Day eventually signed a recording contract with major label Epic Records in 2002 and has since re-released his debut as well as producing a follow up, Stop All The World Now. Despite initially sluggish sales, Stop All The World Now was certified gold in early 2005 and has produced a number of singles, including "Collide", Day's most successful to date, and the hit "She Says". The track became Epic Records’ first platinum single, eventually selling 1.5 million downloads.
After a five year tour before the release of Stop All The World Now followed by a three year tour, Day took some time off and focused on writing music. Since then Day released his Be There EP in May 2009 which will be followed by Sound The Alarm in September 2009.
Stop All the World Now (2003–2008)
After the EP's release, Day relocated to London, England to record Australia's follow up, which was provisionally titled From a Northern Sky. The album, which would eventually become Stop All The World Now, was recorded in London's famous Olympic Studios with Martin "Youth" Glover, the bassist for British band Killing Joke, whose previous production credits included The Verve's Urban Hymns, one of Howie's favorite albums.
While certain tracks on Australia had featured session musicians, Stop All The World Now saw Howie joined for the first time by a permanent backing band, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Les Hall, drummer Laurie Jenkins and ex-Verve bassist Simon Jones. In addition, the majority of the album's songs were co-written with either Better than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin or Jump Little Children's Jay Clifford.
A full band tour to promote Stop All the World Now began on September 27, 2003. Due to other commitments, Simon Jones was unable to tour with the group and was replaced by Jeremy Curtis. The album was released one week and three days later on October 7 to tepid critical reactions. Rolling Stone's Pat Blashill referred to Stop as "not bad" but "indistinct", but Popmatters' Devon Powers noted that though Australia had been an album one falls for passionately, "Stop All the World Now is an album you have a crush on, not one you fall deeply, complexly, and foolishly in love with. And crushes have a way of disappearing suddenly, without a trace."Stop
Sales of Stop were initially sluggish, but slowly began to rise beginning in late 2004 with the single release of ballad "Collide", which became a popular radio hit and was featured on TV shows such as Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Bones, and One Tree Hill as well as soundtracking a promotional trailer for the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Stop was finally certified gold in early 2005. Fan favourite "She Says", which was first released on 1998's White EP, was released as a follow-up to "Collide", although as of 2006 it has not achieved the same success, it became a mid-level hit.
Boosted by the slow burning success of Stop All the World Now, Epic released the Live From... EP on December 6, 2005. The 7-track EP contains live renditions of songs from Australia and Stop All the World Now as well as a cover of Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over". The EP has not been widely reviewed, though Allmusic referred to the release as "holiday market product," "tepid", and "directionless".
Sound The Alarm (2009)
Howie Day released his third full length, "Sound The Alarm", under the Epic music label on September 8, 2009. After an extensive tour schedule following the release of "Stop All The World Now", Day decided to take some time off, during which he sorted through his emotions by writing songs, many of which have made their way onto Sound the Alarm. “I toured for five years straight before Stop All The World Now came out, then for three years non-stop after it was released," Day says.
To get his desired range of sounds and moods, Day recorded in a variety of locations, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Minneapolis, and Bloomington, Indiana, between the spring of 2006 and fall of 2008. He also collaborated with several musicians and producers, including Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall), Mike Denneen (Aimee Mann, Fountains of Wayne), Mike Flynn (The Fray, Augustana), Warren Huart (The Fray, Augustana, Better Than Ezra]) and Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin — each one of them an expert in pulling superlative performances out of the artists they work with.
Everything Else
Howie Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
won't let them win
she'll make you come
right back and let her in
for the one that you love
is more than them fuck them
think about her now
she's yours anyway
and everything else doesn't matter
really 'cause that girl that you want
she's never going away
and if you want her you can't have her
break yourself into a million pieces
everything else can wait for you
so everything else can wait for you to do
they will all just go away
all of those demons
enjoy this life right now
you know what you're to do
and letters
yes they matter write her quite a few
and she might love you for it
but you can't count on it
and i'm screaming for the breath
that makes you alive
you want that girl
for all that you can try
once you have her
i know she'll be so great for you
i know she'll try something
inside you you are everything else
The lyrics in Howie Day's song "Everything Else" are about a man who is consumed by his love for a woman. The woman is the only thing that matters to him, and he compares her to everything else in his life that doesn't matter. The man encourages himself to not let the blurred pictures in his head win and to focus on the person he loves. He asserts that this person is the most important thing in his life and is worth fighting for. The man acknowledges that loving this woman may mean breaking himself into a million pieces, but he is willing to do so for her.
The chorus "everything else doesn't matter really 'cause that girl that you want she's never going away" emphasizes the man's point that love is the most important thing; nothing else matters if he doesn't have the woman he loves. The verses describe the man's efforts to win the woman's heart, including writing her letters and declaring his love for her. The song ends with the man screaming for the breath that makes him feel alive and affirming that he is everything else.
Line by Line Meaning
pictures blurred in her head
Her memories are hazy, indistinct and unclear.
won't let them win
She refuses to let her past experiences dictate her future.
she'll make you come
She will win you over with her charm and personality.
right back and let her in
Allow her back into your life.
for the one that you love
The person you love the most.
is more than them fuck them
Their opinions and criticisms do not matter.
think about her now
Reflect on the person you love.
she's yours anyway
You have already won her heart.
and everything else doesn't matter
The only thing that is important is the person you love.
really 'cause that girl that you want
She is the only one that matters.
she's never going away
She will always be in your heart and mind.
and if you want her you can't have her
You cannot force her to feel the same way about you.
break yourself into a million pieces
It is painful to love someone who cannot love you back.
everything else can wait for you
Other things in life can be put on hold until you win her over.
so everything else can wait for you to do
Focus solely on winning her affection.
they will all just go away
The doubts and fears you have will eventually fade away.
all of those demons
Your own personal issues and problems.
enjoy this life right now
Live in the moment and appreciate what you have.
you know what you're to do
You know what steps you need to take to win her over.
and letters
Written correspondence.
yes they matter write her quite a few
Sending her heartfelt letters can demonstrate your love and commitment.
and she might love you for it
It is possible that she will reciprocate your feelings.
but you can't count on it
There is no guarantee that she will fall in love with you.
and i'm screaming for the breath
I am desperate to feel alive and regain a sense of purpose.
that makes you alive
The feeling of being alive and invigorated.
you want that girl
You desire the person you love.
for all that you can try
You will do everything in your power to win her affection.
once you have her
Once she reciprocates your feelings and loves you back.
i know she'll be so great for you
I know that she will bring happiness and joy into your life.
i know she'll try something
She will make an effort to make you feel loved and valued.
inside you you are everything else
You contain multitudes, but the person you love is the most important part of you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOWIE DAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind