They changed their name to Finger Eleven for their breakthrough Tip, released on Mercury Records in Canada in 1997, and re-released by Wind-Up Records in the United States in 1998. The name Finger Eleven comes from an earlier version of the song Thin Spirits from the album Tip. Lead singer, Scott Anderson explains: "when everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another--that’s finger eleven."
A year later, drummer Rob Gommerman left the band and was replaced by Rich Beddoe. In 2000 they released The Greyest of Blue Skies. 2003's self-titled album Finger Eleven was a commercial success, spawning the single One Thing which reached #16 in the US. The band also recorded the song Slow Chemical for WWE superstar Kane and Daaam! (feat. Tha Alkaholiks) on the compilation album Loud Rocks.
Them vs. You vs. Me, was released on March 6, 2007 and contains the singles Paralyzer, Falling On, I'll Keep Your Memory Vague, and Talking To The Walls.
Their most recent album, Life Turns Electric was released on Oct 5, 2010. It featured singles Living in a Dream, Whatever Doesn't Kill Me, Stone Soul and finally Pieces Fit.
Band Line-up
* Scott Anderson (vocals)
* Rick Jackett (guitar)
* James Black (guitar)
* Sean Anderson (bass)
* Rich Beddoe (drums)
Swallowtail
Finger Eleven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let me go
Tell me that
I need to know
Swallow the key swallow the key
You feel compelled but its far too late to try and tell me now
So I'll try to suck it out
Secrets swollen so sore
We all know and we can't ask why
You turned into an ugly butterfly
That shape of you
Closes in and forms a shade of grey
Hanging over hanging me
Sorry you're gone
The voices they left me thinking
The words that I've forgotten now
Try to come but can't come out
The lyrics to "Swallowtail" by Finger Eleven seem to revolve around a person who is seeking both answers and release from a situation they have become entangled in. The opening lines of "Let me in and let me go" appear to illustrate this duality, with the singer acknowledging that they need access to information in order to gain closure. The phrase "swallow the key" is repeated often in the chorus, possibly representing the act of suppressing elements of the situation in order to gain control or power over it.
The line "You turned into an ugly butterfly" is particularly striking, as it seems to suggest that the object of the singer's desire or concern has undergone some sort of transformation that has made them unrecognizable or even monstrous. The reference to a "shade of grey" also serves to emphasize the murky, ambiguous nature of the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Swallowtail" are dark and somewhat ominous in tone, suggesting that the singer is struggling to come to terms with a difficult situation that has left them feeling helpless and uncertain. The imagery is evocative and memorable, however, and the repetition of certain phrases lends the song a sense of hypnotic urgency that makes it both compelling and haunting.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me in
Asking to be allowed to enter someone's thoughts or emotions.
And let me go
Allow me to leave after exploring what's inside the person's mind.
Tell me that
I need to know
Urging the person to reveal something significant.
Swallow the key swallow the key
The person acknowledges the truth but is trying to hide it from others.
You feel compelled but its far too late to try and tell me now
The artist believes that the person has kept a secret for too long, and it's too late to reveal it now.
So I'll try to suck it out
The singer intends to do everything possible to find out the secret.
Open mouth feels warm
The person is anxious and uncomfortable about the revelation that might come out.
Secrets swollen so sore
The secret has been kept hidden for a long time and is causing emotional stress.
We all know and we can't ask why
There's general knowledge about something but nobody is brave enough to ask about it.
You turned into an ugly butterfly
The person has undergone a significant change, but the transformation is not admirable.
That shape of you
The image of the person has changed, and they're not what they used to be.
Closes in and forms a shade of grey
The transformation has made everything unclear and uncertain.
Hanging over hanging me
The uncertainty is causing anxiety and emotional distress on the singer.
Sorry you're gone
The person has left the singer's life. The words express finality and sadness.
The voices they left me thinking
The person may be physically gone, but some external influence remains with the singer.
The words that I've forgotten now
Try to come but can't come out
The artist is trying to remember something that was said before, but it's not clear in their mind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ARNOLD DAVID LANNI, JAMES RYAN BLACK, SCOTT ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind