Codeseven was formed in 1995 as a melodic hardcore band in Winston-Salem, N… Read Full Bio ↴Codeseven was formed in 1995 as a melodic hardcore band in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Their first release, A Sense of Coalition gained popularity on college radio stations for an intense cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" (not to be confused with the Ataris' cover of the same song that became a mainstream radio hit years later). With subsequent releases Division of Labor and The Rescue, the band continually became less aggressive and more melodic, eventually abandoning their hardcore roots in favor of progressive, experimental space rock, much as Cave In had done. Their final album, Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds was released in 2004 on Equal Vision. In 2005, the band broke up in order to pursue different opportunities. 2010-2011 saw their reformation for a few reunion shows, but the band has no plans to get back together permanently. Members have gone on to join bands such as Echo Crush and Motorist.

Smell of Yellow and Black
Codeseven Lyrics

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Its O.K.
Seems so cliche
You open that door
Its O.K. if I think a lot about it
Its O.K. they all play with fire
And I turn and you open the door
And it takes more than I've got
And you're breathin' down my neck

When the face is in my face
When you're breathin' down my neck
Its O.K. if I think a lot about it
Its O.K. they all play with fire
When the face is in my face
And the moment seems real
With a moment in time
When the face is in my face
And the moment seems real
For a moment in time
Burrow child
Dig in your soul child
Don't ever let it go
Cause you can fly
At least on the inside

For a moment in time it can be ours
For a little while

Overall Meaning

The song "Smell of Yellow and Black" by Codeseven seems to be about confronting one's fears and anxieties, and finding the strength to face them. The repetition of "it's okay" could be seen as a mantra to reassure oneself that everything will be fine, even if it's not entirely true. The line "they all play with fire" could be interpreted as a warning that others are also taking risks, and that it's important to keep up with them in order to face one's own challenges.

The verses with the descriptive phrases about breathing down the neck and the face in one's face could be interpreted as moments of extreme stress, where one is on the verge of breakdown or panic. However, the chorus emphasizes the idea that it's okay to have these thoughts and fears, and that taking risks is a part of living.

The bridge with the lyrics "Burrow child / Dig in your soul child / Don't ever let it go" could be a message of encouragement to the listener. The songwriter is asking them to hold onto their beliefs and inner strength, as they explore their own feelings and confront their anxieties. The song concludes with the idea that, for just a moment in time, one can feel as though they can fly, both internally and externally.

Line by Line Meaning

Its O.K.
It's acceptable and fine.

Seems so cliche
Feels overly common or predictable.

You open that door
You initiate a new opportunity.

Its O.K. if I think a lot about it
It's okay if I contemplate and consider it excessively.

Its O.K. they all play with fire
It's all right that everyone takes risks.

And I turn and you open the door
I hesitate and you introduce a new opportunity.

And it takes more than I've got
It demands more from me than what I am capable of giving.

And you're breathin' down my neck
You're pressuring me intensely.

When the face is in my face
When you're confronting me directly.

When you're breathin' down my neck
When you're aggressively pushing me forward.

Its O.K. if I think a lot about it
It's acceptable for me to ponder it significantly.