The band was among the first acts of a renewed wave of shoegazing music, harkening back to the late-1980s and early 1990s heyday of that genre. Although My Bloody Valentine is the most well-known of the shoegazers, Film School tends to hew more closely to the less stridently noisy bands from the original scene--bands such as Slowdive and Blind Mr. Jones. When Film School ups the tempo, their cascading guitars and background harmonies of "ooh" and "aah"--washed-out spins on classic mid-60s pop--they can also sound like Ride, another prominent band in the original shoegazing scene.
Film School today are now based in Los Angeles. Current members are: Greg Bertens, Dave Dupuis, Lorelei Plotczyk, Jason Ruck, James Smith . Previous members have included Nyles Lannon, Justin LaBo, Donny Newenhouse.
On And On
Film School Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And as you carried me home, I knew I'd never be right
In your eyes
We changed all the signs, controlled all the lies
And I, I can't change the past that brings you back to these halls
And how long I've gotta go
How long, how long I've gotta go, how long
On and on so far to run I'll shy and turn away
In and out of love and life I'll fall and run away
On and on and on
But that ship set sail so long ago, turn away
We got down tonight, you seemed so surprised
But I, I've watched as the calls go in and out of your house
And how long I've...
Hey now, I know what's on your mind
On and on so far to run I'll shy and turn away
On and on so far to run I'll shy and turn away
In and out of love and life I'll fall and run away
On and on and on
Never gonna hurt you, never gonna say it all
Never gonna hurt you, never gonna say it all
Only gonna hurt you if I have to say it all
"On and On" by Film School is a reflective song about the aftermath of a night spent with a lover. The persona was carried home by their lover after a night of drinking and engaging with each other. The persona admits that they know they will never be right in the eyes of their lover. They changed all the signs and controlled all the lies but they know they cannot change the past that brings them back to these same halls. The persona expresses how long they have to go and how far they need to run away from the memories of the past. They recognize that they are in and out of love and life, falling and running away from their feelings, never completely facing them. They admit they will only hurt their lover if they have to say everything they feel.
The lyrics are evocative and reflective. The persona recognizes that they are in a situation that they cannot change. They desire to move on from their feelings but know it is easier said than done. The persona's guilt and sadness at their actions, and their inability to completely express themselves, make the song relatable to many listeners. The emotive and melancholic tone of the song is accentuated by the soft indie-rock melodies.
Line by Line Meaning
We got down tonight, with words and with wine
We engaged in deep conversation and indulged in wine tonight
And as you carried me home, I knew I'd never be right
In your eyes
As you took me home, I knew I could never measure up to your expectations
We changed all the signs, controlled all the lies
We manipulated the situation by fabricating false information
And I, I can't change the past that brings you back to these halls
And how long I've gotta go
How long, how long I've gotta go, how long
I can't erase the memories that make you return to this place and I wonder how much longer I must endure this pain
On and on so far to run I'll shy and turn away
On and on so far to run I'll shy and turn away
In and out of love and life I'll fall and run away
On and on and on
But that ship set sail so long ago, turn away
I will keep avoiding and retreating as I continue to struggle in my relationships, but it's too late to do anything about it
We got down tonight, you seemed so surprised
But I, I've watched as the calls go in and out of your house
And how long I've...
You were taken aback by what happened tonight, but I have noticed the numerous phone calls going in and out of your home and I wonder how much longer this will go on
Hey now, I know what's on your mind
I can see what you're thinking
Never gonna hurt you, never gonna say it all
Only gonna hurt you if I have to say it all
I promise to never hurt you intentionally, but if the truth must be revealed, it may cause pain
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.