The band was formed almost five years ago by Mike Eli who grew up just outside of Houston and James Young who hails from Irving, TX. After playing together as a duo they were later joined by drummer Chris Thompson of Colleyville, TX and bassist Jon Jones of Omaha, NE who all met while students at the University of North Texas at Denton, about 50 miles north of Dallas/Forth Worth. After graduating the group decided to stay in Denton and to this day make their home in the town.
Late in 2003 producer Frank Liddell (Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Chris Knight) attended a show at the Gypsy Tea Room where EYB was playing on the bill with Miranda Lambert. He was blown away by the show and wound up signing them to Carnival Recording Company soon after. In April 2005, the Eli Young Band released Level, marking their debut on Carnival.
Level has drawn comparisons to The Jayhawks in the plaintive "When It Rains". The band members, all in their early 20s, have proven to be adept at blending their musical influences into a cohesive sound on this effort. You can hear the heartland rock of John Mellencamp in the autobiographical "Small Town Kid" and the crying-in-your-beer band on the road saga "Highways and Broken Hearts." There's the grinding blues of the Black Crowes in "Bring It on Home," and the romantic lament of "That's the Way" and "Everything Is You."
The Fight
Eli Young Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, oh you don't understand it.
Why, is it so misleading?
When all you really wanted became so defeating.
Time, well it only got harder
Thought you had one but it was another.
Then, you believed in a breakthrough
But it took you by surprise when you came out a fool
You gotta fail a thousand times
Before you see it through.
You gotta spend your last dime
Before you ever make a million.
You gotta know what brought you here
And you gotta lose to persevere.
But it's the way the sun will rise
Through the darkest night.
Yeah it's always been worth the fight.
Hope, it can make you courageous
It started out small, but now it's contagious.
Strength, it's an honor you earn
When you look back and see all the lessons you've learned.
[Repeat: x2]
But you gotta fail a thousand times
Before you see it through.
You gotta spend your last dime
Before you ever make a million.
You gotta know what brought you here
And you gotta lose to persevere.
But it's the way the sun will rise
Through the darkest night.
Yeah it's always been worth the fight.
Yeah it's always been worth the fight
The Eli Young Band's song "The Fight" conveys a message of resilience and perseverance through life's challenges. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has faced adversity and struggled to overcome it. The opening lines "So, this was not how you planned it. No, oh you don't understand it. Why, is it so misleading?" speak to the frustration that comes with unexpected obstacles. Sometimes things don't go as planned, and it can be disheartening when it feels like life is working against you.
The chorus of the song drives home the message that success often comes after multiple failures. "You gotta fail a thousand times before you see it through. You gotta spend your last dime before you ever make a million. You gotta know what brought you here and you gotta lose to persevere. But it's the way the sun will rise through the darkest night. Yeah it's always been worth the fight." The idea that failure can be a necessary part of the journey towards success is a powerful and universal one. The song encourages the listener to keep fighting for their dreams, even when faced with setbacks and disappointments.
In the second verse, the lyrics focus on the growth that can come from facing challenges. "Hope, it can make you courageous. It started out small, but now it's contagious. Strength, it's an honor you earn when you look back and see all the lessons you've learned." The idea that hope and strength can be cultivated and gained through difficulty is a positive and uplifting message.
Overall, "The Fight" is an inspiring song about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
So, this was not how you planned it.
Your life isn't going how you thought it would, and it's disappointing.
No, oh you don't understand it.
Others may not understand your struggles and what you're going through.
Why, is it so misleading?
You thought things were going well, but they turned out differently than expected.
When all you really wanted became so defeating.
You had high hopes for something but it ended up being a letdown.
Time, well it only got harder
As time goes on, things became more difficult and challenging.
Thought you had one but it was another.
You believed you had a solution, but it turned out to be the wrong one.
Then, you believed in a breakthrough
You had hope that things were going to get better and improve.
But it took you by surprise when you came out a fool
You were disappointed by the outcome when things didn't work out as planned.
You gotta fail a thousand times
Failure is a part of the learning process and you have to keep trying even when you fail.
Before you see it through.
Success takes hard work and persistence, and it may take several attempts before achieving it.
You gotta spend your last dime
Sometimes, you have to take risks and invest everything you have to succeed.
Before you ever make a million.
Success often comes with hard work, sacrifice, and taking risks.
You gotta know what brought you here
Understanding the origin and reasons behind your struggles is key to persevering through them.
And you gotta lose to persevere.
Experiencing losses and setbacks can help develop resilience and determination to succeed.
But it's the way the sun will rise
Even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and the promise of a new day.
Through the darkest night.
Even in the toughest times, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yeah it's always been worth the fight.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, persevering and overcoming obstacles is always worth it in the end.
Hope, it can make you courageous
Having hope can give you the courage to persevere through difficult times.
It started out small, but now it's contagious.
Hope may start out as a small feeling, but it can grow and affect others around you.
Strength, it's an honor you earn
Developing strength through adversity is an accomplishment and something to be proud of.
When you look back and see all the lessons you've learned.
Reflecting on past struggles and setbacks can help you recognize the valuable lessons learned from them.
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp., AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION
Written by: Natalie Hemby, Timothy Putnam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind