that music can provide in times of need. Hopefully, this record can give you that escape should you ever need it.
We want to get to as many places as possible to play these new songs for you. Wherever you are in the world, fingers crossed we’ll see you soon.
Lots of love
Bombay x."
Beggars
Bombay Bicycle Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your words have now got, the whole town waiting
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long
Your name you have kept, the part you've taken
So carefully planned, each word you've spoken
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long
The lyrics in Bombay Bicycle Club's song "Beggars" evoke feelings of vulnerability and the fragility of relationships. The opening line, "Your guard isn't on, your barriers open," suggests that the subject of the song is letting their guard down and leaving themselves open to potential hurt or betrayal. The second line, "Your words have now got, the whole town waiting," could mean that the subject's words carry weight and have the power to influence others.
The following lines, "My army is down, my company old / And leaving, quiet and burned," express weakness and defeat. It seems the singer is losing people they once had in their corner, leaving them feeling alone and burned by the experience. The repetition of "Those nights we sought all the words" implies that there were conversations left unfinished, and it's possible that the singer regrets not taking advantage of those moments.
The chorus, "Riding a fleet of beggars and cons / Taking it back, it won't be long," could symbolize the singer taking control of their situation and reclaiming what was lost. The phrase "fleet of beggars and cons" suggests that the singer is willing to work with what they have, even if it's not ideal.
Overall, "Beggars" explores the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that come with them. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has experienced pain and loss but is determined to move forward and reclaim what's rightfully theirs.
Line by Line Meaning
Your guard isn't on, your barriers open
You are not being watchful or protective, and anyone can access you easily because you have not taken any measures to keep yourself safe.
Your words have now got, the whole town waiting
Your words have created a buzz and many people are now eagerly anticipating what you will say or do next.
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words
I am feeling low and my support system is gradually fading away, leaving me feeling isolated and exhausted as we tried to find the right words to say.
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall
I wish I had someone to protect me or look out for me during these tough times.
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long
I am taking charge and strategizing my next moves, even if I have to do it with a group of people who are considered outcasts or misfits. We will reclaim what is ours, and our success is inevitable.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JACK WILLIAM THOMAS STEADMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Javier Stefano Páez Mendoza
Your guard isn't on, your barriers open
Your words have now got, the whole town waiting
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words.
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall...
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long...
Your name you have kept, the part you've taken
So carefully planned, each word you've spoken
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words.
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall...
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long...
Alan Paul
The whole album is terrific
Javier Stefano Páez Mendoza
Your guard isn't on, your barriers open
Your words have now got, the whole town waiting
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words.
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall...
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long...
Your name you have kept, the part you've taken
So carefully planned, each word you've spoken
My army is down, my company old
And leaving, quiet and burned
Those nights we sought all the words.
And if I could have one more guardian on the wall...
Riding a fleet of beggars and cons
Taking it back, it won't be long...
Marika Cisneros
Holy crap this whole album is just pure gold.
celine ab
This is so beautiful... I can't describe it 😔✨
Mario G
2018 this song is a real gem
Mauricio Armani
First time I listened to it I thought it has only 2 good songs... Later I find out that is their best album ever!
PGI Joseph Emil Inacay
This band is awesome.
Penguin007
2:50 is gorgeous simply stunning guitar and bass
Nyu Delight
Best song ever!! I love this song very very much :)
Amnesia Picardie
Vocals are freakin awesome