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
Substitute
Frank Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She smoldered with a will to save the world
I did my best to help her, yeah I stood shoulder to shoulder
On the front lines with my visionary girl
I wish that she had cared for me
But in the end her ideologies
Occupied the fortress of her heart
And if music was the food of love
Then I'd be a fat romantic slob
Well music, it's my substitute for love
The last girl that I loved she was a low and lusty liar
She set my heart on fire, but made me choke
Her beauty was a sight to see, but she didn't save it all for me
I found other fires by following the smoke
I wish that she had either cared for me or
Let me be
But she chased me from mind and from my home
I wrote her 16 songs, but I ended up alone
And if love is really all that we need
Then even all my singing is never gonna save me
Music it's my substitute for love
Well I've had many different girls inside my bed
But only one or two inside my head
These days I cuddle up to my guitar instead
But oh, what I would give, not to stumble but to really fall in love
And I could substitute my singing for the sound of someone sleeping next to me
Frank Turner's song Substitute is about his failed relationships and how he has used music as a substitute for love. The first girl he fell for was a passionate fighter who wanted to save the world. Frank supported her on every step of her journey. However, in the end, her ideologies took over and she didn't have any room left for Frank in her heart. He tried to win her over by writing 15 songs, but it was all in vain. The second girl he fell for was a beautiful liar who set his heart on fire but didn't reserve it just for him. Frank found himself chasing other fires after following the smoke she left behind. He even ended up writing 16 songs for her, but she didn't care for him enough to let him into her heart. Despite his failed relationships, Frank recognizes that music has been his constant companion that has stood by him through thick and thin.
Frank Turner uses the metaphor of music as a substitute for love, indicating that he finds solace and contentment in creating and performing music. He confesses that he wishes he could fall in love without stumbling and that he wouldn't have to substitute music for someone sleeping next to him. Through his lyrics, Frank is conveying that love can be elusive and that turning to something else, such as music, is a way to bridge that gap.
Line by Line Meaning
The first girl that I fell for was a fair and faithful fighter
The first girl I loved was a fierce and dedicated activist.
She smoldered with a will to save the world
She was passionately committed to making a positive difference globally.
I did my best to help her, yeah I stood shoulder to shoulder
I supported and stood alongside her in her endeavors to make a change.
On the front lines with my visionary girl
I fought side by side with her for our shared vision of a better world.
I wish that she had cared for me
I desired her love and affection for me in return.
But in the end her ideologies
But eventually her beliefs and values
Occupied the fortress of her heart
became ingrained and entrenched in her mind and heart, making her unable to reciprocate my feelings.
I wrote her 15 songs, but still we had to part
Even though I expressed my love and devotion through 15 songs, our relationship could not thrive.
And if music was the food of love
If music could satisfy one's romantic desires,
Then I'd be a fat romantic slob
Then I would be indulgent and hopeless romantic.
Well music, it's my substitute for love
Music has become my replacement for the love I yearn for.
The last girl that I loved she was a low and lusty liar
The most recent girl I loved was a deceitful and carnal person.
She set my heart on fire, but made me choke
She ignited a passion in me, but ultimately stifled me.
Her beauty was a sight to see, but she didn't save it all for me
Although she was attractive, she did not commit to me exclusively.
I wish that she had either cared for me or let me be
I wanted her to either reciprocate my feelings or let me move on.
But she chased me from mind and from my home
But she hurt me emotionally and forced me out of her life.
I wrote her 16 songs, but I ended up alone
Even though I created 16 songs for her, our relationship still failed and I was left by myself.
And if love is really all that we need
If love is truly the key to happiness and fulfillment,
Then even all my singing is never gonna save me
Then all my songs won't be able to fill the void of love.
Music it's my substitute for love
Once again, music has become my substitute and replacement for the romantic love that has eluded me.
Well I've had many different girls inside my bed
I've been with many women physically.
But only one or two inside my head
But only one or two have occupied and stayed in my thoughts and emotions.
These days I cuddle up to my guitar instead
Nowadays, I find comfort in playing my guitar rather than pursuing romantic relationships.
But oh, what I would give, not to stumble but to really fall in love
However, I still yearn to experience true, reciprocated romantic love.
And I could substitute my singing for the sound of someone sleeping next to me
I could replace my music with the sound of a person sleeping next to me, showing that I long for intimacy as a substitute for music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EDWARD TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ForYourHealth744
I am a drummer and Music is my life. I had to let go of a girl I was with for 10 years and it was a damn shame... this song hits me... thanks!
@shengqoo
Keep Faith~
@ericnagel5880
How is life going mate?
@mazdagranby9016
SAME
@danevertt3210
@Eric Nagel he died 3 years ago
@Boodle1066
Love him :')))
@clairebear1295
😥I can relate.
@sjsrs
because he started using that logo when his music was routed in hardcore (search million dead) and kept it when he changed his style
@hotdoggington6962
In response to the comment thread from years ago we can no longer totally follow because of how YouTube changed things -
If anybody picks this up expecting something hardcore, listens to this, and doesn't either laugh their ass off or jam tf out, then that my friends is not a person worth worrying about
@MaXimumN1nja182
It's just a little visual joke for him. He's really into Hardcore and used to be in a HC band (Million Dead). Chill out.