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
Before I Wake
Farewell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The city swallowed itself
Traffic signals switched
From green to red
I searched your body for evidence
Under a dogwood canopy
Your hand in mine
Frozen in time
Life as we knew was ending
So don't cry
We'll be alright
Once I get you cleaned up
Babe, we're on our way
But if you die before I wake
Have my heart
It's yours to take
A sacrifice for our sake
I'd give my life for you any day
And daylight drew the sickness
I brushed the bangs from you're face
While watch your eyes turn from
Green to red
Back in our old apartment
Collecting dust on a shelf
The memories of you and me
Incinerate from under futhered timber
So don't cry
We'll be alright
Once I get you picked up
Babe, we're on our way
But if you die before I wake
Have my heart
It's yours to take
A sacrifice for our sake
I'd give my life for you any day
Love of mine
Call out
If it eats you from the inside
Out of time
But be sure
I'll be all yours on the other side
Sometimes it's harder
To stay alive
But if you die before I wake
Have my heart
It's yours to take
A sacrifice for our sake
I'd give my life for you any day
The song "Before I Wake" by Farewell is a slow, somber ballad that tells the story of a doomed relationship. The lyrics describe a world where everything is falling apart and the only thing left to hold onto is the love between two people. The opening lines, "Out in the starless darkness/The city swallowed itself" paint a bleak picture of a post-apocalyptic landscape where hope is hard to come by. The world is falling apart, but the singer is determined to hold onto their love no matter what.
The chorus of the song, "So don't cry/We'll be alright/Once I get you cleaned up/Babe, we're on our way/But if you die before I wake/Have my heart/It's yours to take" emphasizes the theme of sacrifice and devotion. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to save their partner, even if it means laying down their own life. The final lyrics, "Love of mine/Call out/If it eats you from the inside/Out of time/But be sure/I'll be all yours on the other side/Sometimes it's harder/To stay alive" suggest that the relationship may not survive, but the singer will always be there for their partner in spirit.
Overall, "Before I Wake" is a powerful and emotional song that captures the pain and beauty of a love that endures even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the starless darkness
In the darkness without any star
The city swallowed itself
The city consumed by its own chaos
Traffic signals switched
The signals of traffic changed from green to red
From green to red
From go to stop
I searched your body for evidence
I looked for a clue on your body
Under a dogwood canopy
Under the shelter of a dogwood tree
Your hand in mine
I held your hand
Frozen in time
Stuck in a moment
Who would have guessed
Who could have predicted
Life as we knew was ending
The life we knew was coming to an end
So don't cry
Don't shed a tear
We'll be alright
Everything will be okay
Once I get you cleaned up
Once I take care of you
Babe, we're on our way
Darling, we're making progress
But if you die before I wake
But if you pass away before I do
Have my heart
Take my love with you
It's yours to take
Because you mean everything to me
A sacrifice for our sake
A selfless act for our own good
I'd give my life for you any day
I would do anything to protect you
And daylight drew the sickness
The daylight brought with it a feeling of illness
I brushed the bangs from you're face
I moved the hair off your forehead
While watch your eyes turn from
While I watched your eyes transform
Green to red
From lively to lifeless
Back in our old apartment
Back to our previous home
Collecting dust on a shelf
Gathering dust, forgotten
The memories of you and me
All the memories of us together
Incinerate from under futhered timber
Disappear into the past, beyond reach
Love of mine
My beloved
Call out
Reach out to me
If it eats you from the inside
If it's tearing you apart inside
Out of time
No more time
But be sure
But know for certain
I'll be all yours on the other side
I'll always be yours in the end
Sometimes it's harder
Sometimes it's more difficult
To stay alive
To keep going
Contributed by Thomas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.