The band announced they had signed with Rise Records and would be recording a new album in February 2012. On June 19th, 2012, the band released a new record, (Everything You Ever Loved). While technically members of "The Wave", along with La Dispute, Touché Amoré, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Defeater, the band has since clarified that "The Wave" was merely an inside joke between those bands and does not represent a particular movement or subgenre in post-hardcore.
Current members:
James Carroll - guitar, vocals
Mike O'Toole - guitar
Luke Schwartz - bass guitar
Matt Carroll - drums
Oak Square
Make Do and Mend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with dark brown molding and white walls.
I search my bank account for traces of the forty-hour weeks
I’ve been working since last fall.
Give me a list of alarms to set,
I’ll tuck myself into bed
and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends.
a silent servant to my monthly rent,
what’s keeping me from sinking in the deep end?
Now there’s something to be said for a firm lack of common sense,
'cause god knows getting in the van isn’t paying rent.
And now my older friends are all getting married with kids,
and I’m just stoked to play a basement.
-
Give me a list of alarms to set,
I’ll tuck myself into bed
and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends.
Another slave to a paycheck,
a silent servant to my monthly rent,
what’s keeping me from sinking in the deep end?
And all I can do is stall
while the plans we make
become grit in the storm drain’s teeth,
and the rain is getting harder every week.
Now the plans we make
become grit in the storm drain’s teeth,
and the puddles are growing deeper at my feet.
Give me a list of alarms to set,
I’ll tuck myself into bed
and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends.
Another slave to a paycheck,
a silent servant to my monthly rent,
I'm sinking, I'm sinking
I'm sinking, I'm sinking, I'm saying I'm sinking again
The song “Oak Square” by Make Do and Mend is a commentary on the struggles of being a young adult in today’s society. The song opens with the singer describing their apartment in the city with “dark brown molding and white walls.” The description of the apartment is a metaphor for the singer’s life, which appears polished and put-together on the surface, but is actually filled with financial struggles and a constant search for stability. The lyrics “I search my bank account for traces of the forty-hour weeks I’ve been working since last fall” highlight the difficulty of making ends meet, even when working full-time.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in a routine and unable to break free from it. The lyrics “give me a list of alarms to set, I’ll tuck myself into bed and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends. Another slave to a paycheck, a silent servant to my monthly rent, what’s keeping me from sinking in the deep end?” illustrate the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of working just to pay rent and bills. The repetition of the final line “I’m sinking, I’m sinking, I’m saying I’m sinking again” highlights the feeling of hopelessness and being unable to escape this cycle.
The bridge reveals the frustration of trying to make plans and dreams come true, only to have them washed away by the storms of life. The lyrics “while the plans we make become grit in the storm drain’s teeth, and the rain is getting harder every week” show that making plans and attempting to build a future feels futile when everything seems to be fighting against you.
Overall, “Oak Square” is a powerful commentary on the struggles of being a young adult in modern society. It highlights the challenges of making ends meet, being trapped in a routine, and feeling like your dreams are slipping away. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced the struggle of being a young adult in a world where financial stability seems out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
I climb the wooden stairs to my apartment in the city
with dark brown molding and white walls.
The singer describes their living situation, with the focus on the details of the building's design.
I search my bank account for traces of the forty-hour weeks
I’ve been working since last fall.
The singer checks their bank account to see if their hard work is paying off, suggesting that they may be struggling financially.
Give me a list of alarms to set,
I’ll tuck myself into bed
and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends.
Another slave to a paycheck,
a silent servant to my monthly rent,
what’s keeping me from sinking in the deep end?
The singer discusses their routine of working hard during the week and trying to relax on the weekends, but feeling trapped in their financial obligations, with the possibility of falling into a deeper financial hole always looming.
Now there’s something to be said for a firm lack of common sense,
'cause god knows getting in the van isn’t paying rent.
And now my older friends are all getting married with kids,
and I’m just stoked to play a basement.
The artist ponders the idea of what it means to make practical, responsible decisions in life, while seeing their peers moving forward with traditional life milestones, and instead finding joy in playing music shows in small venues.
And all I can do is stall
while the plans we make
become grit in the storm drain’s teeth,
and the rain is getting harder every week.
Now the plans we make
become grit in the storm drain’s teeth,
and the puddles are growing deeper at my feet.
The artist feels like their plans and ambitions are futile, constantly being eroded away by the hardships of life, and the feeling that their path is not leading anywhere promising grows stronger.
Give me a list of alarms to set,
I’ll tuck myself into bed
and hope that I can sleep in on the weekends.
Another slave to a paycheck,
a silent servant to my monthly rent,
I'm sinking, I'm sinking
I'm sinking, I'm sinking, I'm saying I'm sinking again
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize the feeling of being in debt and feeling trapped, with no clear way out of their financial struggles.
Contributed by Jonathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
autotonsorialist
if more pop punk was like this then it wouldn't need defending.
Ryan Hiebendahl
Probably one of the best bands in the music scene right now, hands down.
Jamie P
One of the best bands going right now. These dudes are sick!!
vikingwizardeyes2121
And now my older friends, they're all getting married with kids, and I'm just stoked to play your basement...holy shit. That line is so good.
Emile Lord Ayotte
End Measured Miles is the best begining-to-end album I heard in my entire life.
s3thg3ck9
At the live show James was nearly drowning in his own spit, it was hilarious. But the rocked real hard - great show in Austria @ Steyr!
ItEzoOlEsYaTv
I just discovered this band they're really good
Kater Clickbait
It's insane these guys didn't blow up much more. All albums are absolutely solid man..
Mordecai Pandora
their 2nd album "everything you ever loved" was NOT received well by critics and fans alike which really put the brakes on their advance. they broke up for a bit in '13, then regrouped and released "don't be long" in '15 then broke up again.
much of the lyrical content on "don't be long" alludes to their frustration of putting in so much work and never achieving the success seen by other bands of "the wave", such as touche amore and la dispute.
J.H.
100% agree