Field Music are a band from Sunderland in north-east England led by brother… Read Full Bio ↴Field Music are a band from Sunderland in north-east England led by brothers David and Peter Brewis. Commonly described as making "experimental pop" music, they have released eight 'proper' albums: Field Music (2005), Tones of Town (2007), Field Music (Measure) (2010), Plumb (2012), Commontime (2016), Open Here (2018), Making A New World (2020), and Flat White Moon (2021), all through Memphis Industries. They have also released a compilation of B-sides (Write Your Own History, 2006), a soundtrack (Music For Drifters, 2015) and a collection of cover versions (Field Music Play..., 2012). Another Shot, a four-track EP of songs written and recorded at the same time as the tracks on Flat White Moon, was released in October 2021.

Plumb was nominated for the 2012 Mercury Prize.

After the release of Tones of Town, the group announced a break, leading to solo releases by the brothers (David's "Sea From Shore" under the name School of Language, and Peter's album as The Week That Was, both 2008), before reconvening in 2009. Both brothers have continued releasing music outside of the band: School of Language now has 3 albums and an EP, while Peter has worked with contemporaries Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park (Frozen By Sight), as well as Sarah Hayes of Admiral Fallow (You Tell Me). In 2022, the Brewis brothers created their own record label (Daylight Saving Records) which will host what they refer to as "extra-curricular activities;" i.e., new releases from side projects and other related groups (such as Slug).

All Field Music albums were self-produced at the band's studio space in Sunderland.

Other musicians who have played in the group in some form include Andrew Moore, Tom English, Kevin Dosdale, Ian Black, Damo Waters, Andrew Lowther, Peter Gofton, Mark Simms, Emma Fisk, Peter Richardson, Liz Corney and Pauline Brandon.

You Can Decide
Field Music Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Whats the probability that you could decide?
You could decide, you could decide
I feel there may be limits, but you are alive
If you are alive, you can decide

So if you know
You know
You know

Let me, you know
You know
You know

Time is getting faster, now's the time you should speak
So make up your mind, make up your mind
The window's getting smaller here, and so are my feet
So make up your mind, you can decide

So if you know
You know
You know
Let me, you know
You know
You know

Faster, faster, make your mind up faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, make your mind up faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, make your mind up faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, make your mind up faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster

You need a side a winner here, cos things are the same
So make up your mind, make up your mind
It seems you're always listening, cos there's things you think you're missing
Chances are high, you can decide

So if you know
You know
You know
Let me, you know

You know
You know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Field Music's song "You Can Decide" are fundamentally about making choices and taking control of one's life. The opening lines, "What's the probability that you could decide? / You could decide, you could decide," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is urging the listener to take action, to exercise their autonomy and choose their own path. They acknowledge that there may be limits, but stress that being alive means having the power to decide.

As the song progresses, the singer becomes more urgent, imploring the listener to make a decision before time runs out. They use a metaphor of a shrinking window to emphasize the importance of acting quickly. The repeated refrain of "faster, faster, make up your mind faster" reinforces this sense of urgency.

The second half of the song takes on a more hopeful tone, suggesting that making a decision can lead to positive change, and offering encouragement that the listener can "need a side a winner here" and that "chances are high, you can decide." The song ends on a triumphant note, with the repeated refrain of "let me, you know, you know, you know," suggesting that the listener has indeed made a decision and taken control of their life.

Overall, "You Can Decide" is a powerful statement about the importance of making choices and taking responsibility for one's own future.

Line by Line Meaning

Whats the probability that you could decide?
Asking the listener how likely they are to make a decision

You could decide, you could decide
Emphasizing that the listener has the ability to make a decision

I feel there may be limits, but you are alive
Acknowledging that there may be obstacles, but the listener is capable of overcoming them

If you are alive, you can decide
Affirming that the listener has the power to make choices because they are alive

Time is getting faster, now's the time you should speak
Urging the listener to act quickly before it's too late

So make up your mind, make up your mind
Encouraging the listener to come to a decision

The window's getting smaller here, and so are my feet
Highlighting the shrinking opportunity to make a choice and indicating the pressure upon them

So if you know
Indicating that the listener already has the necessary information to make a decision

Let me, you know
Encouraging them to share their decision with the artist

Time is getting faster, now's the time you should speak
Urging the listener to act quickly before it's too late

Faster, faster, make your mind up faster
Reiterating the importance of making a decision quickly

You need a side a winner here, cos things are the same
Emphasizing the importance of choosing a course of action that leads to progress

It seems you're always listening, cos there's things you think you're missing
Suggesting that the listener is hesitant to decide because they fear missing out on something

Chances are high, you can decide
Assuring the listener that they have a good chance of making a good decision

Contributed by Jake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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