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.
Wrong Direction
British India Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What made it so easy to change your mind?
So long, but I won't surrender
I've gotta get back while the sun's still shining
So much time in the
Wrong direction
How much longer till I
Tried once, and now you're the expert
Tried once and it's so hard to let it go
You need to ask but you know the answer
You ask but you know that I know you know
So much time in the
Wrong direction
How much longer till I
Can forget you?
So much time and I
Won't surrender
How much longer till I
Can forget you?
Still better than these pretenders
Still better than all of the other ends
And this time I will not surrender
This time I forgive but I won't forget
So much time in the
Wrong direction
How much longer till I
Can forget you?
So much time and I
Won't surrender
How much longer till I
Can forget you?
The song “Wrong Direction” by British India is about being stuck in a stagnant and unfulfilling place in life. The lyrics speak of being lost and feeling like you are going nowhere, taking steps in the wrong direction, and struggling to break free from that cycle. The singer seems to be directing their words towards a person who may have led them astray or changed their mind in the past, but now they are determined to leave that behind and work towards finding their own path.
The repeated questions of “How much longer till I can forget you?” are a powerful metaphor for the difficulty of letting go of someone or something that has held you back. The singer acknowledges that they have tried before and failed, but they are determined not to give up this time. The line, “This time I forgive but I won't forget,” suggests a willingness to let go of resentment and past hurts, but also a determination not to be held back by them again.
Line by Line Meaning
So far in the wrong direction
I'm currently experiencing a great deal of dissatisfaction and regret due to the choices I've made thus far.
What made it so easy to change your mind?
I'm puzzled by how readily you were able to alter your thoughts and feelings about our relationship, especially since it's made things much more difficult for us both.
So long, but I won't surrender
Despite the fact that we've been separated for a lengthy amount of time, I refuse to give up on the possibility of returning to a happier state of being together in the future.
I've gotta get back while the sun's still shining
I need to make a move to improve our situation while there's still a chance for success; otherwise, everything will come to an end and darkness will set in.
How much longer till I can forget you?
I'm feeling weighed down by the sadness and longing that comes from holding onto memories of you, and I'm wondering how long it will take until I can be free of those feelings.
Tried once, and now you're the expert
I attempted to make sense of your actions and why our relationship fell apart, but now it is clear that you are the only one who truly understands.
Tried once and it's so hard to let it go
After putting in a valiant effort to keep us together, it's proving to be quite challenging for me to move on from our relationship and the emotions attached to it.
You need to ask but you know the answer
You pose a question that I know you already know the answer to, and it's frustrating that we're both aware of the truth but can't do anything about it.
You ask but you know that I know you know
Even though you inquire about my thoughts and feelings regarding our relationship, it's clear that you understand that I'm still struggling to move on and forget about you.
Still better than these pretenders
Despite the difficulties we've faced, I'd much rather be with someone who is genuine and true than settle for those who put on a façade to obscure their true selves.
Still better than all of the other ends
Despite the fact that things may have come to a difficult conclusion, I still believe that the time that we spent together was better than any other scenario that could have come to pass.
This time I will not surrender
I'm committed to fighting for our relationship and making sure that it doesn't falter or end prematurely once again, no matter how difficult it may be.
This time I forgive but I won't forget
Even though I'm willing to forgive you for the past, I can't let go of the memories of what happened and how it impacted our relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: NICHOLAS HODGSON, CHARLES RICHARD WILSON, NICHOLAS BAINES, JAMES RIX, ANDREW ROBERT WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Living Ghost
If there's something Australia does way better than America, it's music (but also 90% of other things).
idiota730
Living Ghost and they all come from either Melbourne or Perth cause Melbourne is the oz music capital and particularly Perth cause its so far from anything they have nothing better to do
Living Ghost
@Exposing Zionism Dude, just enjoy the music. It's all we have left in this world to keep us going. i live in America and Rap has taken over. It's sad. I love all genres but Australia has good music coming out. Even if it isn't main stream.
Resistance Radio Carl Mason
+Peaceful Noose oh yeah australia is just so important. since silverchair there's been.................................................
Henrietta
Nah, I prefer the coffee in America. You're right about the music though
Phoenix Murray
+The Real Jezuz music and coffee are the main things we do better than America at
floating bubble
wow this song really speaks to me on a personal level...I love when you find a song that you can genuinely understand and relate to in another perspective, it really helps to piece your thoughts together. this song is growing on me <3
TheConversation
3 years on and that chorus still gives me goosebumps. Immense
Rod Graeme
gotta love everything about this song. the guitarists are off the chart with tempo thats hooks you to it . Another Aussie Talent going places .
Clown Fish Autozoophilia
Rodney Spargo British india has been around for years, but i enjoyes their older stuff more, wasn't a dan if the controller album i think that is it's name.