Frank Turner started solo acoustic shows prior to Million Dead's break up. The first official performance was at the first Small Town America all dayer at 93 Feet East on September 18th 2004. The solo performances were, in a sense, a sideline to Million Dead. They did allow Turner to display some of his own songwriting capabilities (without a band) as well as some covers of songs and bands he enjoyed, in some cases the songs were much re-worked to fit an acoustic atmosphere. Solo performances were also used to help bolster or expose Million Dead to new individuals as well, with some acoustic in-store and radio performances of Million Dead songs.
At the end of February and start of March (2006) Frank went to Oxford to record the "Campfire Punkrock" EP with Dive Dive as the backing band for three of the songs. This EP was released on May 15 2006 on a limited run through Xtra Mile recordings. It sold out after only a few weeks on sale and had to be re-pressed to meet demand.
With Jonah Matranga doing some touring in June 2006 in support of his CD/DVD album "Jonah Matranga" there was some discussion of Frank doing supports with Jonah, this only ended up with one show featuring both at The Peel in Kingston. The discussion however lead to the creation of the Jonah Matranga and Frank Turner split 12" vinyl. Released in the USA on Welcome Home Records and in the UK via Xtra Mile Recordings. The release features Frank covering two songs by American songwriters and Jonah covering two songs by British songwriters. He was recently (September 18 2006) the last ever artist to perform on BBC Radio 1's Lamacq Live program, unveiling two new songs from "Sleep Is For The Week".
The good sales of "Campfire Punkrock" meant good news as this allowed Frank to record his debut album "Sleep Is For The Week" in August and September 2006. Recorded in Oxford with Dive Dive as extra band on a selection of the 13 tracks. The last track, "The Ballad Of Me And My Friends", is a live recording from a sold out show at the London Barfly and features the vocal contribution of the (approximately) 200 strong audience during a verse. Those in attendance and gave their names to Xtra Mile Recordings will have their names credited as contributers to this track.
In April 2008, his second album Love, Ire and Song was released to critical acclaim.
His third full-length album, Poetry Of The Deed, was released September 7th 2009, and includes the singles The Road, Try This At Home and Isabel. An accompanying DVD, Take To The Road, was released in March 2010.
Amidst extensive touring in support of Poetry of the Deed, Turner and his then-untitled backing band recorded Rock & Roll, an EP consisting of tracks written at the same time as Poetry of the Deed alongside new material. Following its release, Turner and the band spent twenty days in January 2011, recording their next studio album with producer Tristan Ivemy. The result was England Keep My Bones, the fourth studio album by Frank, released on June 6, 2011, on Xtra Mile in the United Kingdom, and on June 7, 2011, on Epitaph Records worldwide. Preceded by the single, "Peggy Sang the Blues", the album was produced and mixed by Tristan Ivemy, who had previously mixed Love, Ire and Song, Rock & Roll and Campfire Punkrock.
The album's title is taken from William Shakespeare's play, The Life and Death of King John, with Turner noting, "I knew that the album was, for the most part, about mortality, and about Englishness. Shakespeare seemed like a good place to go hunting for some pearls of wisdom, and with a little help from my friend Ben we came across this one, and it just seemed to fit the work really well."
Following the completion of the album, Turner subsequently announced his backing band had named themselves The Sleeping Souls, after a lyric in the track, "I Am Disappeared". The Sleeping Souls are Nigel Powell, Ben LLoyd, Tarant Anderson and Matt Nasir.
Turner recorded his fifth studio album in Burbank, California, in October 2012. The reason for recording first time abroad in California was, that producer Rich Costey wouldn't come to England with all his equipment so he convinced Turner to record it in Burbank. Frank Turner announced via Twitter on 28 October 2012 that recording was completed, and mixing and mastering would be done in time for a March 2013 release date. During the November and December UK tour a free CD titled Good Hangs from Xtra Mile Recordings was distributed for free at Frank Turner shows, this included a yet-to-be-released Turner song titled "Tattoos" plus the Möngöl Hörde song "Casual Threats From Weekend Hardmen". On Christmas Day 2012, the song "Four Simple Words" was released on Xtra Mile Recordings' website as a free download along with the b-side "Cowboy Chords". On 4 January 2013, a video was shot for what would be the first single. On the same day Frank announced on Twitter that the single was the song "Recovery". On 9 January, Frank uploaded a photo to his Instagram page showing the names of all 13 songs that would feature on his new album. This included songs played during the UK and US tours of 2012 such as "Anymore", "Plain Sailing Weather", "We Shall Not Overcome" and "Tell Tale Signs". Frank also posted on his fan forum that an extended edition of his new album would be released that includes an extra 5 or 6 songs. On 19 February 2013, it was announced that Turner had signed a licensing deal with Interscope Records in the US for Tape Deck Heart. Following the release of the album Frank Turner embarked on a short U.K tour.
