Death from Above 1979 are the Toronto-based duo of Jesse F. Keeler (bass, … Read Full Bio ↴Death from Above 1979 are the Toronto-based duo of Jesse F. Keeler (bass, synths) and Sebastien Grainger (vocals, drums), which formed in 2001. Refusing to employ a lead guitarist, they played loud synth infused dance punk on the drum and bass combination alone.

They added the 1979 suffix to the name following a legal dispute with New York City dance-punk label Death From Above (known as DFA Records since the September 11, 2001 attacks). "Death from above" was written on a helicopter in the movie Apocalypse Now, which was copyrighted in 1979. However, Grainger says this is simply a coincidence; 1979 was chosen as it was, amongst other reasons, "the year I was born."

Death from Above 1979 had planned on recording the follow up to its debut full-length You're A Woman, I'm A Machine. There were plans to release it in three versions: the traditional bass/drums lineup, a full-band lineup with musicians assembled by Grainger, and a remix album. The albums featuring a full band and remixes were supposedly to be released on the band's official website.

In 2005 the video for "Romantic Rights" won a VideoFACT award at the MuchMusic Video Music Awards.

On August 4, 2006, the band announced they had decided to split "almost a year ago" due to the strained relationship between the two - claiming they only talked during interviews and just before shows - not to mention the fact that they had achieved all their aims after the record went gold in their native Canada.

Keeler was slated to play bass on the Queens Of The Stone Age album Era Vulgaris, but later revealed on the Death From Above 1979 message board that he could not due to scheduling conflicts. Keeler is now one half of MSTRKRFT, his new project with producer Al-P.

Sebastien Grainger is now in his own side project band Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains

In 2011 it was announced that the band were reuniting to perform at Coachella, then the band announced that they were planning to reunite on an ongoing basis.

Black History Month
Death from Above 1979 Lyrics

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Can you remember a time when this city was
A great place for architects and dilettantes
A nice place for midwives and crossing guards
And on and on

Hold on, hold on, children
Your mother and father are leaving, leaving

Do you remember a time when this pool was
A great place for water wings and cannonballs
A nice place for astrologists and blow up dolls
And on and on and on and on

Hold on, hold on, children
Your mother and father are leaving

Hold on, hold on, children
Your best friend's parents are leaving, leaving

Hold on, hold on, children
Your mother and father are leaving

Hold on, hold on, children
Your best friend's parents are leaving, leaving

Hold on, hold on, children
Your best friend's parents are leaving

Overall Meaning

"Black History Month" by Death From Above 1979 seems to be a commentary on the gentrification and changing demographics of a city. The opening lines prompt the listener to reflect on a time when the city was different - when it was a place for artists, health professionals, and community members. The repetition of "and on and on" suggests a sense of nostalgia for the past and the passing of time.

Later in the song, the lyrics shift focus to a pool as a symbol of the changing times. What was once a happy and carefree place for children with water wings and cannonballs is now a place for more "adult" interests such as astrology and blow-up dolls. The repeated refrain of "hold on, hold on, children" suggests a warning or plea to the younger generation, who may not fully understand what is happening to their city.

Overall, "Black History Month" seems to be a lament about the displacement of long-time residents and the loss of community in the face of urban renewal.

Line by Line Meaning

Can you remember a time when this city was
Can you recall when this city was

A great place for architects and dilettantes
An excellent place for architects and dilettantes

A nice place for midwives and crossing guards
A pleasant place for midwives and crossing guards

And on and on
And so on and so on