As soon as Man Alive formed, they had the cards stacked heavily against the… Read Full Bio ↴As soon as Man Alive formed, they had the cards stacked heavily against them. Man Alive started in 1999 in Jerusalem, Israel, of all places. Jamie Hilsden (Vocals/Guitar) Jon Shkedi (Bass, Vocals) and David Shkedi (Guitar) started playing anywhere that Jerusalem would have them, including parties, local clubs, house shows, etc. The crowds in Israel quickly grew and embraced their punk-driven rock sound, and Man Alive became one of the biggest draws in the Israeli underground music scene. Before long, Man Alive knew their music could reach the rest of the world. Shortly, after recording their first demo in 2000, Man Alive received significant industry interest in the U.S. The most interested parties ultimately dismissed the band as not available to tour", or "too much of a financial liability" due to their roots in Israel. Geography, it seemed, was not on their side. Despite these hurdles, Man Alive went on to release two full-length albums with their own money and created a fan base that stretches from Israel, to Japan, Europe and North America. Man Alive has played over 200 shows since 2003, most of which were in North America, and have traveled to over 40 states and provinces in Canada. In the summer of 2004, Man Alive decided it was time to take their newest material into the studio. Enter famed producer Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, Motion City Soundtrack, Etc.). Ed stepped up to the plate to produce and record their new album for a fee the Man Alive boys couldnt turn down. So, at the end of their 2004 summer tour they scrounged together every shekel they could (much of it borrowed from family and friends) and stepped into Blacklodge Recording Studios to create their first professionally recorded and produced album. Open Surgery shows how nicely Man Alives sound has matured since the old days, while maintaining the energy and shout-along spirit of their punk roots. One listen to Open Surgery will take the listener from a hook-driven pop song (Say What You Want), to a punk rock anthem, complete with classic Good Riddance-style choruses (Catch Phrases, Slogans and Chants.) Now, with Open Surgery finally in stores across North America and multiple tours on the way, Man Alive will silence the naysayers once and for all.
Man Alive Released the EP Access Denied in 2007.

Man Alive also refers to the solo music of Kodaline's guitarist Mark Prendergast. First single Be Someone released 8th June. His debut EP Colours was released on 15th September 2023.

Give Me A Sign
Man Alive Lyrics

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Tell me how, how long were you planning to wait for?
Are you in or are you out, give me a sign, boy
You take it in, you take in but you hold on for
For anything, for anything while everything passes you by

Hey!
There's always a reason
(2x)

Tell me how, how long were you planning to run for?
Are you scared or has the shame finally caught up?
You let its hold, you let its hold on you get stronger
You got wrong, you got it wrong, you gotta pick it back up and run

Hey!
There's always a reason
(2x)

Hey!
We don't wanna hear it
Hey!
You've always got somethin' in your way

Hey!
There's always a reason
(4x)

One, two, three, four!

Hey, hey, there's always a reason
(There's little use in running now)
Hey, hey, there's always a reason
(Gonna find you anyhow)
Hey, hey, there's always a reason

(And it'll turn you right around)
Hey, hey, you've always got somethin' in your way

Overall Meaning

The song "Give Me a Sign" by Man Alive delves into themes of indecision, fear, and shame. The singer is pleading with someone to make a decision, to choose whether they are "in or out" of a situation that is passing them by. The lyrics ask how long this person has been waiting and urge them to stop holding onto things that are keeping them from moving forward. The chorus repeats that "there's always a reason," suggesting that even in moments of uncertainty or difficulty, there is a way forward.

The second verse addresses the person's fear or shame, acknowledging that it has a hold on them but urging them to pick themselves back up and keep going. The bridge, with its repeated "Hey!"s and declaration that "we don't wanna hear it," suggests a frustration with the person's indecision and the excuses they may be making for themselves.

Overall, the song seems to be an encouragement to take action, to make choices, and to move forward even in the face of difficulty. Its message is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me how, how long were you planning to wait for?
Man Alive is asking how much longer the person is going to hesitate before taking action.

Are you in or are you out, give me a sign, boy
The singer wants to know if the person is committed or not and is asking for a clear indication of their intentions.

You take it in, you take in but you hold on for
The person is open to new experiences but is reluctant to fully engage and make decisions.

For anything, for anything while everything passes you by
The person is willing to settle for anything but doesn't realize that time is passing them by.

Hey! There's always a reason
The singer is reminding the person that there is always a reason for taking action, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Tell me how, how long were you planning to run for?
Man Alive is asking how long the person plans on avoiding their problems by running away from them.

Are you scared or has the shame finally caught up?
The singer is asking if the person is afraid to face their problems or if they are finally coming to terms with the consequences of their actions.

You let its hold, you let its hold on you get stronger
The person has allowed their problems to have a stronger grip on them, making it difficult to move forward.

You got wrong, you got it wrong, you gotta pick it back up and run
The person has made mistakes but needs to learn from them and keep moving forward.

We don't wanna hear it
The singer doesn't want to hear excuses or justifications for inaction.

Gonna find you anyhow
The person may continue to avoid their problems, but eventually, they will have to face them.

And it'll turn you right around
Once the person begins to face their problems, it will change their perspective and allow them to move forward.

You've always got somethin' in your way
The person has a tendency to make excuses and find obstacles in their path, preventing them from taking action.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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