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.
If I Could
Hundred Reasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scenes of violence protect this
In aching heart that will begin
To wrestle with obstruction
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
Coping as best as you can with;
The way it is does not have to be
As long as it stays unwritten
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
Speak to me in tongues
And you speak in tongues to me
Speak to me in tongues
And you speak in tongues to me
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
And I'd stay for ages,
And I'd stay for ages to wake you
The lyrics of Hundred Reasons's song If I Could paint a picture of two people who are struggling with inner turmoil and external obstacles. The first two lines - "It's whereabouts that won't cave in/Scenes of violence protect this" - suggest that the individual is searching for something but is struggling to find it amidst a world that can be harsh and violent. The next two lines - "In aching heart that will begin/To wrestle with obstruction" - further emphasize this sense of struggle and the pain that accompanies it. The individual wants to stay and help the other person, to "wake them up", but it is clear that this is no easy task.
The theme of struggle continues in the next two lines - "In taking hold to waste within/Coping as best as you can with" - which express the idea that sometimes we hold on to things that are hurting us, but we do the best we can with what we have. The final two lines of each verse echo the desire to help the other person: "And I'd stay for ages, if I could/To wake you". The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the importance of this desire, while also indicating that it may be difficult or even impossible to achieve.
The chorus brings a different, more mystical element to the song as the singer either imagines or recalls a conversation with the other person "Speak to me in tongues/And you speak in tongues to me". This could suggest a deeper level of communication, perhaps one that transcends language barriers or conventional understanding. Nonetheless, the underlying theme remains - the desire to "wake up" or help the other person, at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
It's whereabouts that won't cave in
The location is strong and stable, unlikely to crumble or collapse.
Scenes of violence protect this
Violent incidents keep this place secure and guarded.
In aching heart that will begin
A heart that is starting to feel pain and sadness.
To wrestle with obstruction
To struggle with something blocking your path or progress.
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
I would stay with you for a long time if I could, just to wake you up.
In taking hold to waste within
Holding onto something that is worthless or harmful and will only lead to more pain.
Coping as best as you can with;
Dealing with a difficult situation as well as you can, even if it's not perfect.
The way it is does not have to be
Just because things are a certain way now, doesn't mean they have to stay that way forever.
As long as it stays unwritten
As long as it's not definitive or set in stone, there is still room for change and improvement.
Speak to me in tongues
And you speak in tongues to me
Let's communicate in a way that is beyond typical language and understanding.
And I'd stay for ages, if I could
To wake you
I would still stay with you for a long time if I could, just to wake you up.
And I'd stay for ages,
And I'd stay for ages to wake you
I would stay with you for a long time in order to help you, even if it takes a while.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JACK HODY JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind