Soon after the hiatus began, an official announcement was made on the website declaring that all activities of the band had been indefinitely suspended
They are also referred to as ELLE.
ELLEGARDEN has a sound strikingly similar to some American Pop Punk bands, and sings in both Japanese and English. Their English lyrics (mostly written by Hosomi) are usually grammatically correct and generally very well pronounced. In the Summer 2006 issue of American J-rock magazine purple SKY (p.24), Takeshi was quoted as saying his English skills were improved by the time he spent working as a computer engineer in first Oakland, California, and later in Japan where he had English speaking co-workers.
ELLEGARDEN has been compared to famous artists of similar style, most notably Sum 41 (ELLEGARDEN was the band's opening act on February 2005 during the Sum 41 Japan Tour 2005), Blink 182 and Good Charlotte. Their popularity comes from the sounds that they bring and the strong emotions they express. Despite these similarities however, they have a wide range of sounds that don't quite fit into a single style, but encompass a decent range of rock sounds.
In 2006 ELLEGARDEN performed in numerous Japanese Summer Music Festivals, such as FUJI ROCK, SUMMER SONIC, NANO MUGEN FES and RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL.
Their final tour of 2006 features the American band Allister - the bands became friends during SXSW 2006.
It is difficult to get their tour and live tickets because they become sold out in a very short amount of time.
With the international release of their newest album "Eleven Fire Crackers", Ellegarden is quickly growing in popularity - no doubt aided by their recent U.S. gigs.
In 2018, Ellegarden announced their first tour in 10 years, ending their hiatus. The tour, titled "THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN", is to begin in August at Shinkiba Studio Coast, the same venue as their send-off concert.
Mountain Top
ELLEGARDEN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days in the sun, I found in sobriety
Toggled it up and down in my brain
Nothing like the monsters I grew up with
I grew up with
I'm signing it up and just slipping out
From the pirate ship that I thought was mine
Now it all just seems like they lost me forever
Give me a sign of falling water
So I can be facing the wind one last time
Give me the light of a lightning flicker
Then I will be dancing with demons once more
I'm the one who wants to burn out
I'm the one who needs to find out
I'm the one who craves the last match
Bitter sister asked me
"Mister, why do you think it's so unbearable?"
Barely answered in a whisper
"I don't know, it only gets emptier"
"Gets emptier"
I'm giving it up and just slipping out
From the pirate ship that I thought was mine
All the upshots of my peculiar mind
Now it all just seems like they lost me forever
Give me a sign of falling water
So I can be facing the wind one last time
Give me the light of a lightning flicker
Then I will be dancing with demons once more
I'm the one who wants to burn out
I'm the one who needs to find out
I'm the one who craves the last match
Get back, get back down now
I'm still all in one piece
Get back, get back down now
Things get tough from here on
Every joy I had beside you
Every path I walked beside you
Every dream I dreamed beside you
It all just seems like they lost me forever
Give me a sign of falling water
So I can be facing the wind one last time
Give me the light of a lightning flicker
Then I will be dancing with demons once more
I'm the one who wants to burn out
I'm the one who needs to find out
I'm the one who craves the last match
The opening lines of the song "Mountain Top" by ELLEGARDEN reflect on the passage of time and the singer's journey towards sobriety and self-discovery. The mention of losing one's head and the contrast with the sun and sobriety suggests a period of clarity and reflection after experiencing turmoil and confusion. The imagery of toggling thoughts in the brain and growing up with monsters hints at the inner struggles and challenges that have shaped the singer's past experiences.
The reference to a pirate ship symbolizes the singer's past actions or lifestyle that they are now choosing to leave behind. By burying the hatchet and eye patch, the singer is letting go of past grievances or identities that no longer serve them. The feeling of being lost forever could suggest a sense of detachment or estrangement from their previous self, as they embark on a new chapter of self-discovery and growth.
The plea for a sign of falling water and the light of a lightning flicker conveys a desire for clarity and guidance in navigating the turbulent emotions and temptations that come with confronting demons from the past. The declaration of wanting to burn out, find out, and crave the last match suggests a yearning for closure or resolution in confronting inner conflicts or desires that still burn within the singer.
The interaction with the bitter sister and the dialogue about unbearable emptiness further explores themes of introspection and seeking understanding in the face of emotional struggles. The repeated refrain of wanting to burn out, find out, and crave the last match reinforces the singer's determination to confront their inner demons and find peace or resolution in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. Overall, "Mountain Top" portrays a journey of self-exploration, acceptance, and resolution amidst inner conflicts and external pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a while since I last lost my head
I have not felt overwhelmed or out of control in a long time
Days in the sun, I found in sobriety
I discovered clarity and peace during happy times
Toggled it up and down in my brain
I struggled constantly with conflicting thoughts in my mind
Nothing like the monsters I grew up with
Different from the challenges I faced in my past
I grew up with
I'm signing it up and just slipping out
I am letting go and moving away
From the pirate ship that I thought was mine
From the situation I thought I controlled
So I buried a hatchet and one eye patch
I let go of grudges and past sorrows
Now it all just seems like they lost me forever
Now it feels like I am gone and forgotten
Give me a sign of falling water
Show me a sign of renewal and cleansing
So I can be facing the wind one last time
So I may confront challenges one final time
Give me the light of a lightning flicker
Give me the courage to face darkness and fear
Then I will be dancing with demons once more
I will confront my inner struggles once again
I'm the one who wants to burn out
I am the one seeking to push my limits
I'm the one who needs to find out
I am the one who seeks understanding
I'm the one who craves the last match
I am the one yearning for closure or resolution
Bitter sister asked me
Someone close to me inquired
"Mister, why do you think it's so unbearable?"
"Why do you think it's so difficult to bear?"
Barely answered in a whisper
Replied softly and barely audible
"I don't know, it only gets emptier"
"I don't know, it just feels more hollow"
"Gets emptier"
All the upshots of my peculiar mind
The consequences of my unique and complicated thoughts
Get back, get back down now
Return to reality and face challenges
I'm still all in one piece
I am still whole and intact
Things get tough from here on
Challenges will only increase from now on
Every joy I had beside you
Every happiness I experienced with you
Every path I walked beside you
Every journey I undertook with you
Every dream I dreamed beside you
Every aspiration I held while with you
It all just seems like they lost me forever
It appears as if I am forgotten and lost
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Takeshi Hosomi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind