Manchester Orchestra has released several extended plays and six studio albums: I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child (2006), Mean Everything to Nothing (2009), Simple Math (2011), Cope (2014) (as well as its accompanying acoustic version, Hope), A Black Mile To The Surface (2017), and The Million Masks of God (2021). They are signed to independent record label Favorite Gentlemen Recordings, which is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and Loma Vista Recordings.
Manchester Orchestra originated in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. They are named after the English city Manchester, a place rich in musical history (The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, Oasis, New Order, Happy Mondays). Feeling increasingly alienated at his "small-town-Georgia, Christian high school", Hull became so frustrated that he spent his senior year studying at home. Early in their career, the band recorded an album entitled Nobody Sings Anymore. However, it was never released due to the shift in the band's musical direction and personal changes undergone following its recording. The band stated that "the band that made the record was different to the band now." Some of the tracks written for the album were released instead on the EP You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, but Brilliance Needs a Good Editor.
Following You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, but Brilliance Needs a Good Editor, Manchester Orchestra recorded and released their debut album I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child. This album gained the attention of the music industry, and eventually led to their signing with Canvasback. The album was released nationwide July 27, 2007. Guitarist Robert McDowell did not appear on this album. The song Wolves At Night was featured in the video game NHL 08.
In October of 2008 the band recorded their second EP, Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind, with producer Dan Hannon and engineer Brad Fisher. It was released October 7, 2008.
In early September 2008, the band announced on their Myspace blog that they had begun recording their second album entitled Mean Everything to Nothing with producer Joe Chicarrelli (The Shins, My Morning Jacket). On February 4, 2009, the band posted a link to a free download of the single I've Got Friends and performed an acoustic version at The Fly’s In The Courtyard Sessions. The album was released April 21, 2009.
On January 26, 2010, the band released a digital split EP with Kevin Devine entitled I Could Be The Only One. Following the release of the Manchester Orchestra/Kevin Devine split EP, it was announced that Kevin Devine would record a full-length album along with the members of Manchester Orchestra later that year, with half the album written by Devine and half by Andy Hull. On April 10, 2010, it was announced the new project's name was Bad Books, and that the album would be released under that moniker, and not "Manchester Orchestra + Kevin Devine" as previously speculated. The self-titled full-length Bad Books album was digitally released on October 19, 2010, and on CD on November 9, 2010.
On March 2010, in an interview with the Dallas Observer, Hull mentioned that the band had begun work on a follow up to 2009's Mean Everything to Nothing tentatively entitled Let Go of Your Sorrowful Groaning. He also said that the band have around 34 songs they are demoing and that in writing this album he was imagining a "spiritual miscarriage". Later that year in an interview with Rip It Up magazine, the band announced that they were in the middle of recording their third full-length album. Although without a title, they explained that the album was completely different to anything they had released in the past. The album was being recorded with Dan Hannon and balanced between Blackbird Studios (Nashville, TN) and their own Favorite Gentlemen Studios (Atlanta, GA).
On October 23, 2010, during an appearance at Radio 104.5 in Philadelphia, following a Bad Books show in support of their recently released self-titled debut album, Manchester Orchestra debuted an acoustic version of the title track of their new album, Simple Math. Originally scheduled for release in March 2011, the band announced in January of 2011 that their third full-length studio album, Simple Math, would be released on May 10, 2011, as well as announcing the album's tracklist and revealing that the album was set to be a concept album.
For more info, check out their official site: http://www.themanchesterorchestra.com/ca/home
Annie
Manchester Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were a thief, yeah and I was the proof
But you don't ever cry, so no telling the truth
The first time that I tried to run away from you
You gave me a list, said now baby you choose
But it wasn't engraved, it felt more like a bruise
The fear that I once paid for, now was free
But I wasn't afraid then, of who I'd become
In a desperate vain attempt to talk to God
I saw, I saw
Now I'm the same, lost my decree, and it paid for you
I was a liar, I was stuck in the fog
Yeah and you were turned around, I was pretty much lost
I'm first of four that tried to cast away from you
Into the dark, you were a spear
I was holding your head, you were watching me kneel
I was barely born then, I was hardly evolved
I was pacing back and forth to calm the squall
So I ran out of reasons, of places to fall
Would you take my heart and nail it to your wall?
I saw, I saw
Once you reach the top it takes your air
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
Lower than you think you've ever been
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
I don't want to believe it
Stuck in my thought
I've been trying to replicate the mask of God
Now I'm starting to feel it
Now the guilt's falling off
When I turned my eyes around, I learned to talk
I saw, I saw
The song "Annie" by Manchester Orchestra is a deeply reflective piece about the struggles of escaping a toxic relationship. The lyrics describe the singer's attempts to leave a person who is a thief and a liar. The first verse talks about the singer's decision to walk away from the individual, but the lack of emotion displayed by the person keeps the singer from getting the closure they desire. The second verse highlights the first time the singer tried to leave and the emotional manipulation they experienced. The chorus speaks to the emotional weight the singer carries as a result of the relationship, and the bridge highlights a newfound sense of clarity and hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought this time I might just walk away from you
I had considered leaving you for good this time
You were a thief, yeah and I was the proof
You were a liar and I had the evidence to prove it
But you don't ever cry, so no telling the truth
You're not one to express emotions, so you never tell the truth
The first time that I tried to run away from you
The first time I attempted to leave you
You gave me a list, said now baby you choose
You gave me options and asked me to choose
But it wasn't engraved, it felt more like a bruise
It wasn't an official contract, it felt more like a painful mark
Oh, I wasn't ashamed then, of my degree
Back then, I wasn't embarrassed about my academic achievements
The fear that I once paid for, now was free
The fear that I previously paid for was no longer a concern
But I wasn't afraid then, of who I'd become
However, I wasn't scared then of who I might turn into
In a desperate vain attempt to talk to God
In an attempt to communicate with a higher power
I saw, I saw
I had an epiphany
Now I'm the same, lost my decree, and it paid for you
Now I'm still the same person, I lost my authority, and it enabled you
I was a liar, I was stuck in the fog
I was dishonest and confused
Yeah and you were turned around, I was pretty much lost
You were disoriented, and I was utterly lost
I'm first of four that tried to cast away from you
I was the first of four people who attempted to leave you
Into the dark, you were a spear
Going into the unknown was dangerous with you
I was holding your head, you were watching me kneel
I supported you, while you looked down on me
I was barely born then, I was hardly evolved
I wasn't mature enough then to handle the situation
I was pacing back and forth to calm the squall
I was trying to manage the chaos by pacing back and forth
So I ran out of reasons, of places to fall
Eventually, I ran out of excuses and options
Would you take my heart and nail it to your wall?
Will you take my love and treat it carelessly?
Once you reach the top it takes your air
Achieving success can take your breath away
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
Are you empty inside?
Lower than you think you've ever been
Feeling lower than you ever thought possible
I don't want to believe it
I don't want to accept it as true
Stuck in my thought
Overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions
I've been trying to replicate the mask of God
I've been striving to embody divine qualities
Now I'm starting to feel it
Now I'm beginning to experience it
Now the guilt's falling off
Now the feeling of wrongdoing is lessening
When I turned my eyes around, I learned to talk
When I changed my perspective, I learned to communicate
I saw, I saw
I had a revelation
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: John Andrew Hull
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aquiles C
I thought this time I might just walk away from you
You were a thief, yeah and I was the proof
But you don't ever cry, so no telling the truth
The first time that I tried to run away from you
You gave me a list, said now baby you choose
But it wasn't engraved, it felt more like a bruise
Oh I wasn't ashamed then, of my degree
The fear that I once paid for now was free
But I wasn't afraid then, of who I'd become
In a desperate vain attempt to talk to God
I saw, I saw
Now I'm the same, lost my decree, and it paid for you
I was a liar, I was stuck in the fog
Yeah and you were turned around, I was pretty much lost
I'm first of four that tried to cast away from you
Into the dark, you were a spear
I was holding your head, you were watching me kneel
I was barely born then, I was hardly evolved
I was pacing back and forth to calm the squall
So I ran out of reasons, of places to fall
Would you take my heart and nail it to your wall?
