In late 2007 they beat over 1,600 contenders to a place on T4's Unsigned Acts competition. They were knocked out after a fortnight but returned several weeks later after being voted back by the public and the judges. They went on to win the show and the prize, a production deal with A&M Records. The band was dropped from A&M in February 2009, and announced that they were splitting up in July of the same year, allowing members to continue with individual projects.
The band was made up of:
Ali M Forbes (Vocals & Guitar), Mark Lees (Bass & Vocals), Jim Macaulay (Drums) and Jarvey Moss (Keyboards & Vocals)
The band's album, We Leave At Dawn was released on March the 31st 2008, and is still available to buy.
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Help Yourself
Envy & Other Sins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the way you put me on with your faux naivety
You might be a bag of nerves with a hand in every pie
But there's a longing in your eyes that says: "I know I should be first"
And although you scream and curse until your face is blue and black
It doesn't matter about your verse unless the chorus is up to scratch
But despite all that, I can't help myself
A temperamental soul with a mental temper too
Or a poet on parole with a case for sniffing glue
If you scramble in the dust telling words of honest truth
Start doing what you must before they take away your youth
The lyrics to Envy & Other Sins's song Help Yourself delve deep into the complexities of human nature and the music industry. The first verse makes a reference to the science of music - something that is often difficult to understand for the average listener. The singer mentions how he is put off by the faux-naivety of someone who seems to have their hands in every pie. This person might be anxious, but they have a "longing" in their eyes that suggests a hunger to succeed. The singer concludes by saying that what really matters in music is the chorus (which is often the catchiest part of the song), and not the verses.
The chorus of the song is simple, yet effective. The singer admits his weakness for this person - he can't help himself being attracted to them. He suggests that if this person has what it takes, they should help themselves and take advantage of the opportunities that come their way.
The second verse is bittersweet - the singer talks about a temperamental soul with a mental temper or a poet on parole with a case for sniffing glue. These are people who are struggling in life but still have a story to tell. The singer encourages them to speak their truth and do what they must before it's too late.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggles of chasing success, and the reality that it's not always the most talented who make it. It's a reminder that sometimes in life, we need to help ourselves to achieve our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
The science of the song, it's all Greek to me
I don't understand the song lyrics and their meaning
Like the way you put me on with your faux naivety
I appreciate the way you pretend to be innocent to manipulate me
You might be a bag of nerves with a hand in every pie
You could be anxious and involved in a lot of things at the same time
But there's a longing in your eyes that says: "I know I should be first"
You have a desire to be the priority or the center of attention
And although you scream and curse until your face is blue and black
Even though you show your frustration and anger in an extreme way
It doesn't matter about your verse unless the chorus is up to scratch
The quality of the chorus is more important than the quality of your solo part
But despite all that, I can't help myself
Nevertheless, I can't resist you
If you are where it's at, come on and help yourself
If you are in a good position, take advantage of it and benefit yourself
A temperamental soul with a mental temper too
You have a lot of emotional ups and downs and a tendency to get angry easily
Or a poet on parole with a case for sniffing glue
You could be a troubled artist or a drug addict
If you scramble in the dust telling words of honest truth
If you struggle to express your honest feelings
Start doing what you must before they take away your youth
Take action and do what you need to do before you lose your opportunity or your time
Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.