Gomez completed an inaugural U.S. tour opening for Eagle-Eye Cherry in October 1998, while the press still offered praise (Spin magazine called Bring It On "a damn beautiful album," giving it an eight out of ten rating). Liquid Skin followed one year later and went platinum in England, and the rarities/B-sides compilation Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline appeared in 2000. A third studio album, In Our Gun, was released in spring 2002. Another hiatus saw Ian Ball relocating to Los Angeles while still working with the band at its new studio in Portslade, England. The dozens of tracks recorded during this time were whittled down and fashioned into Split the Difference, released in May of 2004. By that time, Hut, the group's original label, had gone under, leaving Gomez signed to Virgin (Hut's distributor). Despite all the critical acclaim, the band's album sales never seemed to match Virgin's expectations, and the two sides parted ways later that year.
In 2005, Gomez signed with ATO Records and released Out West, the group's first live album. How We Operate arrived in May 2006, and the band rounded out the year by assembling a retrospective collection of singles, rarities, and unreleased tracks entitled Five Men in a Hut: Singles 1998-2004. Gomez's members were spread across two continents by this point, leading to a three-year gap between How We Operate and the band's sixth studio release, A New Tide, parts of which were recorded individually by the various bandmates and then merged online. Ben Ottewell took some time after its release to launch a solo career, with 2011's Shapes & Shadows marking his first major release outside of the band. Months later, the band released another studio album, Whatever's on Your Mind, with Phantom Planet's Sam Farrar sharing production duties with the bandmates themselves.
Biography by Greg Prato
Sound of Sounds
Gomez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you'd be without her?
You listened, you listened, you listened
To what she said to you
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Of where you're lead to
Yeah
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Yeah, yeah
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Have you forgotten who you are?
(Have you forgotten who you are?)
Have you forgotten who you are?
(Have you forgotten who you are?)
Could you ever stop and wonder
Could you live without her?
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Yeah, yeah
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Yeah
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Yeah, yeah
(The sound of sounds ain't lightning)
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
The lyrics of Gomez's song "Sound of Sounds" speak about the importance of a particular person in the singer's life. The lyrics ask, "Do you ever stop and wonder where you'd be without her?" This line suggests that this person is very significant and has had a great impact on the singer's life. The lyrics then go on to talk about how the singer listened to what this person said to them. The lines "You listened, you listened, you listened to what she said to you" show the importance of communication in their relationship.
The next lines of the song say, "The sound of sounds ain't lightning, the whisper, the promise, the solace of where you're led to." These lines suggest that this person is the most important thing in the singer's life. The singer finds solace in their relationship and the person's promises. The lyrics then repeat, "The sound of sounds ain't lightning," emphasizing the importance of this person.
The song ends with the lines, "Have you forgotten who you are? Could you ever stop and wonder, could you live without her?" These lines suggest that the singer is afraid of losing this person and wonders if they could even go on without them. Overall, "Sound of Sounds" portrays the importance of a significant person in the singer's life and the fear of losing them.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you ever stop and wonder
Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on your life?
Where you'd be without her?
Consider how your life would differ if this special person weren't in it.
You listened, you listened, you listened
You paid attention, you really heard and took to heart every word she spoke.
To what she said to you
You took her advice and guidance to heart.
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
The most profound, impactful experiences in life are not like thunderbolts, they are more fleeting and subtle.
The whisper, the promise, the solace
That still, small voice, the truth, and reassurance that you are not alone, that everything is going to be okay.
Of where you're lead to
Leading you to the place where you can feel most alive, most true to yourself.
Have you forgotten who you are?
Have you lost sight of your true identity?
(Have you forgotten who you are?)
Could you ever stop and wonder
Take the time to consider and acknowledge the significance of this person to you.
Could you live without her?
Would you be able to traverse this journey of life without her by your side?
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
The most powerful experiences in life are not the flashy, attention-grabbing ones.
(The sound of sounds ain't lightning)
Yeah, yeah
Affirmation and emphasis of the previous statements.
The sound of sounds ain't lightning
Reiteration of the most significant experiences in life.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN OTTEWELL, IAN THOMAS BALL, OLIVER JAMES PEACOCK, PAUL BLACKBURN, THOMAS WILLIAM GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Offgridkayaking
Was so proud of my niece yesterday.. she asks want ya want listen to? I said anything ...she asks do I like gomez... Plays a full album.. very proud moment she's 18 and been listening to them all her life .
@neveragoodideatristan1234
can't believe this video has only 25.000 views... this is a masterpiece and Gomez is one of the best band around since 1996!
proud to be a supporter ever since.
@InnerMittenSignal
folk sound
@massimocaligiana5655
Great band
@jeffreyroedel9804
What a ridiculously talented band. Three memorable lead singers. Killer songs. Their 4-year run from 1998-2001 was unmatched for sheer number of amazing tracks. Bring it On, Liquid Skin, Machismo EP, In Our Gun, and Abandoned Shopping Trolly Hotline. It's crazy.
@youtubesucks1111
All the members, especially Ian Ball are truly exceptional. It's a shame they never ended up breaking into the mainstream as much as some other bands of the era.
@imrestored5999
Brings back such good memories. Nice one Gomez👍
@goodeaster1
Oh god what a gorgeous song .my favourite band . Ever.
@MegaPapa1968
They come from just a few miles up the road from where The Beatles came from. Give me these lads from Southport any day of the week. The best, most underrated band the North West has ever produced in my opinion.
@jessgodoy5355
Very moving👍🏽👍🏽Thanks Gomez