Fiction Plane’s first major label release, Everything Will Never Be OK, with MCA Records, was released in the US in March 2003 with the single "Hate". Shortly after the album’s release, Bloomington, IN drummer Pete Wilhoit joined the band.
In spite of positive critical acclaim for the group, including being named a ‘Breaker’ Artist by AOL Music in March of 2003, MCA folded and the band moved over to Geffen records. In 2005 the band released a 4-song EP entitled Bitter Forces and Lame Race Horses on the Geffen imprint label Everybody's Records.
In 2006, Fiction Plane made a brief move to Interscope Records and parted ways with founding member and bass/keyboard player Dan Brown[. Joe Sumner took over on bass and the band started working on a new album, Left Side of the Brain, which was released on Bieler Bros. Records on May 22, 2007. Behind the success of the singles "Two Sisters" (a popular single in France, Belgium and Holland) and "Death Machine" the album rose all the way to #46 on the Billboard Heatseeker Album Chart.
On January 23, 2008, Left Side of the Brain was released in Japan through Sideout Records with two bonus tracks: "Drink (acoustic)" and "Put On Your Shoes."
In April 2008, a limited tour edition of Left Side of the Brain was re-released in France through XIII Bis Records, containing five bonus tracks "VIP fast", "Coolest Kid", "At Ease", "Sleepwalker", "Drink (acoustic)"), a video clip ("Two Sisters"), and a hidden track, "The Circus Trouser Enthusiast". Four of the bonus cuts were unused demos recorded in 2006. "Sleepwalker" is an early version of what would become "Anyone," the official album’s first track.
On March 23, 2009, the band released its first-ever live DVD and CD package, simply entitled Paradiso, through XIII Bis Records. It was recorded on December 7, 2008 at the band’s sold-out performance in Amsterdam and then mixed by Ash Howes and mastered by Andy Walters at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London. Special features on the DVD include the unedited version of the “It’s A Lie” video, and a photo gallery of images taken along the band’s touring journey.
In February 2010, Fiction Plane completed the recording of their latest studio album, Sparks, which has an initial European release slated for May 3rd, 2010 on Roadrunner Records. The UK and US album releases are set to follow in the Fall. Produced by Paul Corkett, whose collaborations also include artists the likes of Nick Cave, Bjork and Placebo, Sparks is said to include both large anthems and eclectic tracks.
Fiction Plane has performed before hundreds of thousands in arenas and festivals all across Europe, Asia and North America, and have headlined their own largely sold out European tour.
In 2005, Fiction Plane was the support act for Sting's Broken Music Tour, which took the band all over Europe playing 29 shows in 25 countries.
Fiction Plane was then hired to support The Police on the North American, European, Australian/New Zealand, and Asian legs of their 2007 Reunion Tour, playing 87 shows.
In support of the album Left Side of the Brain and the singles "Two Sisters" and "Death Machine" Fiction Plane performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2007.
In the Spring of 2008, Fiction Plane toured America with The Bravery and Your Vegas. The band also toured the UK in March supporting The Feeling and supported 311 and Snoop Dogg on the 2008 Summer Unity Tour in the US.
In December, 2008, Fiction Plane performed a largely sold-out run through Europe, culminating in selling out the legendary Paradiso in Amsterdam.
On February 27, 2009, Fiction Plane previewed five brand new songs at a concert at Arlene's Grocery in New York City. The song titles were "Telephone Unknown," "Humanoid," "Denied," "Zero," and "Contagious." “Humanoid” and “Zero” are both currently featured in the track listing for their upcoming studio album Sparks.
Fiction Plane has also been featured on several high-profile European music festivals, including Paaspop and Pinkpop in The Netherlands, The Vieilles Charrues in France, Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany.
In support of their new album Sparks, Fiction Plane recently revealed that they will be performing this summer at a number of major European rock festivals including the Meribel Little World Festival, the Benatska Festival in the Czech Republic and Sautrock in Austria.
The band's members are:
Joe Sumner (lead vocals, bass)
Seton Daunt (guitar)
Pete Wilhoit (drums)
Former members:
Dan Brown (bass, keyboards) - until 2006
Olly Taylor (drums) - until 2003
If Only
Fiction Plane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's holdin' a grievance for hundred-odd years
We all keep believin'
That history repeats itself year after year
How I fear that the future is worse
We have to give in to a hundred-year curse
Sweat in the sun like we're diggin' a grave
Dig deep enough and our fortune is saved--
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
Chasin' the skirt of a beautiful wife
You make mistakes and it's my back that breaks
And forever my past steals my life
To submission I'm beat, but there's hope beneath these feet
Blisters and blood and the sun makes you blind
Don't let it eat ya, it can't help but be kind
'Cause you know what's important with your back to the wall
You can break metal chains when your friends don't let you fall
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies,"
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
I'm a sword but I find myself blunt
That is no use when i'm fighting my history, fighting my history
I have no blade, I'm more like a feather
That is no use when I'm fighting my history, fighting my history
I have no blade, I'm more like a feather
But I can't fly away without fighting myself
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies,"
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
The song "If Only" by Fiction Plane is a reflective and insightful commentary on personal and societal struggles. The opening verse alludes to the idea that, despite progress and our best intentions, we are still subject to the same human tendencies and mistakes that have plagued us throughout history. The "hundred-year curse" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of societal problems that seem to persist, despite our best efforts to resolve them.
