Since their formation, Europe has released eleven studio albums, three live albums, three compilations and nineteen music videos.
Europe rose to international fame in the 1980s with their third album, 1986's The Final Countdown, which has sold over 3 million copies in the United States and 15 million copies worldwide (including album and single). Europe has sold over 25 million records worldwide. The band has had two top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 chart (The Final Countdown and Out of This World) and two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart ("The Final Countdown" and "Carrie").
Europe went on hiatus in 1992, reunited temporarily for a one-off performance in Stockholm on New Year's Eve 1999 and announced an official reunion in 2003. Since then the band has released six albums, Start from the Dark (2004), Secret Society (2006), Last Look at Eden (2009), Bag of Bones (2012), War of Kings (2015) and Walk The Earth (2017). They continue to have popular tours.
Europe has achieved new attention in the US due to being featured in a GEICO Insurance cable television commercial campaign viewed for many months across the US in 2015-16.
The band is mainly influenced by Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, UFO and Michael Schenker Group.
Born in 1979 from the underground rock music scene in the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, a young band called 'Force' sprung from the suburbs to win national acclaim in the early 80s, emerging victorious in a nationwide talent contest. Their main influences were arena-ready British hard rock bands of the 70s such as UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Led Zeppelin. Winning a recording contract, core members Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar) and John Leven (bass) re-named themselves 'Europe'.
They went on to record and release two spirited albums, 'Europe' and 'Wings of Tomorrow'. They broke through the musical mainstream in both Scandinavia and Japan. The band toured widely on the strengths of these two records, and, in 1984, they recruited new members Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and drummer Ian Haugland. The success these albums generated on their home soil as well as in the Far East landed them an international record deal with Epic Records in New York.
In 1986, Europe went on to release their third album, 'The Final Countdown', which was produced by Kevin Elson (who had notably worked with Journey and Mr Big). Upon its release, gaining major momentum from Moscow to Manhattan and Stockholm to Sydney and elsewhere, that album conquered the airwaves and the epic arena rock anthem that was its title track succeeded in penetrating the global psyche. The prominent (and now arguably legendary) keyboard riff and memorable melodies catapulted "The Final Countdown" into the top ten charts in the U.K and U.S., and it ended up reaching number one in 24 countries. Selling in excess of six million units and resulting in an extensive world tour, 'The Final Countdown' became a global phenomenon.
It was at this time that John Norum chose to leave Europe to pursue a solo career, and he was replaced by another well-known Swedish guitarist, Kee Marcello. About two years later, Europe emerged again with their fourth album, titled 'Out of This World'. Produced by Ron Nevison (who had worked with UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Heart), this album delivered what had become the trademark Europe melodies and inspiring musical arrangements. Also a remarkable success, Europe embarked on a second world tour, and they notably were the first international rock-act to perform behind the 'Bamboo Curtain' in Bombay, India in front of a 60,000-strong audience.
The follow-up to 'Out of This World' approximately came two years later. That album, titled 'Prisoners in Paradise', was inspired by the band's time residing in Los Angeles, California. Upon completion of yet another world tour in 1993, the members of Europe decided to take time out to pursue personal projects and record solo albums.
After an extended hiatus, the band came together again in 1999 (including original guitarist John Norum) on new year's eve in Stockholm Sweden to perform "Rock the Night" and "The Final Countdown", helping to usher in the new millennium. The performance not only marked Europe's first public appearance in almost a decade but also inspired a permanent reunion. Still, the band's members had difficulties getting their plans to come together.
In 2004, with John Norum firmly back in the band, the original Europe lineup returned to the world stage with "Start From the Dark" - a raw, cutting-edge rock album that delivered a brand new style of melodic rock. The release saw the band's welcome return to the road as they embarked on an extensive tour in Europe, the United States, and the Far East. Shortly thereafter, the band returned to the studio to record their 7th studio album titled "Secret Society" which was released in October 2006. Marking the most daring and innovative Europe album to date, "Secret Society" is both a return to their roots as well as a celebration of their collective musical experience and willingness to explore brand new territories. Followed by another world tour, the band continues to work hard to establish themselves yet again. It can be said that there are few bands from the 80's that still remain creative and relevant today with an edgy and modern sound.
