Their debut album Ideas Above Our Station reached number 6 in the UK album chart, spawned several Top 40 singles and has since gone gold in the UK. The band went on to tour extensively throughout Europe and Japan. Despite selling 35,000 copies of their second album Shatterproof Is Not A Challenge they were dropped by Sony BMG in June 2004.
Hundred Reasons signed to V2 Records in September 2005. Their third album Kill Your Own - produced by guitarist Larry Hibbitt - was released on March 20, 2006 to critical acclaim and sold 30,000 copies.
On August 9, 2006 it was announced on the band's official website that guitarist and vocalist Paul Townsend would be leaving the band following their tour of Japan in early September. The departure is said to be "totally amicable", and Ben Doyle of The Lucky Nine has since joined the band as guitarist.
The band's fourth album, Quick the Word, Sharp the Action, was released on October 15, 2007. Less than a month after the album's release, V2 Records was bought by Universal, leaving the band, once again, without a label and the album was pulled from shops. Because of this, no further singles were released from the record.
Having been given the album by Universal, Quick the Word, Sharp the Action was re-released in Spring 2009. With the band touring to coincide with the release.
Drowning
Hundred Reasons Lyrics
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Never fades away
And the canvas tarnished
It's better taken down
Did it fall on deaf ears?
Were you listening?
Did I neglect to tell you?
That we should change into something
When you almost drowned
And you hindered all the progress
While living in denial
Seems as though you meant it
When you almost drowned
When you test my resolve
Did you stop to think?
For once what you are doing
It's better taken down
The damage you are causing
Was almost far too deep
But the past lies behind us
But we should change into something
Seems as though you meant it
When you almost drowned
And you hindered all the progress
While living in denial
Seems as though you meant it
When you almost drowned
So I'll just stand here
But I won't wait for long
With perseverance
Don't hold out too long [Repeat x2]
Take a step back 'cause it's all you get
All you get [Repeat x3]
Seems as though you meant it
When you almost drowned
The song "Drowning" by Hundred Reasons is about someone who is hindering the progress of the singer and causing harm through their actions. The lyrics describe this person "almost drowning" and how this event seems to have been a turning point in their behavior, but the singer is still wary of them and not willing to wait around for too long. The repeated phrase "Seems as though you meant it when you almost drowned" suggests that this person's near-death experience has not necessarily been enough to change their ways.
The first two lines of the song - "And the picture painted, never fades away" - imply that the singer is referring to a memory that is lingering in their mind. The "picture" could be a mental image of the person almost drowning or a more metaphorical representation of their harmful behavior. The line "And the canvas tarnished, it's better taken down" suggests that the singer has tried to erase this memory or stop dwelling on it, as the "canvas" (or their mind) has become "tarnished" with it.
The line "When you test my resolve, did you stop to think?" suggests that the singer is frustrated with this person's disregard for their feelings and boundaries. The repeated phrase "It's better taken down" indicates the singer's desire for a clean slate or fresh start, but also their recognition that this may not be possible without significant changes on the other person's part.
Some possible interpretations of the song could include a toxic relationship, a dysfunctional family dynamic, or even a broader commentary on societal issues such as climate change or political unrest.
Line by Line Meaning
And the picture painted
The image that was presented and portrayed
Never fades away
Remains in our memories vividly and clearly
And the canvas tarnished
But the image is now damaged and flawed
It's better taken down
It's better to remove it altogether
Did it fall on deaf ears?
Did you ignore what was said?
Were you listening?
Did you pay attention to what was said?
Did I neglect to tell you?
Did I fail to convey the message?
That we should change into something
That we need to transform ourselves into something new
Seems as though you meant it
It appears that you truly wanted it
When you almost drowned
When you were in a dire situation, struggling to survive
And you hindered all the progress
But your actions impeded any advancement
While living in denial
Despite being aware of the situation, you refused to acknowledge it
So I'll just stand here
I'll be here, present and ready
But I won't wait for long
But I won't stick around indefinitely
With perseverance
With determination and persistence
Don't hold out too long [Repeat x2]
Don't wait too long, act now
Take a step back 'cause it's all you get [Repeat x3]
You have limited chances, be mindful of your actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW BEWS, ANDREW GILMOUR, COLIN DORAN, LAURENCE JOHN HIBBITT, PAUL TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind