Hannah Hooper met Christian Zucconi late one evening on the lower east side of Manhattan. They had both been living in New York for years and had never crossed paths before. But from that night forward the two could hardly be pulled apart. Soon after their connection, Hooper was invited to an art residency in Greece on the island of Crete and Hooper insists "without any hesitation" she invited Zucconi to join her on this journey. "Seriously, we had only known one another for a few days but are both so inspired and alive when we are together that going to Greece seemed like a magical and natural thing to do," recalls Zucconi.
On Crete, in a small remote mountain village, Hooper and Zucconi met the members of their future band "GROUPLOVE" a year before it was officially formed. Sean Gadd, a natural songwriter and guitar player, born and bred in London instantly bonded with the two eccentric New Yorkers. Their relationship became apparent through the music they were making day in and day out. Andrew Wessen, a pro surfer and musician from Los Angeles and his childhood friend Ryan Rabin, an accomplished drummer and producer, were also at the residency and quickly joined in with the musical trio. These five musicians make up the members of what we now know as GROUPLOVE .
Like all good things, the summer and the residency came to an end and the five friends scattered back to their homes all over the globe. With Sean in London, Christian and Hannah in Brooklyn and Ryan and Andrew in Los Angeles GROUPLOVE was faced with the challenge of what to do now. "We all understood how rare it is for five strangers to feel as close as family and create passionate music together. We couldn't just return to Brooklyn and let the music we all made fade into a memory of that summer we had in Greece," explains Zucconi. Everyone pulled their funds together and Sean, Christian and Hannah made their way to Ryan Rabin's studio in LA to record their album. "We seriously had the best time of our lives doing that record," says Gadd. And the result is an incredibly special album where soaring harmonies coupled with sweeping anthems lead you through their powerful journey. Like the members of GROUPLOVE, their music is diverse in influence and style but bonded together by an undeniably creative kinship.
Their experience back together and recording together was so potent that Hooper and Zucconi packed up their lives in Brooklyn and Gadd packed up his life in London and they all moved to LA to live and play their music.
"We never could have dreamt this up," says Zucconi, "but at the same time we're not at all surprised - GROUPLOVE is meant to be. Our story a testament to fate, and our music is something we are ready to share."
Welcome to Your Life
Grouplove Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're such a big mess
And I love you
Yeah, I love you
We're back in business
You're such a big mess
And I love you
Mean man, promised land
Nothing but a devil's hand
Trying to keep saying I feel okay
Telling myself this now for days
Mean man, machine man
I've been nothing but a puppets hand
But nothing ever comes
Without a change
Welcome to your life, yeah, yeah
It could be a fantasy, yeah, yeah
Welcome to your world, my girl
Let it be your fantasy, oh yeah
We're back in business
You're such a big mess
And I love you
Yeah, I love you
We're back in business
You're such a big mess
And I love you
La la, love you
Been wondering, I take a chance
That chance is circumstance
'Cause nothing ever comes without a change
Welcome to your life, yeah, yeah
It could be a fantasy, yeah, yeah
Welcome to your world, my girl
Let it be your fantasy, oh yeah
Yeah, I've figured it out, I've seen the unknown
Like a shot in the dark, I'll carry you home
Ask a wise man, he'll say what's been done
All the roads in this world
Were made by the young, by the young
Hey, here's the deal
We're back in business
Hey, here's the deal
We're back in business
Hey, here's the deal
You're such a big mess
And I love you
Yeah, I love you (Welcome to your)
(Welcome to your)
Welcome to your world, my girl
Let it be your fantasy, oh yeah
Welcome to your life, yeah, yeah
It could be a fantasy, oh yeah
In "Welcome to Your Life," Grouplove seems to be addressing someone they care for deeply. The lyrics are intimate and caring, but also suggest that the person they're speaking to is in a difficult place. The repetition of "We're back in business" seems to imply that the two of them have had similar struggles in the past, but are now starting fresh. The line "You're such a big mess and I love you" reinforces that the singer is willing to accept the other person no matter what.
The rest of the song talks about the difficulty of changing one's life. The phrase "Mean man, promised land, nothing but a devil's hand" suggests that the singer has been living under someone else's control, and has struggled to find a way out. The repeated phrase "Welcome to your life" can be interpreted as a statement of empowerment -- the singer is encouraging the other person to take control of their own life and make it what they want it to be. The repeated line "Let it be your fantasy" is perhaps the most positive and hopeful message of the song, implying that anything is possible if you have the courage to imagine it.