[this section requires expansion, to cover the period 2013 to 2018]
Discography:
2005 - Frank Turner's Demo
2007 - Campfire Punkrock
2007 - The Real Damage
2007 - Sleep Is For The Week
2008 - Love Ire & Song
2008 - The First Three Years
2009 - Poetry Of The Deed
2010 - Take to the Road: Live 2009
2010 - iTunes Festival: London 2010
2011 - 2011-11-17: Daytrotter Session, Big Orange Studios, Austin, TX, USA
2012 - The Second Three Years
2012 - Last Minutes and Lost Evenings
2013 - Tape Deck Heart
2014 - Polaroid Picture
2014 - The Third Three Years
2015 - Positive Songs for Negative People
2017 - Songbook
2018 - Be More Kind
2019 - No Man's Land
2020 - West Coast vs. Wessex
2020 - Buddies II: Still Buddies
Sons of Liberty
Frank Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without encountering agents of his state or government
But a sorry cloud of tyranny has fallen across the land
Brought on by hollow men, who did not understand
That for centuries our forefather have fought and often died
To keep themselves unto themselves, to fight the rising tide
And that if in the smallest battles we surrender to the state
We enter in a darkness whence we never shall escape
When they raise their hands up our lives to possess
To know our souls, to drag us down, we'll resist.
Watt Tyler led the people in 1381
To meet the king at Smithfield and issue this demand:
That Winchester's should be the only law across the land
The law of old King Alfred's time, of free and honest men.
Because the people then they understood what we have since forgot:
That a government will only work for its own benefit
And I'd rather stand up naked against the elements alone
Than give the hollow men the right to enter in my home
When they raise their hands up our lives to possess
To know our souls, to drag us down, we'll resist.
Stand up Sons of Liberty and fight for what you own
Stand up Sons of Liberty and fight, fight for for your homes.
So if ever a man should ask you for your business or your name
Tell him to go and fuck himself, tell his friends to do the same.
Because a man who'd trade his liberty for a safe and dreamless sleep
Doesn't deserve the both of them, and neither shall he keep.
The song Sons of Liberty by Frank Turner is a call to arms for individuals to resist the encroaching power of the state and government, and to stand up for their own individual liberties. The opening lines reflect on a time when a person could live their life without much interaction with the government and its representatives, but today, a "sorry cloud of tyranny" has descended upon the land. The song draws an important parallel to the past, stating that our forefathers have fought for centuries to keep their individuality and resist the "rising tide" of the state. The song goes on to say that every surrender to the state, no matter how small, leads to a dark, inescapable place.
Line by Line Meaning
Once an honest man could go from sunrise to its set
In the past, a man could live his life without being bothered by government officials all day long.
Without encountering agents of his state or government
People used to live life without constant government surveillance.
But a sorry cloud of tyranny has fallen across the land
Now, there is widespread oppression and control.
Brought on by hollow men, who did not understand
This oppressive state is the result of ignorant and incompetent leaders.
That for centuries our forefather have fought and often died
Our ancestors have fought for centuries to preserve their freedoms.
To keep themselves unto themselves, to fight the rising tide
They fought to keep their individual freedoms against forces trying to suppress them.
And that if in the smallest battles we surrender to the state
If we submit to even the slightest government control,
We enter in a darkness whence we never shall escape
We enter a life of total darkness from which we can never escape.
When they raise their hands up our lives to possess
When the government tries to control our lives,
To know our souls, to drag us down, we'll resist.
We must resist and not let them drag us down.
Watt Tyler led the people in 1381
Watt Tyler was a leader of a people's rebellion in 1381.
To meet the king at Smithfield and issue this demand:
They demanded to meet the king at Smithfield.
That Winchester's should be the only law across the land
They wanted to follow the laws of a just King Alfred.
The law of old King Alfred's time, of free and honest men.
His laws would free men and promote honesty.
Because the people then they understood what we have since forgot:
The people then understood something we've forgotten.
That a government will only work for its own benefit
Governments usually work only for their own good.
And I'd rather stand up naked against the elements alone
The artist would rather face the world on his own.
Than give the hollow men the right to enter in my home
He would rather be free and vulnerable than let corrupt leaders into his home.
Stand up Sons of Liberty and fight for what you own
The Sons of Liberty should stand up for their rights.
Stand up Sons of Liberty and fight, fight for for your homes.
They should fight to preserve their homes and families.
So if ever a man should ask you for your business or your name
If anyone asks for personal information,
Tell him to go and fuck himself, tell his friends to do the same.
Tell them to go away and leave you alone.
Because a man who'd trade his liberty for a safe and dreamless sleep
People should never give up their freedoms just to feel secure.
Doesn't deserve the both of them, and neither shall he keep.
Those who relinquish their liberties don't deserve them, and will most certainly lose them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EDWARD TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@weepyneurotic3143
This song has always been equally true to any time period as it has ever been. Nothing has changed.
We should fix that.
@ShrugSzn
Definitely one of my favorite Frank Turner songs. Love him
@ianvincent5069
Feels alot more relevant now than it did at the time
@cartman2335
This song is fantastic, I love it
@JS-ce7nt
I wish people would resist the current tyrannical control. Never has this song been more relevant than now!
@Doctor_ko
Some tried they are in prison now
@anotherbloodyfanwriter1941
@@Doctor_ko
We cannot let that stop us, or life shall become a permanent prison from which there will be no escape
@blacksheep6365
January 2022 reads this comment thinking, "now more than ever..."
@RyanDillashaw
Awesome song, with an even more awesome message!
@deathjester127
Every American needs to listen to this song