The members of Current Swell no longer live together under a single roof — as they did years ago,
when the group first came together as a unit — but the bond between the four friends is stronger than
ever.
Touring the world for the better part of five years, from Brazil to Australia, often has that effect.
Current Swell’s years of experience on the road can be heard — and felt — in the nooks and crannies
of Long Time Ago, the new full-length from this rootsy Victoria, B.C. quartet. The record shifts
between upbeat folk (the title track, Long Time Ago) and singalong-ready roots rock (the first single,
Too Cold) with a fluidity and ease that could only come from continual touring.
The band originally wanted to call its fourth record People Not Places, as if to signify its new lyrical
direction. “We used to write about traveling, because that’s all we did for a while,” says singer-
guitarist Scott Stanton. “But on this record, we wrote mostly about people in our lives.”
Friends, acquaintances — even strangers — have been an integral aspect of Current Swell’s personal
and professional development. Decidedly grass-roots, the band has developed a strong online
following over the years, dating back to the independent release and promotion of its previous
recordings, So I Say (2005), Trust Us Now (2007), and Protect Your Own (2009).
Fans have remained steadfast in their support, something the members of Current Swell do not take
for granted. When the band earned first place at Vancouver’s Peak Performance Project (a 2011 radio
contest which awarded the group $100,500 for top prize), the first people on Current Swell’s thank-
you list were their fans.
“The online community has always backed us,” said singer-guitarist Dave Lang, addressing the group’s
considerable presence through iTunes and YouTube. “That is a big reason for our success.”
Steady momentum at the grass-roots level (the group’s video for its campfire-friendly single, Young
and Able, became a word-of-mouth YouTube success in 2010) has now translated to the stage, where
Current Swell shines. Their ability to capture a crowd was honed the old-fashioned way — through
constant practice. Current Swell has always tweaked things as needed, careful not to move in a
direction that feels inauthentic.
The band, which also features drummer Chris Petersen and bassist Ghosty Boy, started its career
with the most modest of expectations, playing shows in settings that ranged from backyards to
beaches. “When we first got together, we just started writing music for fun,” Stanton says. “Then we
got an opportunity to perform, and then we got an opportunity to tour. It wasn’t something we ever
chased too passionately at first. A lot of things just fell into place for us.”
The quartet struck upon a rhythm soon after, the size of its concerts increasing in tandem with its
rapidly progressing talent. Momentum kept Current Swell moving forward in the years that followed,
culminating last summer with a Canada Day concert before 45,000 people at the B.C. Legislature, one
of the largest concerts of its kind ever in Victoria.
That level of accomplishment (when coupled with sets in support of everyone from the Tragically Hip
and Xavier Rudd to K‘Naan, K-OS, The Beach Boys and more) suggests a band long-removed from its
learning-on-the-fly early days. That didn’t happen by accident.
“We’re all much more educated and knowledgeable about our career nowadays,” Stanton says. “We
feel like we know how to do this for a living.”
Despite years of careful planning and intuitive, thoughtful decisions, some things remain beyond
Current Swell’s control. Case in point: Brazil.
Through a mixture of circumstance and happenstance, the members of Current Swell are now the
beneficiaries of a large and loyal following in Brazil, the largest country in South America. The group
has just returned from a tour of the country, a trek which saw Current Swell headline two large
festivals in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, among the largest cities in the world.
“We’d get an e-mail here and there, ‘Please come to Brazil, I’m a huge fan,’ which was hilarious to
read,” Stanton says of the group’s throng of Brazilian fans. “But then we’d go on YouTube and there
was a bunch of people covering our songs. Someone even covered one of our music videos, lip-
syncing all our lyrics.”
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Room of the Faded Moon
Current Swell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me what do you do at the end of the song
when the lights turn on and everybody is gone
go out and grab a bite to eat and mabye go to sleep
but all those pussy's man they're only the weak
because we keep it goin till about 6 in the mornin
and I can bring you along
What you think its a joke but I got the rye and coke
and last call is long gone but I'm still drinkin and smokin kron on
the roof top in a low key spot
bikini tops with tequila shots
theres no lines oh every time that you try to get in
with your honey's and your friends to spend some money and then
your movin around quick because you don't know what to do
and as the moon fades today you go away but you will be back soon
you know why cause its the room of the faded moon.
