The band is named after a line in the BBC TV mini-series 'The Singing Detective', in which a character says that the word "elbow" is the most sensuous word in the English language (not due to its definition per se but due to how it feels to say it). Though the group came about in 1990, intially going by names such as 'Soft' and 'Mr. Soft', it wasn't until 'The Noisebox EP' came out on 1 January 1998 that they had a real release. Elbow started out specializing in "chilled funk", but the guys changed the direction of their music after unanimously deciding that they were "shit."
Their new songs picked up notice from both Island Records, but the band got dropped due to business shenanigans before anything actually came out post-singing. Elbow then released two critically acclaimed EP's on the independent Ugly Man Record label, starting with the aformentioned 'Noisebox EP'. Luckily, their work caught the attention of V2 Records.
V2 released Elbow's debut album: "Asleep In The Back." The album was a surprisingly moderate success, gaining substantial critical acclaim and, ultimately, a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize in 2001. The single "Newborn" received attention after being banned by Radio 1 for the lyric, "I'll be the corpse in your bathtub."
Word of mouth then began to work in Elbow's favor. Its 2003 album, "Cast Of Thousands," entered the UK Charts at #7 to critical acclaim. The lead single, "Fallen Angel," charted at #19.
In 2004, Elbow became the first British band to ever play a concert in Havana during an unofficial Cuban tour. The tour was made into a short film by British documentary maker Irshad Ashraf.
Elbow released its third album in 2005: "Leaders Of The Free World." Despite a continued lack of commercial notice, "Leaders Of The Free World" charted at #12, with its lead single, "Forget Myself" achieving #22 in the charts. That autumn, Elbow headlined the first of two sell-out tours.
March 17, 2008, saw the release of Elbow's fourth album, entitled "The Seldom Seen Kid." Released through Fiction, it entered the UK album chart at #5, and went on to win the 2008 Mercury Music Award. "The Fix," features guest vocals and lead guitar by Richard Hawley. April 2009 saw the release of The Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road, recorded with The BBC Concert Orchestra and Chantage. This album, recorded in Studio One of the world famous Abbey Road Studios on Saturday, January 17, 2008, is a complete run-through of the Mercury winning album. It features the band, a 52-piece orchestra, and a 20-member choir.
"Grounds for Divorce" was featured in VALVe Software game Left 4 Dead in 2008.
The band's fifth album Build A Rocket Boys! was released in the UK on March 14, 2011.
The First Steps Songfacts reports that Elbow was commissioned by the BBC to write a song for their coverage of the 2012 Olympics. The resulting tune is "First Steps". The full song lasts six and a half minutes, but it was written in such a way so that it could be divided into different minute or two long elements for use over both winning and losing footages.
In July 2015, Elbow released the Lost Worker Bee EP, which was soon followed by Guy Garvey's first solo album 'Courting the Squall' (Oct 2015).
Their seventh studio album, 'Little Fictions' was released on 3 February 2017, with Elbow's eighth studio album, 'Giants of All Sizes', released 2 years later on 11 October 2019.
Website: http://elbow.co.uk/
Something in the Air
Elbow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because there's something in the air
We've got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right
And you know that it's right
We have got to get it together
We have got to get it together now
Lock up the streets and houses
Because there's something in the air
We've got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right
And you know that it's right
We have got to get it together
We have got to get it together now
Hand out the arms and ammo
We're going to blast our way through here
We've got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right
And you know that it's right
We have got to get it together
We have got to get it together
The song "Something in the Air" by Elbow uses bold and powerful lyrics to convey a message of political revolution. The opening lines, "Call out the instigators, because there's something in the air," immediately set the tone for the song. The singer acknowledges that change is coming and that there is a sense of unrest and anticipation in the air. He urges for action to be taken and for the people to unite, as "the revolution's here, and you know it's right."
The song continues with a sense of urgency and determination. The lyric "Lock up the streets and houses" suggests a call to arms and a preparation for battle. The use of "arms and ammo" further emphasizes this, as the singer encourages his fellow revolutionaries to "blast" their way through. Even though there is a sense of violence and aggression in these lyrics, it is clear that this is a necessary step towards achieving their goals. The repetition of "We have got to get it together" reinforces the need for unity and the importance of acting together to make change happen.
Overall, "Something in the Air" is a powerful and inspiring call for collective action towards political change. It recognizes the struggles and the sense of anticipation that come with political revolution, but it also provides hope that change is possible and necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Call out the instigators
Let us point out those who initiate change in society
Because there's something in the air
Because there is a feeling of change and revolution in the atmosphere
We've got to get together sooner or later
We must unite and come together, now or in the future
Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right
Because the time has come for societal revolution, and it is the right thing to do
And you know that it's right
We understand that the changes we need to make are correct and beneficial
We have got to get it together
We need to work together to bring about change
We have got to get it together now
We need to unite immediately to initiate revolution
Lock up the streets and houses
Secure all public and private spaces to protect the revolutionaries
Hand out the arms and ammo
Distribute weapons and ammunition to those who support the revolution
We're going to blast our way through here
We will use force to overcome opposition and make our way towards revolution
Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anonymous
on Any Day Now
Any Day Now - Lisa Dilan - Lyrics
Any day now
I will hear you say goodbye, my love
And you'll be on your way then my wild, beautiful bird
You will have flown
Any day now, I'll be all alone,
I'll be all alone
Any day now, when your restless eyes meet someone new
Oh, to my sad surprise
Then the blue shadows will fall all over town
Any day now, now; love will let me down
I know I shouldn't want to keep you
If you don't want to stay
Till you have gone forever
I'll keep holding on for dear life
Holding you this way; begging you to stay
Any day now when the clock strikes go
You'll call it off
And then my tears will flow
Then the blue shadows will fall
All over town
Any day now love will let me down
Love will let me down
Musical Interlude
I know I shouldn't want to keep you
If you don't want to stay
Till you have gone forever
I'll keep holding on for dear life
Holding you this way; begging you to stay
Any day now when the clock strikes go
You'll call it off
And then my tears will flow
Then the blue shadows will fall
All over town
Any day now love will let me down
Love will let me down
Love will let me down
Love will let me down
Love will let me down oh
Love will let me down…….