2. A Finnish melodic metal band.
3… Read Full Bio ↴1. An American pop-punk/rock band.
2. A Finnish melodic metal band.
3. A French screamo band.
4. Ultra death minimalist noise by Jamie butch jenny Stewart (Xiu Xiu)
The sophomore album poses an interesting situation for any artist: They can either take the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it approach, or they can opt to push the envelope and try something progressive, all the while subjecting themselves to potential failure.
On Run It Up the Flagpole, Greensboro, NC pop-punkers FAREWELL have chosen the latter, toeing the line between sugary pop melodies and unbridled punk-rock energy while creating a record that both Top-40 fans and punk purists can enjoy equally. The set follows 2007's Isn't This Supposed To Be Fun!?, which, along with the band's earn-it-yourself attitude, kept Farewell on the road alongside acts including Forever The Sickest Kids, The Secret Handshake, Four Year Strong and Hit The Lights, as well as earning them a spot on last year's Van's Warped Tour.
When facing the task of writing Fun's follow-up, the band - vocalist Marshall Davis, guitarists Wil Andrews and Kevin Carter, bassist Buddy (just buddy) and drummer Jeff Ellis - set out with one goal: to diversify its sound while proving that it's possible to play catchy, pop-based music without pandering to overtly glossy production and studio trickery. "So many bands' second record sounds exactly like their first one, and it's almost always a letdown," says Davis. "We wanted to continue to move forward as a band and help expand our fans' perception of what "pop-punk" could be. That's why this new record has its own identity. It's a perfect blend of our past and present."
If you're looking for a record full of snot-nosed vocals and breakneck tempos, you'll probably be disappointed. Instead, Farewell's punk influence is exuded in swagger and attitude, drawing from influences like Jawbreaker and Screeching Weasel. Even so, it's clear the band isn't pulling any punches this time around. Calling out the "cookie cutter caffeinated teens, deployed for mass consumption," the lead single "Devoid (That's What I Think About It)" kicks listeners in the teeth with massive Green Day-sized guitars and its rallying-cry chorus of "When did rock and roll become this fucking fashion show!?"
No, Farewell has not become a band of crusty punk-rock bellyachers. Nor have they turned their backs on the fan base that's supported them since the beginning. They're simply not willing to stand by and watch their pop-punk scene be overrun by sound-alike clones who care more about looking good than making good music. "We're basically a punk-rock band that's more rock than punk," Davis laughs. "I wish I could sing like Armstrong, but I guess I'll settle for Hoppus."
Farewell's members, most of whom had grown up playing in various punk and hardcore bands, came together in 2005 and quickly built a name for themselves, touring the Southeast and crafting their upbeat pop-rock sound, all the while showcasing for labels across the country. They eventually caught the ear of Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz, who signed the group in 2007. It was an ideal situation for the band; many of their influences were veteran Epitaph artists. "They understood our band and didn't want to change us," Davis says of the label. "They were stoked on what we had to offer and gave us 100% creative control. It was perfect for us."
Throughout Run It Up the Flagpole, Farewell tempers it's us-against-the-world mentality with a hearty dose of earnestness and sincerity. That's best found on "Catch As Catch Can," an autobiographical mid-tempo number that recaps the band's history - from its nascent stages in the dive-bars of North Carolina to an eventual deal with Epitaph and subsequent worldwide touring. Run It Up The Flagpole not only cements Farewell as a band that won't compromise its ideals for the sake of rock stardom, but also shows its members will never forget their roots and what it took to make it this far. "You have to keep in mind that your fans are growing as individuals too, along with their musical tastes," Davis explains. "We're playing the type of music that made us want to do this in the first place. It's what we love, and what we do best."
check out farewell on the web!
http://www.purevolume.com/farewell
http://www.myspace.com/farewell
http://www.merchdirect.com/farewell
Anchors Away
Farewell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this small tobacco town
And I'm hating every second of this shit
I'm far too involved to quit
But the radio keeps playing on and on
On and on and on
What in the world were you thinking?
And the water we're drinking on
Too much to bail, too much to bail out
Captain, captain!
Please save me, save me!
