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.
More You Understand
Howie Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we as two would be the same
i'd fall for you
customized relationships
do you feel the same about
your flirt with love
and your certainty
they would always know the truth
they'd never know who came
and i would fall 1000 miles
and you would fall fast to denial
the more you are
the more you need
the more you understand
the more you understand
the more you know
the more you feel
the more you understand
the sentiments are screaming out
the felony of who's left out
it's not you
you for me - me for you
we can always follow through
this makeshift date
but why give up your love
the way it goes
call her name
do you ever feel the same
and do you know who came
a year ago 1000 miles
how far away we are to smile
too far gone to save
you'll know
the cia is after you
what the hell is there to do but run
we made
a promise to eternity
tucked away for you to see
on you're way you'll be
baffled by relationships
psyched up for the major lift
what you want to say
you're caught to blame
they erased your name
we will always be the same
the same
In Howie Day's song "More You Understand", the lyrics are full of abstract reflections on love, relationships, and the self. The song opens with the line, "1000 years ago today we as two would be the same, I'd fall for you," suggesting that even long ago, two people could fall in love and connect deeply. The idea of "customized relationships" suggests that love can take many forms, and that people can create relationships that work for them as individuals. The concept of the CIA and "knowing the truth" is used metaphorically, perhaps meant to symbolize a feeling of being watched or judged in a relationship. Day then sings, "the more you are, the more you need, the more you understand," suggesting that growth and personal transformation lead to a deeper understanding of love and relationships. The song closes with the repeated refrain, "we will always be the same," perhaps acknowledging that while relationships may change, the connection between two people can remain constant over time.
Line by Line Meaning
1000 years ago today
Reflecting on how things would have been like a thousand years ago, comparing it with the present day
we as two would be the same
If we were alive a thousand years ago, we would have been the same as we are today
i'd fall for you
I would have fallen in love with you
customized relationships
Relationships that can be tailored to one's preferences and needs
do you feel the same about
Do you share the same feelings?
your flirt with love
Your tendency to play around with the idea of love
and your certainty
And your level of confidence regarding your feelings
the cia wouldn't bother you
The Central Intelligence Agency wouldn't have any interest in you
they would always know the truth
They would always have access to the most accurate information
they'd never know who came
They would never be sure who was involved
and i would fall 1000 miles
I would go to great lengths for you
and you would fall fast to denial
You would quickly reject my advances
the more you are
The more you exist in this world
the more you need
The more you require from life
the more you understand
The more you comprehend about life
the more you know
The more knowledge you possess
the more you feel
The more emotions you experience
the more you understand
The greater your overall understanding of life
the sentiments are screaming out
The emotions are becoming overwhelming
the felony of who's left out
The injustice of those who are excluded
it's not you
It's not your fault
you for me - me for you
We are for each other
we can always follow through
We can always commit to each other
this makeshift date
This temporary arrangement
but why give up your love
Why should you sacrifice your love?
the way it goes
That's just how things are
call her name
Think about the person you love
do you ever feel the same
Do you have the same feelings?
and do you know who came
Do you know who was involved?
a year ago 1000 miles
A year has passed since we were separated by a great distance
how far away we are to smile
How distant we are from happiness
too far gone to save
Too late to fix things
you'll know
You will come to realize
the cia is after you
You are being investigated by the Central Intelligence Agency
what the hell is there to do but run
What else can you do but flee?
we made
We agreed
a promise to eternity
A vow to stay together forever
tucked away for you to see
Kept hidden for you to discover
on you're way you'll be
On your journey forward
baffled by relationships
Puzzled by the complexities of love
psyched up for the major lift
Excited for the big changes to come
what you want to say
What you truly feel
you're caught to blame
You are held responsible
they erased your name
They made you disappear, took you away
we will always be the same
We will always be connected
the same
As we were a thousand years ago
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOWIE DAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind