It was started by former Jawbox members J. Robbins and Bill Barbot. Before Jawbox split in 1997, Robbins and Barbot had begun jamming with Robbins' former Government Issue bandmate and drummer, Peter Moffet. When Zach Barocas left Jawbox for New York, Moffet was briefly asked to fill in for Barocas. However, this Jawbox lineup was not to be, and Jawbox called it quits shortly afterwards. However, the musicians' familiarity gave them a distinct advantage, and Burning Airlines was born fully formed, and off and running to a very quick start. Taking their name from a Brian Eno song, Burning Airlines quickly released their first EP, and shortly thereafter their debut CD Mission: Control! was released in 1999 on DeSoto Records.
Being unable to tour full-time, Bill Barbot bowed out of Burning Airlines and long time friend and Jawbox roadie, Mike Harbin took over as bassist. This lineup would do some extensive touring and record their second release, "Identikit" on DeSoto Records in 2001. Shortly afterwards, Benjamin Pape was added as second Guitarist/keyboards/vocalist. Burning Airlines then suddenly and abruptly split up in 2002.
The band release two full length albums, a self-titled EP and "split" releases with At The Drive-In and Braid.
Burning Airlines were involved in a minor controversy, after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Burning Airlines were in the middle of a major North American Tour, when the attacks occurred. Many clubs refused to display the name "BURNING AIRLINES" atop their marquees so shortly after the attacks. The band had considered changing their name, but after some time and reflection, decided the name was still appropriate, and had taken a new meaning and relevancy.
Meccano
Burning Airlines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I woke up no one spoke of how long I'd been sleeping.
The weather where I went to bed, where I was led by certain awkward strange conditions always always always came in rain of pens with probing dispositions.
Making money on the radio, what youb eenselling we don't want to know.
Machinations of the hitparade.
Uneasy living in the bed we made.
The sound of fashion comes in stereo, holding hands with Mr. Meccano Meccano!
Sometime later on we pushed the fader towards translation.
The bottom line was looking so much finer finer finger from the bottom of the deep end.
It depends on how much money it can take to buy air for the breathing.
Hidden camera catches shoplifter in act of trading red trousers for gray to match his suit to get a job to get employed.
If all the color's bad what will we wear when all the color's bad?
The singer of Burning Airlines, in the song "Meccano", talks about their own undoing, which they enjoyed watching on TV. It was only when they woke up that they realized no one had told them how long they had been sleeping. As they went to bed, they were led to a place with awkward strange conditions where they met with incessant rains of pens with probing dispositions. Interestingly, the singer mentions making money on the radio, but they don't want to know what they were selling. This line may symbolize the singer's detachment from their work or perhaps a commentary on the commercialization and marketing of the music industry.
The song also refers to the uneasy living that arises from the choices one makes in life. The singer sings about the machinations of the hit parade, a reference to the music charts, and the sound of fashion coming in stereo. The line, "holding hands with Mr. Meccano", is a reference to Meccano kits, which are metal construction toys that use nuts and bolts to build different models, hence the reference to fashion holding hands with Meccano.
Later on, the singer talks about pushing the fader towards translation, but the language from the doctor's mouth still getting lost on all the patients. The bottom line was looking so much finer but was still out of reach. The song ends with a question about what color people will wear when all the color is bad. This line may represent a larger question about society and the world's future in the face of pollution and other environmental concerns.
Line by Line Meaning
I had my fun watching my undoing on the tv.
I enjoyed watching my own downfall on television.
When I woke up no one spoke of how long I'd been sleeping.
No one mentioned how long I had been sleeping when I woke up.
The weather where I went to bed, where I was led by certain awkward strange conditions always always always came in rain of pens with probing dispositions.
When I went to bed due to strange and awkward conditions, the weather was always rainy and inquisitive like a pen.
Making money on the radio, what you been selling we don't want to know.
You are making money on the radio, but we do not care to know what you are selling.
Machinations of the hitparade.
The schemes behind the popular music charts.
Uneasy living in the bed we made.
It is difficult to live with the consequences of our choices.
The sound of fashion comes in stereo, holding hands with Mr. Meccano Meccano!
Fashion is everywhere and persistent, just like the toy Meccano.
Sometime later on we pushed the fader towards translation.
We attempted to understand something better later on.
The language from the doctor's mouth still got lost on all the patients.
Even though the doctor explained something, the patients still did not understand.
The bottom line was looking so much finer finer finger from the bottom of the deep end.
The end result seemed much better despite the difficult process.
It depends on how much money it can take to buy air for the breathing.
The cost for basic necessities like breathing can vary depending on the financial situation.
Hidden camera catches shoplifter in act of trading red trousers for gray to match his suit to get a job to get employed.
A hidden camera caught a person trading red pants for gray to match their suit in order to be employable.
If all the color's bad what will we wear when all the color's bad?
If all options seem bad, what alternatives do we have?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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