Broken Social Scene is an indie rock group formed in 1999 in Toronto, Canad… Read Full Bio ↴Broken Social Scene is an indie rock group formed in 1999 in Toronto, Canada.

The band's core members were Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. This duo recorded and released the band's ambient debut album Feel Good Lost, in 2001, with contributions from Ohad Benchetrit (also known as Years), Evan Cranley, Leslie Feist, Justin Peroff, Bill Priddle, and Charles Spearin. All of these musicians would emerge as key members of Broken Social Scene in future endeavors.

After the release of Feel Good Lost (an almost entirely instrumental album), Drew and Canning decided to transition the band into a more energetic sound reflective of the Toronto indie music scene of the early 2000's. As a result, they brought in a number of local artistic and musicial friends -- the Apostle of Hustle Andrew Whiteman, Jason Collett, Metric's Emily Haines, and Leslie Feist -- to flesh out their live show with lyrics and vocals. Over time, the band also came to include contributions from James Shaw, John Crossingham, Lisa Lobsinger, Julie Penner, Sam Goldberg, and Stars' Amy Millan.

Many of the later guest musicians joined with Drew, Canning, Peroff and Spearin to record the band's second album You Forgot It In People in 2002 on the label Arts & Crafts. This album, an eclectic, restlessly creative collection of experimental yet accessible pop songs, became the band's critical and commercial breakthrough -- it was greeted with widely positive reviews, and landed on many music critics' year-end Best-Of lists. For the success of the release, Broken Social Scene was awarded the Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award in 2003.

The album also included musical contributions by Bill Priddle, Jessica Moss, Brodie West, Susannah Brady and Ohad Benchetrit, but these were credited as supporting musicians rather than band members. On the supporting tour, the band consisted of Drew, Canning, Peroff, Whiteman and Jason Collett, along with whoever else was available to attend any individual show. Amy Millan and Gentleman Reg also joined for some shows.

In 2004, the B-sides and remix collection Bee Hives was released.

Broken Social Scene released their third full-length, self-titled album on October 4, 2005, with new contributors including k-os, Jason Tait and Murray Lightburn. The inside booklet accompanying album also noted several new faces as part of Broken Social Scene. A limited edition EP To Be You And Me was also printed along with the album. For the first time David Newfeld, who had produced Broken Social Scene's albums, was listed as a band member.

The group appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on January 31, 2006 performing 7/4 (Shoreline). During the several-year recording hiatus that followed, many members focused on their respective solo musical efforts; Drew and Canning both released albums under the name Broken Social Scene. The entire band appeared in the 2009 film The Time Traveler's Wife, performing an acoustic/folk-like cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." In Spring 2009, the band reported that it was in the process of recording a new album under the production guidance of John McEntire (of The Sea and Cake and Tortoise). The album, titled Forgiveness Rock Record, was released on May 4, 2010.

It was announced on August 15, 2011 that the band would go on an indefinite hiatus following an October 1, 2011 show featuring Isaac Brock and a fall tour in support of TV on the Radio. On November 8, 2011, a tweet in advance of a concert in Rio de Janeiro stated that it would be the band's final live performance.

The band returned in 2017 with a tour of Europe, Canada, and California. Their new single "Half-Way Home", was part of their latest album due to be released later in 2017. This was their first time writing a full-length album in 7 years.

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Chase Scene
Broken Social Scene Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All the dirty fingers picking up finds
Bruised with a motherless childish mind
To be kind in the line of design
Without a proper subject

Got all apologies, signed up to steal
Prednisone body, topic of ill
For the chill and the thrill of the kill

I see my woman calling

Because I licked a little skin like a fear in my bed
Spilt all the toxic cream of my dead
To be bled or fed in the spread
Of equal wrong talking

Spoon me like a stereotype, rigging the race
Believing in a feather, particular face
With the grace for the trace to embrace
The frontal feel falling

I think I'm ready to go
I think I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
I think I'm ready to go
I think I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight

If the caterpillar cat turns free to a whore
The idea that there's a seventeenth floor
To explore like hardcore for the more
And never seem to free it

Because I gave a little long, yeah, I gave it a shot
Bought me some land and a beautiful plot
With a hot who was not to be got
By easy thinking thumbing

Bottled up can will eat through your life
Down with the deed of killing a wife
With a knife who thinks twice to the wise
I think my woman's calling

Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
I think I'm ready to go
I think I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
I think I'm ready to go
I think I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
I think I'm ready to go
I think I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life

Yeah, I'm ready to go
Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Broken Social Scene's Chase Scene explore themes of chaos and uncertainty, with a focus on the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The opening lines describe "dirty fingers" picking up "finds", suggesting a kind of desperation in the search for something worthwhile. The singer is "bruised with a motherless childish mind", suggesting a lack of guidance and perhaps a sense of abandonment. Despite this, there is a desire to "be kind in the line of design", suggesting a belief in the importance of order and structure. However, there is also a sense of aimlessness, as there is "without a proper subject" to guide this kindness.

The second verse introduces a sense of guilt, as the singer is "signed up to steal" and has a "Prednisone body, topic of ill". The desire for excitement and danger leads to "the thrill of the kill", but this is juxtaposed with the image of "my woman calling". It is unclear who this woman is, but her presence suggests a desire for stability and connection. The following lines are cryptic and open to interpretation, with references to "toxic cream" and being "bled or fed in the spread of equal wrong talking". This could be a commentary on societal norms and expectations, or it could simply be stream-of-consciousness lyrics with no clear meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

All the dirty fingers picking up finds
People rummaging through life's scraps

Bruised with a motherless childish mind
Suffering from a childhood without proper care

To be kind in the line of design
To create with empathy and compassion

Without a proper subject
Lacking direction or purpose

Got all apologies, signed up to steal
Apologizing while still committing wrongs

Prednisone body, topic of ill
Body weakened by illness and medication

For the chill and the thrill of the kill
Acting with disregard for consequences

I see my woman calling
Feeling a sense of urgency to respond to a partner's needs

Because I licked a little skin like a fear in my bed
Engaging in self-destructive behavior

Spilt all the toxic cream of my dead
Releasing negative emotions

To be bled or fed in the spread
Sacrificing oneself for the sake of others

Of equal wrong talking
Consistent dishonesty and manipulation

Spoon me like a stereotype, rigging the race
Conforming to societal expectations

Believing in a feather, particular face
Placing faith in superficial qualities

With the grace for the trace to embrace
Finding beauty in imperfection

The frontal feel falling
Sudden and intense emotional decline

If the caterpillar cat turns free to a whore
If someone's true nature is revealed to be unethical

The idea that there's a seventeenth floor
Belief in the unknown and the impossible

To explore like hardcore for the more
Uncovering greater truths

And never seem to free it
Continuing to be held back regardless of effort

Because I gave a little long, yeah, I gave it a shot
Attempting to make things work

Bought me some land and a beautiful plot
Achieving material success

With a hot who was not to be got
Pursuing someone who was unattainable

By easy thinking thumbing
Acting impulsively and without forethought

Bottled up can will eat through your life
Holding onto negative emotions can be harmful

Down with the deed of killing a wife
Against the act of violence towards women

With a knife who thinks twice to the wise
Considering the serious consequences of one's actions

I think my woman's calling
Feeling the pull of responsibility and commitment

Yeah, I'm ready to go
Feeling prepared for the challenges ahead

Yeah, I'm ready to fight for the scene of my life
Willing to struggle and take risks to achieve one's goals

Lyrics © ARTS & CRAFTS MUSIC INC DBA GALLERYAC MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brendan Canning, Charles Spearin, Justin Peroff, Kevin Drew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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