The only cops that show up are corrupt
and they get so drunk that they don't give a fuck
so gamble your money till you run outa luck
and drink from the bar till you go and throw up
yeah the only cops that show up are corrupt
and we pay them off to keep their mouths shut
so gamble your money till you run outa luck
and drink from the bar till you go and throw up.
and you think its a lie but theres no reason why I
should try to hide my bet in the game of roullette
rollin 4 5 6 in a row in C-Lo
you know you never gonna win big when you bettin so low
so K O in the mornin but you don't wake up till later in the afternoon
so take your pre sips and eat the fish off your dish
and you gonna come back soon to the room of the faded moon
its the room of the faded moon
and everybody gotta come back soon
well the only cops that show up are corrupt
and they get so drunk that they don't give a fuck
so gamble your money till you run outa luck
and drink from the bar till you go and throw up
yeah the only cops that show up are corrupt
and we pay them off to keep their mouths shut
so gamble your money till you run outa luck
and drink from the bar till you go and throw up.
Cause its the room of the faded moon
Why can't you see its the place to be
I know that you know its the place to go
and I'll see you there ya you know where yeah
"Room of the Faded Moon" is a song by Canadian rock band, Current Swell. It is a song that speaks about a wild night out, where everyone parties until the early hours of the morning. The lyrics paint a picture of a club, where the drinks are flowing, and the atmosphere is electric. The singer is encouraging the listener to let loose and enjoy themselves, despite the fact that everyone else has gone home. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the name of the club, "the Room of the Faded Moon," as if it is a legendary destination that everyone must visit.
The song's opening line, "Tell me what do you do at the end of the song," is a direct reference to what happens once a band finishes playing live music, and the venue starts to empty. The singer then goes on to describe how most people would go to sleep, but the real fun is just beginning. He talks about keeping the party going until dawn and how he can bring the listener along, but they have to be strong to keep up. The lyrics encourage the listener to indulge in alcohol and gambling, and they paint a picture of a place where rules don't exist, and anything goes.
The singer suggests that the only cops that show up are corrupt, and they get so drunk that they don't care what happens. This creates an image of a lawless place where people can do whatever they please. The chorus repeats the phrase, "the only cops that show up are corrupt," emphasizing that this is a place where everyone is free to indulge in all kinds of vices. The song ends with the singer inviting the listener back to the Room of the Faded Moon, stating that it's the place to be and the place to go.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what do you do at the end of the song
What do you do when the party is over?
when the lights turn on and everybody is gone
When the venue is empty and the lights are on
go out and grab a bite to eat and maybe go to sleep
Head out for a meal or just go to bed
but all those pussy's man they're only the weak
Those who leave early are weaklings
because we keep it goin till about 6 in the mornin
We party till 6 AM
and I can bring you along
You're invited to join us
but you gotta, no you gotta keep it strong.
But you must keep up with us
What you think its a joke but I got the rye and coke
You might think I'm joking, but I have alcohol
and last call is long gone but I'm still drinkin and smokin kron on
Even after last call, I'm still drinking and smoking marijuana
the roof top in a low key spot
We party on the rooftop in a discreet location
bikini tops with tequila shots
Girls in bikini tops take tequila shots
theres no lines oh every time that you try to get in
No lines at the entrance
with your honey's and your friends to spend some money and then
People come with their significant others and friends to spend money
your movin around quick because you don't know what to do
People move around quickly because they don't know what to do next
and as the moon fades today you go away but you will be back soon
As the night ends, people leave, but they'll come back soon
you know why cause its the room of the faded moon.
They come back because it's the party place
The only cops that show up are corrupt
The only cops who come are corrupt
and they get so drunk that they don't give a fuck
They get so drunk that they don't care
so gamble your money till you run outa luck
Gambling is encouraged
and drink from the bar till you go and throw up
Get drunk from the bar until you vomit
and you think its a lie but theres no reason why I
You may think it's not true, but there's no reason to doubt me
should try to hide my bet in the game of roullette
I don't need to conceal my bets in roulette
rollin 4 5 6 in a row in C-Lo
Rolling 4, 5, 6 in a row in the dice game c-lo
you know you never gonna win big when you bettin so low
You won't win big with low bets
so K O in the mornin but you don't wake up till later in the afternoon
People sleep until late afternoon after partying all night
so take your pre sips and eat the fish off your dish
Drink your pre-gaming drinks and eat your food
and you gonna come back soon to the room of the faded moon
You'll come back soon to the party place
its the room of the faded moon
It's the place to party
and everybody gotta come back soon
Everyone needs to come back soon
Why can't you see its the place to be
It's the place to be, why can't you see that?
I know that you know its the place to go
You already know that it's the place to go
and I'll see you there ya you know where yeah
I'll see you there, you know the location
Contributed by Abigail P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.