controller.controller was a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, Ontario.… Read Full Bio ↴controller.controller was a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consisted of former vocalist Nirmala Basnayake, guitarists Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas and Scott Kaija, bassist Ronnie Morris and drummer Jeff Scheven. The band took its name from a song by Shotmaker.

The band formed in 2002. Their rhythmic post-punk style has been compared by critics to Joy Division, The Slits and Public Image Ltd.
Their debut Ep, History, was released on Paper Bag Records in 2004. The follow-up album, X-Amounts, was released October 11, 2005.

Singer Nirmala Basnayake left the band in late 2006.

The Raw No
Controller.Controller Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have we been here before?
There's never been a before

But you know i'm sure
At least i know you're sure
We know its for sure
We know that it's sure

And this is going so well
Let's take this anywhere
We can say we were there
You can say you were there
We can go anywhere
You can say you were there

It won't get better than this
It can't get better than this
I'll sing a happy dance?

Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
And then you go.
And then you go.

Don't go
Don't go [repeat]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Controller.Controller's song 'The Raw No' suggest ambiguity, uncertainty and insecurity that come with a new relationship. The opening lines "Have we been here before, there's never been a before" describes the uncertainty that people feel when they embark on new relationships. They don't know what to expect because they haven't been in that situation before, but they want to believe that it will go well. Both parties involved acknowledge that they are sure about what they are getting into, which could be interpreted as a sign of cautious optimism.

The chorus, "It won't get better than this, it can't get better than this," suggests that the relationship is at its peak and there's no way it could get better. However, it's also possible that this is an acknowledgment that things may not work out as perfectly as they currently are. The lead singer seems to be asking the other party to stay with lines like "Don't go" repeated over and over again. These lines could suggest that the singer is afraid of losing something good that has come their way.

Overall, the song seems to be about the joys and uncertainties of a new relationship. It's a song that acknowledges that while things may be good now, there's always the possibility that things may not work out as hoped.

Line by Line Meaning

Have we been here before?
Have we experienced this situation previously?

There's never been a before
This is a unique experience with no comparison to the past.

But you know i'm sure
Although uncertain, I believe.

At least i know you're sure
I trust your conviction.

We know its for sure
There is no doubt about it.

We know that it's sure
We are confident in its certainty.

And this is going so well
The situation is proceeding positively.

Let's take this anywhere
We can explore the possibilities of this experience in any location.

We can say we were there
We can have pride in being present for this event.

You can say you were there
You will have the ability to recount this experience to others.

We can go anywhere
We have endless opportunities with this encounter.