The band's first release was in 2007 with an EP titled When The Sea Became A Giant. The band released a full-length album, What It Takes To Move Forward, in 2009. The band is signed to Count Your Lucky Stars Records and has released albums on a number of other labels, such as strictly no capital letters (UK), Topshelf Records, Stiff Slack (Japan), and Hobbledehoy Record Co (Australia). The band released their second album You Will Eventually Be Forgotten on August 19, 2014. On February 16, 2016, the band announced their final tour before their breakup on their official Facebook page.[2]
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Labels: count your lucky stars / strictly no capital letters / stiff slack / keep it together / topshelf
We Did Not Need to Open It to Know It Was There
Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) Lyrics
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like each groan was it's last will and testament
or as if every single secret it heard was a weight on it's chest
it just had to get off
And the marching band that follows my upstairs neighbor around
is keeping feverish time during all hours of the night
In "We Did Not Need to Open It to Know It Was There," Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) paints a vivid picture of a restless night in a seemingly haunted apartment building. The opening line, "Our apartment was breathing," sets the tone for a sense of unease that pervades the entire song. The singer describes every creak and groan as if the building itself is alive, and the secrets that it hears are like a burden that it just can't bear.
The line "And the marching band that follows my upstairs neighbor around" adds to the overall sense of chaos. The singer's neighbor seems to be an insomniac, keeping the band playing all hours of the night, which heightens the tension of the situation. The chorus, "We did not need to open it to know it was there," feels like an acknowledgement that something sinister is at work, without actually knowing the cause.
Throughout the song, there's a feeling of desperation and exhaustion. The singer envies their partner's ability to fall asleep, perhaps suggesting that they feel alone in their fear. Overall, "We Did Not Need to Open It to Know It Was There" is a haunting exploration of how our surroundings can affect us in unsettling ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Our apartment was breathing
The walls and floors of our apartment seemed to be moving inward and outward, creating a breathing-like motion
like each groan was its last will and testament
The sounds that our apartment produced felt like cries for help before dying
or as if every single secret it heard was a weight on its chest
Our apartment seemed to be burdened by the secrets and confessions it harbored and took on the emotional weight of each one
it just had to get off
The apartment felt like it needed to release the emotional burden it carried, like it needed to exhale and let go of the secrets it was keeping
And the marching band that follows my upstairs neighbor around
The loud and irritating noises made by my upstairs neighbor sounded like a never-ending parade, disrupting the peace and quiet of our apartment
is keeping feverish time during all hours of the night
The loud noises that my upstairs neighbor made persisted relentlessly through the night, disrupting any chance of peaceful sleep
I have always envied how fast you fall asleep
I am envious of your ability to quickly fall asleep without being disturbed by the chaotic and noisy environment of our apartment building
Contributed by Micah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DamnedGamers
I'm hooked on this band now because of this song. So damn good!
aLgaeikPond
Our apartment was breathing
Like each groan was its last will and testament
Or as if every single secret it heard was a weight on its chest
It just had to get off
And the marching band that follows my upstairs neighbor around
Is keeping feverish time during all hours of the night
I have always envied how fast you fall asleep
may 12th 2022
lost Potential
love the end
Sonny Cooper - Icarus
Hi Aaliyah.
brad gonzalez
NLAJ