The song shifts focus to an individual struggle with a painful past that seems to repeat itself, both in terms of personal mistakes and external circumstances. The singer finds themselves beaten down by their history, but still hopeful for a way out. The line "Don't let it eat ya, it can't help but be kind" suggests a recognition that struggle and difficulty are inherent parts of life, but it is up to us to choose how we respond to them.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "If only," is a poignant expression of the human tendency to look back on our lives and wonder what could have been different. The woodpecker and wolf in the lyrics represent the natural world, which can be seen as a peaceful escape from human struggles. However, even they are subject to the same wishful thinking as humans, with the woodpecker wishing for softer bark and the wolf yearning for company.
Overall, the song suggests that while we may never fully escape our pasts and the problems that come with being human, we can still hold onto the hope that things can get better. The image of breaking metal chains with the help of friends represents the power of community and support, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
The old man's been stealin'
The old man has been stealing for a long time.
She's holdin' a grievance for hundred-odd years
She has been holding a grudge for over a hundred years.
We all keep believin'
Despite our doubts, we continue to have faith.
That history repeats itself year after year
We believe that history will continue to repeat itself.
How I fear that the future is worse
I am afraid that the future will be even worse than the present or past.
We have to give in to a hundred-year curse
We have to accept that we are bound by a curse that has lasted for a hundred years.
Sweat in the sun like we're diggin' a grave
We work hard in the sun as if we are digging a grave.
Dig deep enough and our fortune is saved--
If we work hard enough, we will be rewarded with good fortune.
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
The woodpecker expresses regret and longing for something that cannot be changed.
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
The woodpecker wishes the bark was as soft as clouds.
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
The wolf waits below, feeling hungry and lonely.
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
The wolf expresses his regret and longing to the moon.
Chasin' the skirt of a beautiful wife
Trying to pursue a beautiful woman.
You make mistakes and it's my back that breaks
I suffer the consequences of your mistakes.
And forever my past steals my life
My past sins and regrets continue to haunt and impact my present and future.
To submission I'm beat, but there's hope beneath these feet
I may feel defeated, but there is still hope for the future.
Blisters and blood and the sun makes you blind
Working hard under the sun can be painful and exhausting.
Don't let it eat ya, it can't help but be kind
Don't let the challenges of life consume you, as life can still be kind.
'Cause you know what's important with your back to the wall
When you are in a tough situation, you know what truly matters.
You can break metal chains when your friends don't let you fall
With the support of friends, one can overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
The woodpecker expresses regret and longing for something that cannot be changed.
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies",
The woodpecker wishes the bark was as soft as clouds.
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
The wolf waits below, feeling hungry and lonely.
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
The wolf expresses his regret and longing to the moon.
I'm a sword but I find myself blunt
I am meant to be a weapon, but I feel dull and ineffective.
That is no use when i'm fighting my history, fighting my history
Being a weapon is pointless when I am battling my own past and regrets.
I have no blade, I'm more like a feather
I am powerless and weak, like a feather.
That is no use when I'm fighting my history, fighting my history
Being weak and powerless is not helpful when trying to overcome one's past.
I have no blade, I'm more like a feather
I am powerless and weak, like a feather.
But I can't fly away without fighting myself
I cannot escape my own struggles and conflicts without facing them first.
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
The woodpecker expresses regret and longing for something that cannot be changed.
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
The woodpecker wishes the bark was as soft as clouds.
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
The wolf waits below, feeling hungry and lonely.
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
The wolf expresses his regret and longing to the moon.
"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs
The woodpecker expresses regret and longing for something that cannot be changed.
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
The woodpecker wishes the bark was as soft as clouds.
As the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
The wolf waits below, feeling hungry and lonely.
He cries to the moo-oo-oon, "If only, if only"
The wolf expresses his regret and longing to the moon.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Dan Brown, Joseph Sumner, Louis Sachar, Seton Lloyd Daunt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeremiahjohnson4572
“If only, if only”, the woodpecker sighs,
“the bark on the tree was as soft as the skies.” The wolf waits below, hungry and lonely. He howls to the moon, “If only, if only...”.
“If only, if only”, the old woman sighed,
“my son were as free as the birds in the sky.”
There goes the sailor man, crippled and lonely. He looks to the sea, “If only, if only...”.
If only, if only, we would see
those people in need that we pass in the street. But we go, hurrying along, while they weep to themselves and sing this song:
“If only, if only”, the woodpecker sighs, “the bark on the tree was as soft as the skies.” While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely. He cries to the moon, “If only, if only...”.
@TheHighSpectre
I can't sing.
@royceaxle5749
But nobody can say you did you didn’t sing.
@vanillatwilight6556
The feelings that this song gives me can't be described; a mixture of melancholy, nostalgia, euphoria.
What a song.
@autochthonousamericanprinc9786
Omg I knowww me tooo 😭
@jaykway2628
this takes me back to my first time watching holes, wow.
@totallydillion
+Ebonheart 13 I know right!
@Onigirli
So c'mon, tell us Zero, what do you like to do?
"I like to dig holes"
@Aaron_Berry
+J.A Kenway I watched Holes last year at school, now I'm in high school. I remember me saying 8th grade was horrible when I was in the moment, but, now Im realizing that it could be worse, if only I knew that at the time. maybe I'm looking through Rose-colored glasses but still. anyway this song is somewhat nostalgic to me. Also I am a Metalhead, yes, I know this isn't metal.
@Btsarmy-xb4zl
Omg I watched holes in school no joke
@JENiiECanFlyy
Its rare for a movie to be as good as the book but this one surprised me, amazing movie and book. I love this song too