The autobiographical title represents the band’s hard work and steady ascent to establish themselves on the rock and roll playing field. “Every song on this record reflects everything we’ve gone through over the past three years,” says Glenn Mungo. “It’s a storytelling type of record from beginning to end.”
It’s also a look ahead, as Lansdowne anticipate their to return to the stage. “Touring prepared us to make this record,” says Jon Ricci. “We experienced our fans in a more intimate way — the stories we heard from them, the conversations we had, their frustrations and triumphs — we got a better grasp on the kind of record we wanted to make. We are very focused on making sure we bring the best show we can every night. These new songs were written so they’re at their best live.”
The time spent honing their sound brought Lansdowne back to their traditional rock and roll roots. “We wanted to play from the heart, rather than have people outside of the band tell us, ‘This is what we’re looking for,’” says Mungo. “This time, there were no restrictions. We were able to let out what we’d been holding back for three or four years.”
Formed in Boston, Mass., Lansdowne built their fan base the old-fashioned way: on the road. They performed hundreds of shows across the U.S. and were chosen by Armed Forces Entertainment to perform for two weeks in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Kurdistan, which led to a partnership with the USO to play on American military bases from coast to coast.
After a seemingly endless stretch of tour dates, changes took place: new management, a new booking agent, a new guitarist and a new direction. The band recruited Joey Ariemma, a longtime colleague from Ohio, in time to record No Home But The Road. His contributions, says Mungo, add “different textures and tones to our sound, taking us in the direction we wanted to go.”
Rather than record a full-length album, Lansdowne opted to release an EP. “Rather than one long album cycle, we’ve decided to put out EPs and release music more often,” says Mungo. “With an album, songs that you put your heart and soul into may end up sitting on the shelf. An EP allows us to give all the songs the attention they deserve.”
Completing the equation for Lansdowne was producer Mike Watts, whom Ricci credits with bringing back his soulful, blues-entrenched vocal style. “Mike understood our vision for the music,” he says. “Our previous experiences in the studio were good, and they taught us a lot, but this was the first time I felt I could give100 percent of what I have. Mike embraced my personality from the start, and we couldn’t be happier.”
No Home But The Road is both the culmination of a band finding its true identity and the outcome of that evolution. The result, says Ricci, is a “more confident, comfortable Lansdowne. The first time was trial by fire. This time, we really owned it, and fans will see that. The comment we heard the most on the last record was, ‘Your live show is so much stronger. We wish your record sounded like the live show.’ We took that to heart and that’s why we needed to strip it down, go all out and give people a record they could be excited about.”
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by your side
Lansdowne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The storm bearing down on the sea.
Gotta hold the line and redefine
The man you were meant to be.
Anywhere you go
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know
Rain or shine or firefight ohh,
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know.
Got a past? Well, don't we all.
These days don't come without a price.
You pay in tears and lessons learned,
And save a little with the right advice.
Years from now when they ask you,
When push came to shove what did you do?
Did you tow the line or fall behind,
When you fell did you get up again?
Anywhere you go
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know
Whatever it takes I will follow.
Rain or shine or firefight ohh,
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know.
This moment comes for all of us,
A name when all you wanted was
Just to move along anonymous,
Well I'm sorry but that's not enough.
Today's the day that they'll ask you,
When push came to shove what did you do?
Did you tow the line or fall behind,
When you fell did you get up again?
Anywhere you go
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know
Whatever it takes I will follow.
Rain or shine or firefight ohh,
I'll be close behind,
I'm by your side you know
The song "By Your Side" by Lansdowne is about the importance of staying loyal and supportive to someone during difficult times. The first two lines of the song, "When it rains it pours, you can't ignore, The storm bearing down on the sea." indicate that the song is about facing challenges in life. Despite the struggles, the song encourages listeners to remain steadfast and persevere through the storm. The lyrics "Gotta hold the line and redefine, The man you were meant to be" indicate that the song is about taking control of one's life and becoming the person you were destined to be.
The chorus of the song highlights the loyalty and support that the singer is offering to the person they are addressing. The lyrics "Anywhere you go, I'll be close behind, I'm by your side you know, Whatever it takes I will follow" show that the singer is willing to remain loyal and supportive, no matter what. The repetition of the phrase "I'm by your side you know" reinforces the message of the song that the singer is committed to staying by the side of the person they are addressing.
The second verse of the song touches on the challenges that everyone faces in life. The lyrics "Got a past? Well, don't we all. These days don't come without a price. You pay in tears and lessons learned, And save a little with the right advice" suggest that hardships are a part of life, but they can teach us valuable lessons. The song then asks listeners to reflect on what they have done in the face of adversity. The lyrics "Years from now when they ask you, When push came to shove what did you do? Did you tow the line or fall behind, When you fell did you get up again?" challenge the listener to think about their own experiences and how they have responded to difficult situations.
Overall, "By Your Side" is a message of hope and encouragement. It encourages listeners to stay loyal to those they care about and to persevere through the challenges that life throws their way.
Line by Line Meaning
When it rains it pours, you can't ignore
The difficult times can't be avoided and must be faced head on.
The storm bearing down on the sea.
The storm represents the hard times that are approaching.
Gotta hold the line and redefine
In order to succeed, you must stay true to yourself and redefine what that means in these challenging times.
The man you were meant to be.
Be the best version of yourself during the hard times.
Anywhere you go
I will follow you wherever you go.
I'll be close behind,
I'll be there to support you.
I'm by your side you know
You can count on me to be your ally in all circumstances.
Whatever it takes I will follow.
I am determined to be there for you in whatever ways necessary.
Rain or shine or firefight ohh,
I'll be there for you no matter the challenges you face.
Got a past? Well, don't we all.
We all have a history and past mistakes.
These days don't come without a price.
Difficult times often come with painful lessons and sacrifices.
You pay in tears and lessons learned,
The emotional and intellectual toll of hardship is significant.
And save a little with the right advice.
Learning from others who have been through similar struggles can save you from repeating their mistakes.
Years from now when they ask you,
One day you may look back at these hard times and reflect on them.
When push came to shove what did you do?
In times of crisis, how did you react?
Did you tow the line or fall behind,
Did you stick with your beliefs or let others influence you?
When you fell did you get up again?
Did you have the resilience to recover from failure?
This moment comes for all of us,
Everyone faces moments of adversity in life.
A name when all you wanted was
When sometimes all you hope for is to fly under the radar.
Just to move along anonymous,
To have an average life and avoid attracting attention.
Well I'm sorry but that's not enough.
Being unnoticed doesn't mean you can avoid challenges, you still might face adversity.
Today's the day that they'll ask you,
One day, others will question how you reacted during tough times.
When push came to shove what did you do?
In moments of hardship, how did you respond?
Did you tow the line or fall behind,
Did you remain committed or give up on your goals?
When you fell did you get up again?
Did you have the courage to get back on your feet and try again?
Contributed by Bella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.