Floater's regional success was noticed by Elemental Records, who put out their first full-length record, "Sink" in 1994. That same year Floater began a string of sold out shows at the Community Center for the Performing Arts (The WOW Hall) that is still unbroken to this day.
In 1995 Floater released "Glyph" and toured the country for the next two years supporting the record. The single, "Danny Boy" received heavy college and commercial radio play, in many cities outselling major label releases. Floater received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammy's from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for "Sink" and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for "Glyph." (Prelims are determined by nominations from the NARAS members).
In 1998, following their move to Portland, Oregon (where the band currently resides), Floater released their third full-length record, "Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone." The second concept album by the band ("Sink" was the first), "Angel's" brought a new vibe to Floater. It wasn't long before widespread audiences came to embrace what has now become the band's trademark - their versatility.
September of 2000 brought the release of Floater's fourth full- length record, "Burning Sosobra"; a musical collection that explores the band's broad range of song writing. Following its release, the band began to perform live acoustically. Both the band and the fans enjoyed this new avenue of performance that allowed the "quieter" side of Floater to emerge and be explored. Of late, the band has begun playing shows where acoustic Floater opens for electric Floater - giving a sort of Jekyll and Hyde feel to their performances.
In 2002 Floater released their most critically acclaimed record to date, "Alter." Combining the bands strongest musical elements, "Alter" moves fluidly from heavy riffs to lullabies and tells flowing stories of fear, love and above all change.
August of 2004 - The release of the band's acoustic record, "Acoustics." Fans of Floater's electric shows responded with enthusiasm to the band's occasional acoustic performance - with their record label's encouragement, the band put together a uniquely recorded album - one that mimics the sound of their actual performances. Recorded in a studio built in the ballroom of their producers house, the record was made without digital editing and has a fresh, live feeling.
Floater is also the name of a late nineties indiepop band from Sheffield, UK. They briefly rename themselves Floater UK before later reforming as Dangerlust.
Breakdown
Floater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming up for air not escaping. All I can feel is the bottom we're scraping.
And you say, "It's all right. And "It's okay."
Just learn to live life another day.
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall."
I want to be there when we watch it all breakdown.
You know it.
Yeah, when I breakdown
I'm gonna show it.
And all my flames will rise through the skies with a terrible sound.
Yeah when I breakdown.
They send me out to locate all the dead so I can tally 'em.
And I take my paycheck and buy whiskey to chase the valium.
May not deserve to serve, but you will whether you like it or not.
No, no, nobody's looking for a savior, they're just looking for everything you've got.
Everything!
And I said, "It's all right. And "It's okay."
Just learn to live life another day.
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall."
I want to be there when we watch it all breakdown.
And you know it.
Don't you feel like watching it all burn down to the ground
Yeah, when I breakdown
I'm gonna show it.
And all my flames will rise through the skies with a terrible sound.
Yeah when I breakdown.
And if I could, I'd shove the whole world, right onto a knife
I wouldn't think twice.
But you're the one I'm thrown
To save my life.
You said, "It's all right. And "It's okay."
Learn to live life another day.
And if you stop to pick me up,
You know that I'll be going your way.
The lyrics of "Breakdown" by Floater paint a picture of a bleak and dystopian society. The first two lines describe an atmosphere of unease and anxiety that pervades the streets, leaving the listener feeling helpless and trapped. The image of "escaping" without actually being able to do so underscores the sense of hopelessness that permeates the song. The chorus evokes a sense of resignation as the singer reflects on the cyclical nature of history, with kingdoms rising and falling, and the desire to witness it all "breakdown." The final stanza addresses a feeling of anger and frustration towards the world with lines like "if I could, I'd shove the whole world, right onto a knife", which highlights the sense of desperation that seems to underpin the entire song.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on the state of the world and the idea that the structures we have in place are unsustainable. The cyclical nature of history that the chorus references suggests that if we don't learn from past mistakes, we're doomed to repeat them. The singer's anger and frustration in the final stanza can be seen as a response to this, with a sense of helplessness and desperation driving them to lash out at the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
When you walk the streets you can feel it in the way it leaves you in a cold sweat.
Walking in these streets gives a sickening feeling leaving you in fear, anxiety and sweat.
Coming up for air not escaping. All I can feel is the bottom we're scraping.
Things are tough, and it feels like there is no way out, no escape as we remain stuck at the lowest point.
And you say, "It's all right. And "It's okay."
Words that others use to comfort us, telling us everything will be okay, even when things are not good.
Just learn to live life another day.
Be strong, hold on, and take it one day at a time as life goes on.
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall."
Powerful empires come up and go, but it's the common people who have to suffer the fate.
I want to be there when we watch it all breakdown.
I want to witness when all the chaos and disorder unfolds.
You know it.
You have a feeling that things will eventually fall apart.
Don't you feel like watching it all burn down to the ground
Ever had the urge to see everything collapse into nothingness?
Yeah, when I breakdown / I'm gonna show it. / And all my flames will rise through the skies with a terrible sound.
Emotionally broken and angry, the anguish will rise above all, breaking everything.
They send me out to locate all the dead so I can tally 'em.
Referring to his job and how they send him out to count the dead.
And I take my paycheck and buy whiskey to chase the valium.
After the hard day at work, I spend my money on self-destructing habits and drugs for temporary relief.
May not deserve to serve, but you will whether you like it or not.
It doesn't matter if you deserve it or not; you have to do it anyway.
No, no, nobody's looking for a savior, they're just looking for everything you've got.
Nobody is really looking for a hero; they just want to take advantage of everything you can offer.
And if I could, I'd shove the whole world, right onto a knife / I wouldn't think twice.
Frustrated and vengeful, he has no second thoughts about destroying the world.
But you're the one I'm thrown to save my life.
Despite all the anger and frustration, in the end, we still need people around us to stay alive.
And if you stop to pick me up, / You know that I'll be going your way.
When you pick me up when I'm down, I'll stick around and be loyal to you until the end.
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Farmer
on Endless II
I dont know the exact meaning but I hope someone would post what they know.