Formed in 2007 by University of Salford and school friends Jonathan Higgs (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jeremy Pritchard (bass, vocals), Michael Spearman (drums) and original guitarist Alex Niven, they released their debut single Suffragette Suffragette in 2008, followed by Photoshop Handsome and MY KZ, UR BF, all accompanied by their own self-made videos. In 2009 Niven left and was replaced by ex-Operahouse guitarist Alex Robertshaw.
The band went on to be nominated for the BBC Sound of 2010, and subsequently released their Mercury Prize nominated debut album Man Alive on August 30th, 2010 on Geffen UK. This was accompanied by re-released singles MY KZ, UR BF and Photoshop Handsome as well as Schoolin' and Final Form.
After a year of touring including two successful orchestral concerts at which the entirety of Man Alive was played, the band are back in 2012 with new single Cough Cough, receiving extensive airplay and debuting at #37 in the charts. The second single Kemosabe will be released in the new year, followed by the second album Arc, to be released on RCA Victor on January 14th, 2013.
The Stuart Price produced Distant Past was released in February 2015, as an advance of their third album 'Get To Heaven' (15th June 2015).
Choice Mountain
Everything Everything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm trying to leave my ocean
Though I don't know nothin' of the swamp
And I could be a limbless star
Pushing at the sac all
Ready to delight the lucid shoal
And you don't look impressed
Willing wings to my chest
One day I'll grow up and show you
Harpoons and monsoons won’t keep me at bay,
There’s so much yet to happen,
My limbs,
Now my fins,
Now a film on my lips,
And why you never call back?
I’m older,
I’m colder,
I’m not coming good,
A cherub in the ashtray
Wriggling back to the source
And thrashing at the waterfalls for what?
Somewhere there is a place
And I could be the whale that takes you all
But maybe I'm a lioness
And when I reach the shore I'll
Tear apart hyenas with no thought
Now organs in a glassy globe
And cloudy with potential
Muscle mass and vertebrae begin
Trying to figure my place
And feverish with all my dreams awake
They don't notice me now
But I could be the whale that takes them all
Them all!
Try this and try this and try this again
I'm never gonna make it
Delete me
Repeat me
Let's try this again
The tiny little fish egg is
Homeless, and boneless and drifting along
Just jelly in the blackness
And inching up to the pole
Only to be lost among the white
Somewhere there is a place
And I could be a pterodactyl god
I'm trying to leave my ocean home
The song "Choice Mountain" by Everything Everything is packed with cryptic lyrics and metaphors that can be interpreted in different ways. The singer seems to be an aquatic creature that yearns to leave its ocean home and see what lies beyond its boundaries. There is a sense of restlessness in the singer's voice, an eagerness to explore new horizons despite others' skepticism. The opening lines "I'm trying to leave my ocean home...Though I don't know nothin' of the swamp" suggest that the creature is aware of its dislocation but has no idea where to go next. It's like a fish out of water, keen to evolve but clueless about its path.
The chorus further reinforces this theme of ambition and longing. The singer talks about how it could be a "limbless star," a "dolphin of your dreams," or even a "whale that takes them all." These lines are a testament to the creature's aspirations, its desire to transcend its current form, and be something bigger, stronger, and more majestic. However, there seems to be a disconnect between the singer and its audience. They "don't look impressed" despite its best efforts to impress them.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more surreal and enigmatic. The lines "Harpoons and monsoons won't keep me at bay...I'm older, I'm colder, I'm not coming good" seem to suggest a sense of defiance and urgency. The singer is determined to let nothing stand in its way, even if it means confronting dangerous forces like harpoons and storms. There is also a hint of bitterness and disappointment in the words "why you never call back?" which could either refer to a lost love or an unresponsive world that doesn't recognize the singer's potential.
Overall, "Choice Mountain" is a haunting and introspective song that explores themes of identity, purpose, and yearning. It paints a vivid picture of a creature that feels out of place in its environment and dreams of something greater, something beyond the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm trying to leave my ocean home
I am attempting to escape my current environment and explore new opportunities
Though I don't know nothin' of the swamp
Even though I am unfamiliar with the environment I am trying to reach
And I could be a limbless star
I have the potential to be a unique and extraordinary individual
Pushing at the sac all
Struggling to break out of my limitations and explore my full potential
Ready to delight the lucid shoal
Prepared to bring joy and happiness to those around me
And you don't look impressed
Although I have many talents, the people around me seem unaffected or unimpressed
I could be the dolphin of your dreams
I have the potential to be someone's ideal or the epitome of a particular attribute
Willing wings to my chest
Eager to take flight and explore new possibilities with enthusiasm
One day I'll grow up and show you
Someday in the future, I will mature and prove myself to be successful and capable
Harpoons and monsoons won’t keep me at bay,
No obstacle or challenge will prevent me from achieving my goals
There’s so much yet to happen,
There are many opportunities and experiences for me to pursue in the future
My limbs, Now my fins, Now a film on my lips,
I am constantly changing and adapting to new situations and environments
And why you never call back?
I feel neglected or ignored by others, despite my efforts to reach out and connect
I’m older, I’m colder, I’m not coming good,
I am feeling older, less relevant, and less successful in achieving my goals
A cherub in the ashtray
I feel forgotten or abandoned, like a discarded or irrelevant object
Wriggling back to the source
Returning to my origins or roots, perhaps to rediscover my sense of purpose
And thrashing at the waterfalls for what?
Struggling through the challenges and obstacles of life to achieve a goal or purpose
Somewhere there is a place
There is a destination, goal, or purpose waiting for me to discover
And I could be the whale that takes you all
I have the ability to lead others on a journey or guide them towards their own goals
But maybe I'm a lioness
Perhaps my true nature is fierce, powerful, and confident
And when I reach the shore I'll Tear apart hyenas with no thought
When I finally achieve my goals, I will do so with determination, force, and confidence
Now organs in a glassy globe
My potential is held within me, unseen and unknown, like organs floating in a glass container
And cloudy with potential
Full of possibility, opportunity, and untapped talent
Muscle mass and vertebrae begin
My body is starting to change and adapt to new environments and experiences
Trying to figure my place
Struggling to find my identity, sense of purpose, or direction in life
And feverish with all my dreams awake
I am eager and enthusiastic about the possibilities that life has to offer
They don't notice me now
Despite my potential, abilities, and enthusiasm, others do not seem to recognize or appreciate me
But I could be the whale that takes them all
Although initially overlooked, I have the potential to be a leader and guide for others
Them all!
Everyone, not just a select few or individuals who have already succeeded
Try this and try this and try this again
Continuing to attempt and experiment in order to achieve success
I'm never gonna make it
Feeling like success is impossible or out of reach
Delete me
Feeling insignificant or irrelevant, as if I don't matter or don't belong
Repeat me
Feeling stuck in a repetitive, meaningless cycle
Let's try this again
Optimistically continuing to experiment and take risks in order to achieve success
The tiny little fish egg is Homeless, and boneless and drifting along Just jelly in the blackness
Feeling lost, insignificant, and unimportant, like a tiny, helpless fish egg adrift in the ocean
And inching up to the pole
Slowly and gradually attempting to achieve a goal or reach a destination
Only to be lost among the white
Encountering obstacles or challenges that make it difficult to succeed or achieve my goals
Somewhere there is a place
A destination, goal, or purpose that I am striving towards
And I could be a pterodactyl god
I have the potential to be extraordinary, unique, and powerful
Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.