The neatest _ire up for hire
And the drunken liars make me want to scream
And I'm jaded by the ones who mean the most
But I'm talking to your ghost
And I'm fading like all the lies you put up with
And the table starts to shift
But the one I love is moving on and on
What in the world were you thinking?
This ship we're sinking is going down
And the water we're drinking on
Too much to bail, too much to bail out
Captain, captain!
Please save me, save me!
Down to the wire I admire
This talk is tired
It makes me want to see inside her, smoke and fire
What in the world were you thinking?
This ship we're sinking is going down
And the water we're drinking on
Too much to bail, too much to bail out
What in the world were you thinking?
This ship we're sinking is going down
And the water we're drinking on
Too much to bail, too much to bail out
I'm sitting on the sidelines
Waiting for the right time
For someone to come and carry me home
I'm sitting on the sidelines
Waiting for the right time
For someone to come and carry me home
I'm sitting on the sidelines
Waiting for the right time
For someone to come and carry me home
I'm sitting on the sidelines
Waiting for the right time
For someone to come and carry me home
(The radio keeps playing on and on
On and on and on
The radio keeps playing on
On and on and on)
The song "Anchors Away" expresses frustration and a sense of being stuck in a small town, unable to move forward. The singer dislikes their town and the people around them, feeling weighed down and jaded by the lies they have experienced. They are waiting for someone to come and save them, but feel that the situation is dire, with the "ship sinking" and the "water we're drinking" being too much to bail out. However, despite the sense of hopelessness, the singer persists and keeps speaking to their "ghost". They continue to be engaged, while the world around them is moving on relentlessly.
There is a sense of anger in the song, with the singer feeling trapped and surrounded by people who are "drunken liars" and "make [them] want to scream". The chorus repeats the lines "What in the world were you thinking? This ship we're sinking is going down" as if to emphasise the sense of impending doom. The use of the metaphor of a sinking ship and the need for a captain to save them adds to the feeling of helplessness that pervades the song. The repeated use of the phrase "on and on" in the chorus suggests repetition and the inability to escape the cycle of negative experiences. In conclusion, the song speaks to a desire for change, a sense of frustration and hopelessness, and a need for something or someone to pull us out of our current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Not waiting for the words to come around
I don't have time to wait for things to happen in this small town, I need to make moves on my own
In this small tobacco town
I'm stuck in a small and uneventful place where nothing much happens
And I'm hating every second of this shit
I despise my current situation and am unhappy about it
I'm far too involved to quit
I am too committed and invested in this situation to leave it behind
But the radio keeps playing on and on
Despite my troubles, life goes on and things keep moving forward
What in the world were you thinking?
I can't comprehend the poor choices that led me to this difficult place in my life
This ship we're sinking is going down
Our situation is dire and we are at risk of losing everything
And the water we're drinking on
Even the resources we rely on are tainted and unreliable
Too much to bail, too much to bail out
The situation is too overwhelming and we can't save ourselves from it
Captain, captain! Please save me, save me! The neatest _ire up for hire And the drunken liars make me want to scream
I am looking for a way out of this awful situation, but those around me are useless and cause me more stress
And I'm jaded by the ones who mean the most
The ones closest to me have left me disillusioned and lacking in trust or hope
But I'm talking to your ghost
I am haunted by past relationships, unable to truly let them go or move on from their impact
And I'm fading like all the lies you put up with
The deception and falseness around me is causing me to lose my sense of self and my grip on the world
And the table starts to shift
The foundation beneath me is unstable and my life is in chaos
But the one I love is moving on and on
The person I care about seems unaffected and is moving forwards without me
Down to the wire I admire This talk is tired It makes me want to see inside her, smoke and fire
I am tired of the superficial conversations and interactions around me, and I crave something deeper and more meaningful
I'm sitting on the sidelines
I feel powerless and unable to take control of my own life
Waiting for the right time
I am biding my time, hoping for a chance to make a change and improve my situation
For someone to come and carry me home
I need someone or something to rescue me and bring me to a better future
(The radio keeps playing on and on
Regardless of my struggles, life moves on as normal
On and on and on
Continuing endlessly without much change
The radio keeps playing on
Despite my troubles, the world outside me keeps going on with its own concerns and events
On and on and on)
Dragging on forever without resolution or end in sight
Contributed by Nolan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.