Jacob Marshall and Dave Elkins began what would become Mae by writing their first song, "Embers and Envelopes", in Marshall's living room. The band signed with Tooth and Nail Records and released their first album, Destination: Beautiful, in 2003. They released their second full-length album, The Everglow, in 2005. The band toured extensively to promote it, and also performed on the Vans Warped Tour. Mae re-released The Everglow in 2006, adding three new songs and a 2-hour DVD.
Later in 2006, the band announced that they had fulfilled their contract with Tooth & Nail and signed to Capitol Records for their third full-length album. Mae began recording the album in the fall of 2006, working with producer Howard Benson (who has produced albums for Saosin, My Chemical Romance, and Relient K). It is titled Singularity and was released on August 14, 2007. On June 19, 2007, the band released their first single from the upcoming album titled "Sometimes I Can't Make It Alone".
Mae split ways with Capitol Records in 2008. The band has embarked on a year-long independent project, releasing one song every month with all proceeds going to benefit humanitarian projects of the band's choosing. The first four months were compiled into the (m)orning EP. The next four months will be released as (a)fternoon and the final four as (e)vening.
According to Elkins in a 2003 interview, while the band members are Christians, Mae is not a "Christian band".
On September 24, 2007 Mark and Rob parted ways with Mae.
The two replacement members for touring are 20-year-old Josiah Schlater on bass and Robert Smith on keyboards. Schlater and Smith are members of the band Tokyo, also from Virginia Beach.[5]Official site: http://www.whatismae.com
Current band members
* Dave Elkins · Guitar/Vocals
* Zach Gehring · Guitar
* Jacob Marshall · Drums
There was also a Danish band called Mae, a post-rock/indie/ambient band formed in 2000 somewhere in Jutland. Mae hasn't released a full album, but they have released one demo and two EPs, the first called ”50stars”, the second "mae" and the third "The Silence & Us". Official site: http://www.mae.mymusic.dk
Novocaine
MAE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet there's so many here, see the faces, they're glad they came
A city sucking all the life in me
So I've been using you to get what I need
It's not so typical, so hypocritical for me to act this way
But novocaine sets in and I pretend the real is fake
See the (marcher?) strike up his band to play
Oh, novocaine
Just get it out of me, it's getting hard to breathe again
I'm going insane
So in the state I'm in, I'd give in to almost anything
I'm not the monster that you claim I am
If I could shed some light in here, then I could make you understand
It's not this atmosphere that makes you become
What it is you hate the most, 'cause being dead is feeling numb
Oh, novocaine
Just get it out of me, it's getting hard to breathe again
I'm going insane
So in the state I'm in, I'd give in to almost anything
Novocaine
This is the way I feel, just another vicious (?)
Spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning, (inside of me?)
The weight of it can crush you, still you (?)
There's light here at this tunnel's end
All I can do is (?) give it away till you feel something
And let the light in
I'll keep on searching here 'cause I think I could
Just get me off the streets of hollow Hollywood
All systems in place [repeat]
The song Novocaine by MAE begins with the singer expressing frustration about the monotony of life in the city, where all streets look the same and everyone appears content despite the lack of vibrancy. The city drains the life out of the singer and out of desperation, they begin using someone to fill the void. The chorus of the song is an appeal to be rid of the numbness that has set in, brought on by the use of Novocaine, a medication used for pain relief that can lead to temporary anesthesia or numbness. The singer pleads with someone to help them feel alive again, admitting they are on the verge of insanity and willing to do almost anything to break free from the feeling of detachment.
The second verse seems to address the singer's reputation and a potential misunderstanding of who they really are. They suggest that shedding light on the situation may help people understand their behavior is not due to a personal flaw but rather the atmosphere they find themselves in that numbs them. The singer acknowledges that numbness leads to a feeling of being dead, and they are searching for something to help them come back to life. The bridge seems to touch on the idea that there is hope for a breakthrough and the potential for the light to flood back in.
