After self-releasing 2007's All Lies and 2008's Lullaby Death Jams EPs to little attention, the band was effectively broken up by the end of 2008. In January 2009, Japandroids signed to Unfamiliar Records for the release of their debut LP Post-Nothing, deciding to continue on temporarily. The album quickly and unexpectedly rose to wide critical acclaim after its April release. King and Prowse were subsequently signed to Polyvinyl and toured extensively throughout 2009 and 2010, playing more than 200 shows in 20 countries and earning praise for their extremely energetic live performances. A compilation of Japandroids' self-released EPs, entitled No Singles, as well as a series of three 7" singles, "Art Czars," "Younger Us," and "Heavenward Grand Prix" were released in the meantime. The tour ultimately concluded on October 27, 2010.
After working on new material throughout 2011, Japandroids announced in March 2012 that their second LP, Celebration Rock, would be released internationally on June 5, prefaced by the single "The House That Heaven Built" on May 15. Similarly to its predecessor, Celebration Rock was also widely acclaimed by critics.
Sovereignty
Japandroids Lyrics
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We'll join our Christian names together
Write all our friends back home
We'll leave tonight and we'll leave together
I'll say, "what airline?," and you'll say, "whatever"
Leave all our friends back home
And we'll find a little place by the water
Worry all our friends back home
I'll do the talking and you'll write the letters
And I'll sing the Beatles and you'll sing them better
Forget all our friends back home
It's raining
In Vancouver
But I don't give a fuck
'Cause I'm far from home tonight
It's raining
In Vancouver
But I don't give a fuck
'Cause I'm alone with you tonight
It's raining, oh
In Vancouver
But I don't give a fuck
'Cause I'm far from home tonight
It's raining, oh
In Vancouver
But I don't give a fuck
'Cause I'm alone with you tonight
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
The lyrics of Japandroids' "Sovereignty" describe a couple who have decided to leave their hometown and start a new life together. They disregard the opinions of their friends and the weather and decide to take the leap together. They talk about starting a family and finding a little place by the water. However, they worry about leaving their friends and family behind, and this is evident in the lyrics. The line "I'll do the talking and you'll write the letters" suggests that they plan to stay in touch with those they have left behind.
The second half of the song talks about the present moment. The weather is terrible, and it's raining in Vancouver, but the lyrics suggest that the couple is content in each other's company. They don't care about the bad weather or being far from home because they have each other. The song has a romantic undertone, and the lyrics suggest that the couple is embarking on a new adventure together, leaving behind their old life and creating a new one with each other.
Overall, "Sovereignty" is a song about taking a leap of faith and starting a new life with someone you love. It's about leaving the past behind and embracing the present and future with your partner. The lyrics suggest that the couple is ready for the challenges that lie ahead, and they are content knowing that they have each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Forget their blessing and forget the weather
We don't need anyone's permission to be together, and weather doesn't influence us.
We'll join our Christian names together
We will get married and change our last names to reflect our union.
Write all our friends back home
We will inform our friends that we are leaving town and they won't see us anymore.
We'll leave tonight and we'll leave together
We will depart tonight and we will not leave each other's side.
I'll say, "what airline?," and you'll say, "whatever"
It does not matter which airline we use to fly out of town, we will go together.
Leave all our friends back home
Our departure means that our friendship with them is over, at least for now.
You'll talk of sons and I'll talk of daughters
We will discuss what our future children would be like, regardless of their gender.
And we'll find a little place by the water
We will locate a small house by the lake or the sea for us to live in.
Worry all our friends back home
We assume our friends would be concerned for us, but we don't care.
I'll do the talking and you'll write the letters
I will represent us in public or in person, but you will write to our friends and family back at home.
And I'll sing the Beatles and you'll sing them better
I will sing the Beatles songs, but you will do it better than me because we love each other.
Forget all our friends back home
We will enjoy ourselves without thinking about what our friends might say or think.
It's raining
It's a rainy night in Vancouver.
In Vancouver
We are in Vancouver, Canada.
But I don't give a fuck
I don't care about the weather because I'm enjoying this moment with you.
'Cause I'm far from home tonight
We are not at home tonight, and we are happy being away from our past lives.
But I'm alone with you tonight
We are together and don't feel lonely, no matter how far away from home we are.
Oh, oh
This is the chorus of the song.
Oh, oh
This is the chorus of the song.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian King, David Prowse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind