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.
Romantic Rights
Death from Above 1979 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Push 'em down, son, it's more than just lip
C'mon girls, I know you know what you want
C'mon, c'mon, now and give 'em all, shh
You're beating walls, now, you just won't quit
You play with shapes but they just won't fit
I know you love me, you don't know what you like
You're watching TV, I stay up all night
I don't need you, I want you
I don't need you, I want you
South carolina kid is heating things up
His wounds are bleeding and we're filling the cup
This game will save us if we don't die young
C'mon, c'mon, yeah, have a little fun
Come here, baby, I love your company
We could do it and start a family
She was living alone unhappily
We could do it, it's right romantically
Come here, baby, I love your company
We could do it and start a family
She was living alone unhappily
We could do it, it's right romantically
Come here, baby, I love your company
We could do it and start a family
She was living alone unhappily
We could do it, it's right romantically
Come here, baby, I love your company
We could do it and start a family
She was living alone unhappily
We could do it, it's right romantically
I don't need you, I want you
I don't need you, I want you
Oh, oh, oh
I don't need you, I want you
I don't need you, I want you
I don't need you, I want you
I don't need you, I want you
The lyrics to Death From Above 1979's "Romantic Rights" appear to be about the struggle between love and lust. The singer suggests that their romantic rights (i.e. the freedom to pursue love and intimacy) are all they have, and urges someone, likely a female love interest, to embrace their desires fully. However, the lines "You're watching TV, I stay up all night" and "I don't need you, I want you" indicate a certain level of dissatisfaction with the situation. It seems as though the singer wants more than just a physical relationship and is struggling to balance their emotions and feelings with their primal urges.
The second half of the song introduces a new character, a "South Carolina kid" who is a metaphor for the singer themselves. The lines "his wounds are bleeding and we're filling the cup" suggest a dangerous and perhaps self-destructive lifestyle, but there is hope that the game (i.e. life) will save them if they don't die young. The final verse switches back to the female love interest, with the singer suggesting that starting a family together would be the ultimate romantic gesture despite her previous unhappiness.
Overall, the song explores themes of love, lust, and the struggle to balance them both. It suggests that sometimes we must break down walls and push aside our inhibitions in order to fully embrace our romantic rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Your romantic rights are all that you got
Your relationship standards are all you have to hold on to
Push 'em down, son, it's more than just lip
Don't just talk about your standards, stand up for them
C'mon girls, I know you know what you want
Women, take control and go after what you desire
C'mon, c'mon, now and give 'em all, shh
Don't hold back, give it everything you've got
You're beating walls, now, you just won't quit
You're struggling to succeed, but refuse to give up
You play with shapes but they just won't fit
You're trying to make things work, but they just don't fit together
I know you love me, you don't know what you like
You're emotionally invested, but don't know what you truly want
You're watching TV, I stay up all night
You're content to sit back and relax, while I stay up and fight
South carolina kid is heating things up
Someone from South Carolina is causing a commotion
His wounds are bleeding and we're filling the cup
Despite his hardships, we're still carrying on
This game will save us if we don't die young
Our actions may save us, but only if we survive
C'mon, c'mon, yeah, have a little fun
Let's live a little and enjoy ourselves
Come here, baby, I love your company
I enjoy being with you
We could do it and start a family
We could start a new life together and have children
She was living alone unhappily
She was unhappy living by herself
We could do it, it's right romantically
Being together is the right thing to do romantically
I don't need you, I want you
I'm with you because I want to be, not because I have to be
Oh, oh, oh
A vocal expression of emotion
I don't need you, I want you
I'm with you because I want to be, not because I have to be
I don't need you, I want you
I'm with you because I want to be, not because I have to be
I don't need you, I want you
I'm with you because I want to be, not because I have to be
I don't need you, I want you
I'm with you because I want to be, not because I have to be
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jesse Keeler, Sebastien Grainger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nergal_Slayer
I always thought they wanted to oppose "settling down" and having "romantic nights".
"She was living alone and happily"
"We could do it and start a family"
She was alone and happy, until he showed up. Being married ruined everything for her. She gave in to societal norms about being married and suffered for it.
They could "do it" and start a family. Not very romantic, I think. Quite cynical, actually.
Society promotes the image of a happy family, a husband, a wife and children. In reality though, it's just ruining the happiness they once had and urges them to just have sex and make some kids. This song wants to highlight that there's nothing romantic at all about being romantically involved with someone.
Bliss and happiness is actually grief and sex.
That's my interpretation.
@chrisball8178
Holy balls this is still one of the greatest rock songs of all time 💪
@Kjobbit
Death From Above have angry sounding music but the lyrics are all about how he just wants to settle down and start a family.
@shailendraahangama194
Uhh... I don't hear my much anger in this.
@Nergal_Slayer
I always thought they wanted to oppose "settling down" and having "romantic nights".
"She was living alone and happily"
"We could do it and start a family"
She was alone and happy, until he showed up. Being married ruined everything for her. She gave in to societal norms about being married and suffered for it.
They could "do it" and start a family. Not very romantic, I think. Quite cynical, actually.
Society promotes the image of a happy family, a husband, a wife and children. In reality though, it's just ruining the happiness they once had and urges them to just have sex and make some kids. This song wants to highlight that there's nothing romantic at all about being romantically involved with someone.
Bliss and happiness is actually grief and sex.
That's my interpretation.
@williambarter245
@@Nergal_Slayer ha goes to show how just one word changes things. I always heard the line as 'she was living alone unhappily'
@barryellis1543
@@Nergal_Slayer The lÃne is definitely unhappily...
@d0nn13m0n0
Samuel Varga alone unhappily
@nicolasmartinez9563
This band is the real drum and bass.
@helterskelter1178
Jesse is playing on a mid 70's Gibson Grabber bass. Killer tone.
@helterskelter1178
+paul kl He's playing through some early mid 70's Peavy cabinets/stacks. Gives it a real rich fuzzy tone.