The debut self-titled album by Broken Bells was released on Columbia Records on March 9, 2010. The first single from the record, "The High Road", was released on December 21, 2009.
NPR's "All Things Considered" aired an interview with the duo on March 16, 2010. A transcript of the article can be found here.
An EP, Meyrin Fields, was released on March 29, 2011.
Their second LP, After the Disco, was released on February 4, 2014.
Their third album, INTO THE BLUE, was released on October 7, 2022.
www.brokenbells.com
No Matter What You're Told
Broken Bells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
You're falling way behind
Well give it just a little bit of time
'Cause when we're all exposed, do you want to be the first in line
Can make your head pop
The echo is playing its tricks on you again
And again
We blow all our chances
When we know all the answers
And so it goes
With all the changes
If nothing changes
No matter what you're told
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
So you're picking up signs
You're scared you might be losing your mind
And all the hopes of any shot
You got to leave a new behind
You're making light of this I know
And it's a shame
You're just in a sentimental heart
It's to blame
We blow all our chances
When we know all the answers
And so it goes
With all the changes
If nothing changes
No matter what you're told
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
Ah ah ah
You don't want to end up in the lost and found
You better hold on tight
All the time it evens when you're upside down
You gotta hold on tight
I don't want to be there when you hit the ground
You need to hold on tight
We blow all our chances
When we know all the answers
And so it goes
With all the changes
If nothing changes
No matter what you're told
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
The song "No Matter What You're Told" by Broken Bells is a commentary on the power of groupthink and how it can lead to a loss of individuality and critical thinking. The opening lines, which transition into the song's chorus, emphasize the importance of being able to withstand the pressures of conformity and being the first one to speak out against it. The use of the word "witching crowd" suggests a group of people who are under the spell of something or someone, and the smoke they blow further indicates a sense of ambiguity or haziness that may cloud one's judgment.
The song acknowledges how difficult it is to break away from conformity and the allure of the crowd, and how easy it is to follow the path of least resistance. The line "We blow all our chances when we know all the answers" suggests that we often have the solutions to our problems already within us, but we fail to act on them because of the fear of standing out. In this sense, the song encourages individuality and personal responsibility, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Overall, "No Matter What You're Told" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of groupthink and conformity, and a reminder to stay true to oneself and not succumb to the pressures of society.
Line by Line Meaning
You're falling way behind
You are not keeping up with the pace
Well give it just a little bit of time
With some patience, things may fall into place
'Cause when we're all exposed, do you want to be the first in line
When everyone is held accountable, do you want to be the one blamed first?
Loathe the witching crowd, the smoke they blow
Dislike the people who create confusion and deceive others
Can make your head pop
Give you too much to handle causing mental disturbance
The echo is playing its tricks on you again
Your own thoughts and doubts are confusing you
And again
Repeatedly
We blow all our chances
We ruin our opportunities
When we know all the answers
Despite being knowledgeable, we still fail
And so it goes
That's how it usually happens
With all the changes
Despite changes happening all around us
If nothing changes
If we don't change our approach or attitude
No matter what you're told
Regardless of what we've been advised
So you're picking up signs
You're noticing indications
You're scared you might be losing your mind
You have doubts about your sanity
And all the hopes of any shot
Your opportunities of succeeding
You got to leave a new behind
You must let go of the past and start over
You're making light of this I know
You're not taking it seriously
And it's a shame
It's pitiful
You're just in a sentimental heart
You're acting on emotions
It's to blame
It's the reason for your situation
You don't want to end up in the lost and found
You don't want to be lost or forgotten
You better hold on tight
You need to brace yourself
All the time it evens when you're upside down
Balance will eventually be restored, even when life seems chaotic
You gotta hold on tight
You must persevere
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MERCER, BRIAN BURTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@V7979
You're falling way behind
We'll give it just a little bit of time
'Cause when we're all exposed
Do you want to be the first in line?
Those bewitching crowds
The smoke they blow, can make your head pop
The ego is playing it's tricks on you again and again
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes, nothing changes
No matter what you're told
So you're picking up signs
You're scared you might be losing your mind
And all the hopes of any shot you've got
Are leaving you behind
You're making light of this I know
And it's a shame
That your silly sentimental heart is to blame
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes, nothing changes
No matter what you're told
You don't wanna end up in the lost and found
You better hold on tight
Odds will turn to evens when you're upside down
You gotta hold on tight
I don't want to be there when you hit the ground
You need to hold on tight
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes and nothing changes
No matter what you're told
@mamlesksiddharth
Damn this band is underrated AF the music is sooooo good
@rafaelaosaki
I desperately need a live performance of this song, please
@badghoul
It's 4 am. Couldn't sleep. Got on YouTube and saw broken bells channel has new content.... Oh man. What a treat!!! Loving every track so far.
@pranaykarkera6334
This song is from 2014 😂
@pranaykarkera6334
Glad you found it though.
@fdoussegamez
This is one of my favorites songs, ty Broken Bells, your songs help me in my depression
@billymeems
Me and one of my closest friend sit and listen to these outside in out our shed it's always freezing (because we live in Britain) we aren't that old so we have years ahead to listen to these amazing songs, if one of us is sad we go to the shed and chill and listen to this song especially. I just have to jump over the fence. Just listen to this song at night just hits different
@NeverSaySandwich1
I can't gush about this album enough
@giovannaparente917
They deserve more likes... But I guess they don't need it when they know already that they r great.
@V7979
You're falling way behind
We'll give it just a little bit of time
'Cause when we're all exposed
Do you want to be the first in line?
Those bewitching crowds
The smoke they blow, can make your head pop
The ego is playing it's tricks on you again and again
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes, nothing changes
No matter what you're told
So you're picking up signs
You're scared you might be losing your mind
And all the hopes of any shot you've got
Are leaving you behind
You're making light of this I know
And it's a shame
That your silly sentimental heart is to blame
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes, nothing changes
No matter what you're told
You don't wanna end up in the lost and found
You better hold on tight
Odds will turn to evens when you're upside down
You gotta hold on tight
I don't want to be there when you hit the ground
You need to hold on tight
We blow all our chances thinkin' we know
All the answers, and so it goes
With all the changes and nothing changes
No matter what you're told