British India is an alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The ba… Read Full Bio ↴British India is an alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The band is comprised of Declan Melia (vocals, guitar), Nic Wilson (guitar), Will Drummond (bass) and Matt O'Gorman (drums).

The band is notable for their single "Tie Up My Hands", taking the number one spot in the jtv music television programme, with their debut album Guillotine produced by Harry Vanda. Guillotine was also nominated for Triple J's J Award in 2007 and in December of that year British India won the AIR Award for 'Best New Independent Artist'. In April and May of 2008 the band entered Flashpoint studios once again to record their new album "Theives" officially released on the 19th of July, althought copies were available at gigs a week earlier than this. The first single from the album is titled "I Said I'm Sorry" and is on their MySpace.

British India formed when Melbourne high school friends Declan Melia and Nic Wilson met Will Drummond and Matt O'Gorman through mutual friends, and asked them to join the band. Social misfits in school, the quartet began to jam together, playing work by their favourite bands; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Beatles, Blur, and Starsailor. The band's name was originally noticed by Wilson on a b-side by Strawberry Alarm Clock.
In 2005, after playing regularly across Australia for a year, the band signed with In-Fidelity Recordings and began work on their debut EP, with producer Lindsay Gravina. In June 2005 they released a single, "Outside 109 / Automatic Blitzkrieg". The song's inspiration came from a quip made by Mick Jagger in an interview in 1964. Melia told Australian Music Online the song's lyrics referred to the band's gigging in Melbourne, and "being just outside of international recognition".
On 21 November 2005 the band released their EP, Counter Culture, on Shock Records. Following recording at Sydney's Flashpoint Studios with studio owner Harry Vanda.[6] Drummond said that in recording the EP, the band "crammed all [their] youthful exuberance" onto it.

Mona Lisa Overdrive
British India Lyrics

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And he'll be dead in an hour
Here's your phone back, a taxi is coming now
And let me know when you leave
We'll melt the plastic and find out what's underneath,
Underneath

You've got to kill your doubt
Open your mouth up and spit all the white noise out

And half past ten I call back
I put on war paint and act like I never asked

My blood turns white
I can't believe what you just said
I've been through this before, I hoped I never would again
As girls shine like magazines
Avoid us like falling masonry
I had to ask myself, what are you thinking?
My mouth is filling with glass, what are you thinking?

My blood is laced with caffeine
Melt through the plastic and find out what's underneath
The music is louder than God
The future is rushing at me like asphalt

Remind myself that I could walk away right now
Wake up one day and this will all be gone
What'd you say? What'd you say?
What'd you say?
I see you and I remember
I had to ask myself what are you thinking?
My mouth was filling with glass, what are you thinking?
I had to ask myself what are you thinking?
My mouth was filling with glass, what are you thinking?
I had to ask myself what are you thinking?
My mouth was filling with glass, what are you thinking?

I've waited my whole life for you to come around
Golden hair, angel skin holds me underground
I've waited my whole life for you to come around
Golden hair, angel skin holds me underground
What are you thinking?
What are you thinking?

What are you, thinking?
What are you, thinking?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to British India's song "Mona Lisa Overdrive" convey a sense of urgency, confusion, and self-reflection. The singer appears to be in a situation where time is running out, possibly because someone's life is in danger ("And he'll be dead in an hour"). There is a sense of detachment as the singer returns a phone and waits for a taxi, while also expressing a desire to know the truth beneath the surface ("We'll melt the plastic and find out what's underneath").

The song takes a introspective turn as the singer urges themselves to overcome doubt and speak up ("You've got to kill your doubt, Open your mouth up and spit all the white noise out"). As the song progresses, the singer seems to be caught in a cycle of uncertainty and disappointment, as indicated by the repeating lines about blood turning white and filling the mouth with glass. There is a sense of desperation in trying to understand the thoughts and intentions of someone else ("I had to ask myself, what are you thinking?").

Amidst all the chaos, the singer yearns for an escape and imagines a different life ("Wake up one day and this will all be gone"). The repetition of "What are you thinking?" suggests a searching for answers and a desire for clarity. The final lines reinforce a sense of waiting and hoping for something transformative ("I've waited my whole life for you to come around, Golden hair, angel skin holds me underground").

Overall, "Mona Lisa Overdrive" explores themes of confusion, self-reflection, and the desire for understanding in a chaotic and uncertain world.

Line by Line Meaning

And he'll be dead in an hour
This person will meet their demise within the next hour

Here's your phone back, a taxi is coming now
Returning your phone and informing you that a taxi is on its way

And let me know when you leave
Please inform me when you depart

We'll melt the plastic and find out what's underneath, Underneath
We will dissolve the outer layer and discover what lies beneath it

You've got to kill your doubt
You must eliminate your uncertainty

Open your mouth up and spit all the white noise out
Express your thoughts clearly and discard any meaningless distractions

And half-past ten I call back
At ten thirty, I will contact you again

I put on war paint and act like I never asked
I disguise myself and pretend that I never inquired

My blood turns white
My blood loses its color

I can't believe what you just said
I am unable to comprehend your recent statement

I've been through this before, I hoped I never would again
I have experienced a similar situation in the past, and I had hoped to never encounter it again

As girls shine like magazines
Girls radiate beauty and glamour like those portrayed in magazines

Avoid us like falling masonry
They deliberately avoid us, treating us like collapsing bricks

I had to ask myself, what are you thinking?
I found myself questioning my own thoughts and intentions

My mouth is filling with glass, what are you thinking?
I feel as though shards of glass are filling my mouth, and I wonder about your thoughts

My blood is laced with caffeine
My blood is infused with caffeine

Melt through the plastic and find out what's underneath
Break through the surface layer and discover what lies beneath

The music is louder than God
The volume of the music exceeds anything imaginable

The future is rushing at me like asphalt
The future approaches me rapidly and forcefully, much like asphalt

Remind myself that I could walk away right now
I need to remember that I have the option to leave this situation immediately

Wake up one day and this will all be gone
One day, I will awaken to find that everything has disappeared

What'd you say? What'd you say? What'd you say?
What did you just say? What did you just say? What did you just say?

I see you and I remember
When I see you, memories come flooding back

I had to ask myself what are you thinking?
I found myself questioning your thoughts and intentions

My mouth was filling with glass, what are you thinking?
I felt as though shards of glass were filling my mouth, and I wondered about your thoughts

I've waited my whole life for you to come around
I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival for my entire life

Golden hair, angel skin holds me underground
Your golden hair and radiant skin captivate and enchant me, keeping me trapped below the surface

What are you thinking?
What thoughts are occupying your mind?

What are you, thinking?
What exactly do you have in mind?

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: WILL DRUMMOND, DECLAN MELIA, MATTHEW O'GORMAN, NICHOLAS JAMES WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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