The band was… Read Full Bio ↴JJ72 were a rock band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
The band was formed in 1999 by lead singer Mark Greaney and drummer Fergal Matthews. The two recruited the third and final member Hilary Woods as bassist and formed the trio, playing gigs in Ireland while still studying for their Leaving Cert exams. In June 2006 JJ72 announced they will split after seven years and two acclaimed albums.
The band released their first album, JJ72 in Autumn, 2000, following the completion of their Leaving Cert. Released to great acclaim by music journalists and the music buying public alike, the album has sold in excess of 500,000 copies in their native Ireland and the United Kingdom. The album spawned the singles; Snow, October swimmer, Long way south, Oxygen and Algeria, and saw the band tour Europe, the US and Japan.
The band followed the release of the first album with the release of their second album, I To Sky in October 2002. This release was panned by critics; however, it did reach the top 5 of the Irish album charts and the top 20 of the British charts, which led to the singles; Formulae (22) and Always and Forever (42) being released from that album.
In March 2003 bassist Hilary Woods left the band citing 'to pursue other interests' as the cause. Greaney and Matthews recruited another bassist, Canadian-born Sarah Fox, and the band continued as a three piece. After a two year silence, the band embarked on their first tour with Sarah Fox in May 2005 and released the download and 7" only single She's Gone. A second new single, Coming Home followed quietly in August 2005, peaking at number 52 in the UK charts. A second, small venue tour followed in September 2005, with Mark Greany sounding his frustrations regarding the release of the third album. The band completed work on a new album (rumored to be titled 'On' or 'Heaven City Falls'), however this album was never released due to a dispute with Lakota and Columbia Records/Sony. Songs that were tipped to be on the album include: 'Take From Me', 'Rainfalls', 'Underground', 'Maria', 'Everything', 'Radio' and 'Some Day'.
In June 2006 JJ72 announced they will split after seven years and two acclaimed albums. The lead singer Mark Greaney is reportedly working on a new project, for which details are yet to be revealed.
A statement on the band's website (now defunct) stated: "We remember everything, from mechanical birds in Japan to angels in arid Arizona, from broken bones and Berlin birthdays to predatory Portsmouth spiders. For those who disliked and perhaps despised (gasp) JJ72, thank you - how did beautiful photographs exist without a negative?! We crafted two monuments of magnificence for the future aural pleasure and pain of all would be JJ believers and doubters....and for those who care not for the passing of the petulant yet powerful pup....shame on you! Thank you to Hilary Woods for being a dazzling damsel and thank you to all who played music in/with the band. You know who you are. "
The band had started an online diary at www.jj72.blogspot.com which is no longer updated.
October Swimmer
JJ72 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I awoke my insides shuddered
The grey coats of the infantry
Victims looking for sympathy
The splash of October swimmers
The cheers of Helsinki winners
My barbed bones of futility
Leaking morrow of ability
You don't need anyone
I want to be a happy boy
This means that you must employ my lies
When I want you
I don't need anyone
The lyrics to JJ72's song "October Swimmer" can be interpreted in several ways. The opening line "The dreams of dying mothers" suggests that the singer is haunted by thoughts of the past, perhaps reflecting on his own mortality. This is reinforced by the line "I awoke my insides shuddered," which suggests a sense of fear or anxiety.
The reference to "grey coats of the infantry" and "victims looking for sympathy" could be a critique of the military industrial complex and the ways in which soldiers are often used as pawns in political conflicts. The line "barbed bones of futility" also suggests a sense of impotence or frustration in the face of larger forces.
The reference to "October swimmers" and "cheers of Helsinki winners" could be a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the dark imagery of the other lines, these two lines suggest a sense of hope and resilience.
The chorus, "I don't need anyone/ You don't need anyone/ I want to be a happy boy/ This means that you must employ my lies/ When I want you/ I don't need anyone," suggests a sense of isolation and a desire for control. The singer wants to be happy, but he believes that in order to do so, he must manipulate others and tell lies.
Overall, the lyrics to "October Swimmer" are open to interpretation, but they suggest a sense of struggle and resilience in the face of larger forces, as well as a sense of isolation and a desire for control.
Line by Line Meaning
The dreams of dying mothers
Thoughts of mothers dying haunt me
I awoke my insides shuddered
I woke up feeling uncomfortable
The grey coats of the infantry
Soldiers wearing grey clothing
Victims looking for sympathy
People who want pity
The splash of October swimmers
Hearing the sound of swimmers in October
The cheers of Helsinki winners
The sound of applause from winners in Helsinki
My barbed bones of futility
My hopeless and ineffective situation
Leaking morrow of ability
Losing my capability and potential
I donβt need anyone
I can manage on my own
You don't need anyone
You can also manage on your own
I want to be a happy boy
I desire to be joyful
This means that you must employ my lies
I must deceive others in order to maintain my persona
When I want you
When I need help
I donβt need anyone
I can manage on my own
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK WILLIAM GREANEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patrickryan5570
I used to go and see JJ72 play live in London - They were awesome and those nights everyone just went mad dancing - Ireland has produced so much great music over the years.
@scammelljones6545
Love this song ! A truly unsung classic and I am a 50 something muso should have been a number one
@krawen3786
Nam and his powers β€ Army are very fast β€ I love it. Thanks Nam
@adelemarieish
I lost my cd years ago, so happy to have discovered this. It brings back so many memories. thank you.
@TheRealMitsuki
I found a cd at a second hand store. I don't regret getting it tbh :]]
@simonkim7462
Awesome band, i really like jj72 . They should be much famous .
@ohitskhaoula
i'm never disappointed on the music bts show us..i'm glad i discover this masterpiece today
@LianaSC
#RMusic bring me here, I love it
@melanyperez4749
WAOOO IS INCREDIBLE π¨π¨ ME ENCANTAAA NAMJOON I LIKE IT WAOOO THE NICE VOICE I LOVE SO MUCH πππΆπΆπΆπΆ
@sugaswifepersonally7762
So niceπ΅πΆππ