Overall, the song is a cry for help from someone who feels stuck in a cycle of numbness and desperation. The singer seeks a way out, knowing that the path they are on is unsustainable and that they need help to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Why does every street here look the same?
Despite the diversity of faces, the streets still seem to feel monotonous and unchanging.
Yet there's so many here, see the faces, they're glad they came
Although the city is overwhelming, many people seem happy to be there.
A city sucking all the life in me
Living in this city seems to be draining the singer of vitality and energy.
So I've been using you to get what I need
The singer is using someone else to fulfill their needs, likely because they feel empty themselves.
It's not so typical, so hypocritical for me to act this way
The singer recognizes that their actions may seem hypocritical or out of character for them.
But novocaine sets in and I pretend the real is fake
The singer is using novocaine as a metaphor for numbing themselves to reality and pretending that everything is okay.
See the (marcher?) strike up his band to play
The singer sees someone else playing music, likely as a form of escape or release.
The music screams in me but I don't hear a single thing
Despite the external music, the singer is unable to connect with it internally and feels numb or disconnected.
Oh, novocaine
Repeating the title, the singer emphasizes the idea of being numb or disconnected.
Just get it out of me, it's getting hard to breathe again
The singer is desperate to break free from this numbness and regain their ability to feel and breathe deeply.
I'm going insane
The singer feels like they are losing their grip on reality or their sense of self.
So in the state I'm in, I'd give in to almost anything
Feeling vulnerable and lost, the singer is willing to do almost anything to feel better or find their way again.
I'm not the monster that you claim I am
Addressing someone else, the singer refutes the idea that they are a bad or evil person.
If I could shed some light in here, then I could make you understand
The singer believes that if they could just find clarity or a way out of their numbness, others would understand and empathize better.
It's not this atmosphere that makes you become
The singer pushes back on the idea that external circumstances dictate who we are or how we feel.
What it is you hate the most, 'cause being dead is feeling numb
The singer suggests that feeling numb and disconnected is just as bad, if not worse, than being dead.
Spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning, (inside of me?)
Using repetition and a spinning motion, the singer describes the overwhelming sensation they feel inside.
The weight of it can crush you, still you (?)
Despite feeling heavily burdened, the singer seems determined to push through and find a way out.
There's light here at this tunnel's end
The singer sees hope and a way out of their numbness, even if it feels far away.
All I can do is (?) give it away till you feel something
The singer suggests that music or emotions can be shared with others as a way to connect and feel something real.
And let the light in
Ending on a hopeful note, the singer encourages listeners to let light and hope into their lives.
I'll keep on searching here 'cause I think I could
The singer is determined to keep searching for a way out of their numbness and back to real connection.
Just get me off the streets of hollow Hollywood
Referencing the city from earlier in the song, the singer desires to leave this hollow, unfulfilling place.
All systems in place [repeat]
Ending the song with a repetition of this phrase, the singer suggests that everything is in its right place for a change to happen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlessandraMaza
still gets me
@noobspice
not listening to mae for about 2 years, and i re listen to every song, i can remember all the lyrics yet they still seem really fresh.
@abnerd16
This song sounds different. Like, GOOD different. I can't believe they'd compose a song like this but they did and they pulled it off amazingly.
@fahleeshah
the song is about life in Hollywood, how it's very easy to get swept up in the city & to get screwed over as well. the man at the end of the song, his name is Kenna, really good artist.
@doozelle
I'm pretty sure it's Kenna
@benfrenchman
@Hakusan75 Spot on saying it's like MCR. Reminds me of Muse too. Has that ridiculous, excelelnt, overblown sound.
@iamtheshizzforeal
No problem. Thanks for the comment
@Hakusan75
This is an awesome song. Doesn't really seem to fit in with their other songs. It kinda seems like something my Chem would do, but with Mae performing it, yet it still fits. Haha. Thanks for the upload.
@noobspice
awesome. same with squigglysquid.
@iamtheshizzforeal
lol I can understand why I suppose... it was kind of spamming but unless this vid gets featured (which I highly doubt) I had no other way to share the love