I saw, I saw
Once you reach the top it takes your air
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
Lower than you think you've ever been
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
I don't want to believe it
Stuck in my thought
I've been trying to replicate the mask of God
Now I'm starting to feel it
Now the guilt's falling off
When I turned my eyes around, I learned to talk
I saw, I saw
Danish Qureshi
I thought this time I might just walk away from you
You were a thief, yeah and I was the proof
But you don't ever cry, so no telling the truth
The first time that I tried to run away from you
You gave me a list, said now baby you choose
But it wasn't engraved, it felt more like a bruise
Oh I wasn't ashamed then, of my degree
The fear that I once paid for now was free
But I wasn't afraid then, of who I'd become
In a desperate vain attempt to talk to God
I saw, I saw
Now I'm the same, lost my decree, and it paid for you
I was a liar, I was stuck in the fog
Yeah and you were turned around, I was pretty much lost
I'm first of four that tried to cast away from you
Into the dark, you were a spear
I was holding your head, you were watching me kneel
I was barely born then, I was hardly evolved
I was pacing back and forth to calm the squall
So I ran out of reasons, of places to fall
Would you take my heart and nail it to your wall?
I saw, I saw
Once you reach the top it takes your air
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
Lower than you think you've ever been
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
I don't want to believe it
Stuck in my thought
I've been trying to replicate the mask of God
Now I'm starting to feel it
Now the guilt's falling off
When I turned my eyes around, I learned to talk
I saw, I saw
sonicshroom
I don't think any other indie band these days does better at displaying pure, unguarded emotion than this band do. Andy's lyrics are unmatched, thoughtful, deep, profoundly emotional and never over the top.
Corey Dunlap
I think this song is the best one on the album. The production is superb......the production on the whole album is amazing. Andys voice is sounding so good.
Thomas vandeBeek
Album has been on repeat since yesterday, this might as well be my favorite song ! Excellent .
Mitch Z
Mine too. I love the cadence of the singing. Wish it had a bit more of a classic MO pinnacle, but it gets damn close, so I'm not complaining.
Aquiles C
I thought this time I might just walk away from you
You were a thief, yeah and I was the proof
But you don't ever cry, so no telling the truth
The first time that I tried to run away from you
You gave me a list, said now baby you choose
But it wasn't engraved, it felt more like a bruise
Oh I wasn't ashamed then, of my degree
The fear that I once paid for now was free
But I wasn't afraid then, of who I'd become
In a desperate vain attempt to talk to God
I saw, I saw
Now I'm the same, lost my decree, and it paid for you
I was a liar, I was stuck in the fog
Yeah and you were turned around, I was pretty much lost
I'm first of four that tried to cast away from you
Into the dark, you were a spear
I was holding your head, you were watching me kneel
I was barely born then, I was hardly evolved
I was pacing back and forth to calm the squall
So I ran out of reasons, of places to fall
Would you take my heart and nail it to your wall?
I saw, I saw
Once you reach the top it takes your air
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
Lower than you think you've ever been
Are you hollow? Are you hollow?
I don't want to believe it
Stuck in my thought
I've been trying to replicate the mask of God
Now I'm starting to feel it
Now the guilt's falling off
When I turned my eyes around, I learned to talk
I saw, I saw
Dumpy Bear
The voice of a heavily bearded angel.
Eli Burden
The best comment
Todd Conrad
This is music. Best song I've heard in years
Jonnie Lafave
This has to be one of my favorites on the album. So good!
Heather Lambert
I try to pick my favorite song on the album but every time the song changes I'm like "no, THIS is my favorite one!" I'm stuck between a pillow and a soft place!