Overall, "Welcome to Your Life" is a song of hope and encouragement, with a powerful message of self-acceptance and self-empowerment. By acknowledging that the other person is flawed but still lovable, Grouplove offers a kind of secular benediction, declaring that whoever you are and whatever you've been through, you have the power to take control of your own life and make it something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
We're back in business
Things are looking up, we’re getting back to where we were
You're such a big mess
You’re in a state of chaos, but I love you anyway
And I love you
Despite your messiness, I still care for you deeply
Yeah, I love you
My love for you is real and unwavering
Mean man, promised land
A corrupt person in power, a place that was supposed to be great
Nothing but a devil's hand
It’s all underhanded and malicious
Trying to keep saying I feel okay
Putting on a facade of being okay when things are not
Telling myself this now for days
Trying to convince myself that everything is fine, but it’s not working
Mean man, machine man
Another corrupt figure, one who operates like a machine without feelings
I've been nothing but a puppet's hand
Feeling powerless and controlled by outside forces
But nothing ever comes
Things will not change on their own
Without a change
We have to do something different to see a different outcome
Welcome to your life, yeah, yeah
This is your life, your reality
It could be a fantasy, yeah, yeah
It might not be what you want, but it’s real
Welcome to your world, my girl
Welcome to your life, to your own unique perspective
Let it be your fantasy, oh yeah
Embrace your life, no matter what it looks like
Been wondering, I take a chance
I'm questioning if it's worth it, but I'm willing to try
That chance is circumstance
This opportunity is based on circumstance, not necessarily choice
'Cause nothing ever comes without a change
If you want something different, you have to do something different
Yeah, I've figured it out, I've seen the unknown
I understand what I'm getting into, even though it's uncertain
Like a shot in the dark, I'll carry you home
I'll take a risk and guide you safely through the unknown
Ask a wise man, he'll say what's been done
If you seek advice from someone wise, they'll tell you to learn from the past
All the roads in this world were made by the young, by the young
The younger generation creates the paths for the future
Hey, here's the deal
Here's what's going on
You're such a big mess
Despite your issues, I still care for you deeply
And I love you
My love for you is unwavering
La la, love you
I really, truly love you
Welcome to your world, my girl
Welcome to the life you're living, with all its unique challenges
Let it be your fantasy, oh yeah
Embrace your life, no matter what it looks like
Welcome to your life, yeah, yeah
This is the reality you're in
It could be a fantasy, oh yeah
It might not be what you hoped for, but it is what it is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTIAN TYLER ZUCCONI, HANNAH BOLTON HOOPER, ANDREW MEKEAL WESSEN, RYAN RABIN, DANIEL GLEASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anna H.
My husband and I adopted our daughter in 2018. She was in the NICU an hour or so away from us so for the first week of her life, so we drove back and forth to be with her. One of our trips, this song came on and I started thinking about the lyrics and just started crying. All of the emotions of the journey to become parents and it sums up how I feel about my daughter and what I hope she feels about the adventure of life - I'll always think of that moment and this song as one of the first times I felt I what it meant to be a Mother. Our daughter turns 3 next month and is the very best little person♥
GROUPLOVE
beautiful. thank you for sharing 🧡
Frank Uvlkan
Hi Anna I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
Flo Larraburu
I'm twenty years old and lost as fuck...when i heard this song it made me realize that I have my whole life ahead of me and not to worry! Thanks Grouplove for making music like this! Much love from a twenty year old in Cali <3
Mitch Videogames
Flo Flowin omg you live in Cali I'm just a 14 year old in Ottawa :/ always wanted to go live in cali
Larissa Manhães
Flo Flowin I hope that now you're still being inspired by this song. I hope it didn't fade and that you're following your dreams! best of luck! 😃
nirn
Mitch Videogames just saying. It's really expensive to live here. Get an education, a good one, and then move here.
Walking Man
I’m coming to Cali in 6 months. Stoked!
Cal !
About to be 20 cause same bro haha,
GreenDaddy
This band is underrated and understated.
They are tight. They are great songwriters, talented musicians, and they give it their all. They sing about big issues.
I just dig them.