The band released their first studio album, Laugh Tracks, on September 16, 2016, and followup, A Different Shade of Blue, on August 23, 2019, both through Pure Noise Records.
For A Tear in the Fabric of Life, Knocked Loose wanted to do something different. Or they may have been forced to. With quarantine upending their extensive touring schedule — “we’ve kind of been consistently on the road since 2014,” says vocalist Bryan Garris — the group found themselves in early 2020 sequestered near Louisville, in Oldham County, Ky., where they’re from. By June, they were hunkered down in a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., focused on writing a concept album. By the end of September they had finished recording.
What they came up with is a six song-EP that expands on the narratives hinted at on A Different Shade of Blue, their 2019 full length, and grows beyond them sonically. It’s the band’s most dynamic and contained offering to date, and a balancing act: a mid-length EP with grand ambitions and scope, one full of new sonic elements and a cohesive aesthetic that hangs onto Knocked Loose’s trademark anthemic delivery.
No Thanks
Knocked Loose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No thanks
No strength to burn my bridges
Sentenced life in hell
I've been ashamed all my life
But I have never felt like this
I put myself in my grave
I need answers
To the questions
That I've never had the words to ask
To embarrassed to ask for help
But to slow to run from my past
So I'm left with the pain I feel
Sentenced a life in hell
You may see me
I may look different
The stress has weighed on my bones
And I can't fix it
Time has passed
I still feel the same
No handouts
No thanks
No strength to burn my bridges
Down
The lyrics to Knocked Loose's song No Thanks are an expression of deep despair and hopelessness. The singer is struggling with the weight of shame and guilt from his past, feeling trapped and powerless to change his circumstances. He rejects any form of handout, recognizing that he needs to take responsibility for his life and make his own choices, but he also acknowledges that he lacks the strength to make the necessary changes. The line "no strength to burn my bridges" suggests that the singer recognizes the need to sever ties with his past, but he feels too powerless to do so.
The second verse continues the theme of powerlessness and hopelessness, with the singer feeling trapped in an endless cycle of shame and pain. He recognizes that he needs answers to the questions he's never been able to ask, but he's too embarrassed to seek help. He feels like he's put himself in his own grave, burying himself alive with the weight of his past mistakes. The repetition of the line "sentenced a life in hell" underscores the feeling of powerlessness and despair that the singer is experiencing. He feels doomed to suffer for the rest of his life, unable to break free from his past.
Overall, No Thanks is a powerful meditation on the struggles of shame, guilt, and powerlessness. The singer's voice is raw and vulnerable, expressing a deep sense of despair that's all too relatable for anyone who's struggled with their own past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
No handouts
I am not looking for any freebies or shortcuts in life.
No thanks
I reject any offers or opportunities that come at the cost of my dignity or principles.
No strength to burn my bridges
I lack the courage to cut ties with people or situations that are harmful or toxic to me.
Sentenced life in hell
I feel trapped in a perpetual state of misery and despair as a result of my past mistakes.
I've been ashamed all my life
I carry a deep sense of guilt and regret for the things I have done or failed to do in the past.
But I have never felt like this
My current emotional state is worse than anything I have experienced before.
I put myself in my grave
My actions or inactions have led to the destruction of my own well-being and future.
And the dirt is spilling in
The consequences of my mistakes are catching up with me and burying me under a mountain of problems.
I need answers
I am searching for a way out of my current predicament and a path towards redemption.
To the questions that I've never had the words to ask
I struggle to articulate the doubts, fears, and uncertainties that plague my mind and soul.
Too embarrassed to ask for help
I feel ashamed and weak for admitting my vulnerability and seeking assistance from others.
But too slow to run from my past
I am unable to escape or ignore the consequences of the mistakes and traumas that haunt me from the past.
So I'm left with the pain I feel
I am alone and helpless in my suffering, unable to find solace or relief from my emotional turmoil.
You may see me
Despite my struggles, I am still present and visible to the world.
I may look different
My appearance or demeanor might have changed due to the emotional toll of my experiences.
The stress has weighed on my bones
The constant pressure of my problems has taken a physical toll on my body and health.
And I can't fix it
I feel powerless and incapable of solving or resolving the issues that plague me.
Time has passed
Despite the passing of time, my emotional pain and turmoil remain unresolved and unaddressed.
I still feel the same
My emotional state and struggles have not improved or changed despite my efforts or the passage of time.
No handouts
I remain committed to overcoming my struggles and hardships through hard work, resilience, and determination.
No thanks
I refuse to compromise my values or integrity in exchange for temporary relief or comfort.
No strength to burn my bridges down
I lack the courage or resources to sever ties with people or situations that are harmful or unhelpful to me, even if it means sacrificing my own well-being or progress.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRYAN GARRIS, ISAAC HALE, COLE CRUTCHFIELD, KEVIN OTTEN, / PACSUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Drew Cooney
Most savage vocals I've heard in a while.
Speluniarz -
I knot this has 4 years, but check out still_bloom (especially their older stuff)
Damian Manigat
I love how the bass is utilized in this band
Signal
This is my favorite song off the album. That fucking riff is so good.
AntiGravity
Been jamming this band since the start and they keep getting better and better its crazy how fucking great they are
Austin Werner
The stereo mix in these tracks is intense
Ethan Sams
for rreeeeeaaal
The Aggro
they jam exceptionally well
Mathew Montanari
the final breakdown is fucking sexy
Treggify
What on earth happened on this track? They sound so over the top angry. It's by far one of the best on the album. He sounds even more high pitched here.