Following their summer 2008 European tour, Europe returned to the studio to record and then release their eighth studio effort, " the Last Look at Eden." The band's latest work is "Bag of Bones," which they released in April 2012. Vocalist Joey Tempest remarked that he thought he'd "made a hardcore classic rock record with the blues knocking on the door." Showing that the group has still got it, the album debuted at #2 on Sweden's top album chart and has been certified Gold in Sweden while also receiving strong sales throughout Europe and in the U.K.
www.europetheband.com/
Hole In My Pocket
Europe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God is working his ways tonight
Way back we're on this road
But it's a future I can live without
One spark lit up this place
Two sparks baby, amazing grace
Break-neck speed, can't read the signs
You got me running clean outta time
Let's not pretend
We don't pretend
It's not the end
it's gonna be better than this
Hole in my Pocket
Stone in my Shoe
Time keeps on winning
What can you do?
I just can't stop it
Blowin' a fuse
Time keeps on winning
What can you do?
Hey baby how did we get here?
Always thought we were already there
Spend my money to buy more time
Now forever's kicking me around
Hey listen, I'm not taking calls
Ain't going back to nothin' at all
Against all odds and evidence
I knew my sun was gonna rise again!
Let's all Pretend
We don't pretend
It's not the end
It never gets better than this
Hole in my pocket
Stone in my shoe
Time keeps on winning
What can you do
I just can't stop it
I'm blowing a fuse
Time keeps on winning
What can you do?
Hole in my pocket
Stone in my shoe
Time keeps on winning
What can you do
I just can't stop it
I'm blowing a fuse
Time keeps on winning
What can you do?
The lyrics of Europe's song Hole In My Pocket are about the struggles of life and the constant battle to keep up with time. The cry of the battle-bow at the beginning of the song suggests the beginning of a war or a fight, and the line "God is working his ways tonight" indicates that this war could be one with oneself. The singer reflects on the past and the future, acknowledging that while the road may have been long, the future is uncertain and unpredictable. The reference to sparks and amazing grace suggests that there is a glimmer of hope in the darkness, but the fast-paced nature of the song and the inability to read the signs imply that this hope is elusive.
The chorus of the song highlights the helplessness of the singer in the face of time's relentless march. Despite having a hole in his pocket and a stone in his shoe, he cannot stop time from winning. He is blowing a fuse, but there is nothing he can do to stop time. The bridge of the song suggests that the singer is not willing to give up, even though he may be tired and frustrated. He refuses to take calls or go back to how things were before. He is determined to rise again and keep fighting, against all odds and evidence.
Overall, the lyrics of Europe's song Hole In My Pocket are a poignant reflection on the struggles of life and the constant battle to keep up with time. The singer's refusal to give up, despite the odds against him, is inspiring and uplifting.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the cry of the battle-bow
Listen to the call of action, the fight is on.
God is working his ways tonight
Divine intervention is at play, things are happening.
Way back we're on this road
We've been on this journey for a while, things have been happening.
But it's a future I can live without
I don't want this kind of future, I'm not attached to it.
One spark lit up this place
A single event ignited everything in this moment.
Two sparks baby, amazing grace
Two events, even better than the first.
Break-neck speed, can't read the signs
I'm moving too fast and can't keep up with the warnings.
You got me running clean outta time
I'm running out of time, can't keep up with the pace.
Let's not pretend
Let's be honest, let's not play make-believe.
We don't pretend
We don't act as if everything is fine when it's not.
It's not the end
This is not the end of the story, there's more to come.
it's gonna be better than this
The future will be brighter than the present.
Hole in my Pocket
I'm losing money and resources.
Stone in my Shoe
Something is bothering me, hindering my progress.
Time keeps on winning
Time is passing by, things are changing.
What can you do?
There's not much one can do to stop time or change.
I just can't stop it
I'm struggling to keep pace or halt the changes.
Blowin' a fuse
I'm losing my patience or temper over things.
Hey baby how did we get here?
Reflecting on how things ended up this way.
Always thought we were already there
I thought we had already achieved our goals.
Spend my money to buy more time
I'm investing resources to prolong things, but it's not working.
Now forever's kicking me around
I'm stuck in a cycle of enduring hardship and pain.
Hey listen, I'm not taking calls
I don't want to listen to anyone's advice or opinions.
Ain't going back to nothin' at all
I'm not reverting to a previous state, there's no going back.
Against all odds and evidence
Despite the difficulties and proof, I'm still hopeful.
I knew my sun was gonna rise again!
I was certain that good times will return.
It never gets better than this
The current situation is the best it will ever be, it won't improve.
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.