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
Please Don't Go
Manchester Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And make all my plans for the week.
I can talk all night long about those that I love
Well who's strong and who's weak
In her little black box she keeps pictures of Jesus
And the bruises she received again.
In his little black box he keeps his innocence
But she didn't listen, did she?
"Dont go, Darling, don't go"
Realizing that he didn't need her as much
As he needed fixing again
Wasn't half as hard as he thought it was gonna be
Well atleast you're being honest
Don't go, but you never listen, do you?
Don't go, just go, don't go
Can you hear my voice on the telephone
Trying to feel alive again?
Finally realize that I didn't need them at all
Much less to feel alive again
The lyrics of Manchester Orchestra's song Please Don't Go explore themes of desperation, love, weakness, and self-discovery. The singer of the song lies outside his lover's window, making plans for the week ahead and thinking about the people he loves. He contemplates who is strong and who is weak - perhaps reflecting on his own weakness in the situation. The woman he loves keeps pictures of Jesus and the bruises she has received, while the man keeps his innocence and the tears he shed when he begged her not to go.
Despite his pleading, she does leave him and he realizes that he didn't need her as much as he thought he did. He needed to fix himself again, and the realization that he didn't need her is not as difficult as he first thought it would be. He pleads with her not to go, but she never listens, and in the end, he realizes that he didn't need her at all to feel alive again.
The song captures the raw emotions of a man going through a painful breakup. He is trying to hold on to his lover, but at the same time, he realizes that he needs to let go and move on with his life. It's a song about the complexities of love and the pain that comes with letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
On the outside of your window I lie
I am hopelessly in love with you and I often spend time outside your house, dreaming and planning about us.
And make all my plans for the week.
My life practically revolves around you, so I structure my week with plans to be near you.
I can talk all night long about those that I love
I can endlessly speak about the people I care for with passion and intensity.
Well who's strong and who's weak
I'm vaguely interested in comparing our differing levels of emotional fortitude.
In her little black box she keeps pictures of Jesus
She has a few religious items that are significant to her, that she discreetly stores in her own personal place.
And the bruises she received again.
Sadly, she repeats her regrettable habit of staying in an abusive and physical relationship, resulting in visible injuries.
In his little black box he keeps his innocence
Despite his life experiences, he still maintains a sense of purity and virtuousness, a part of which he stores in his personal container.
And the tears when he said "don't go..."
He remembers the heartbreaking moment when he begged his love not to leave him and cried uncontrollably from the sadness of the loss he knew was forthcoming.
But she didn't listen, did she?
Despite his pleas and efforts, she made a choice that was the opposite of what he wished and expected.
"Dont go, Darling, don't go"
A phrase he often repeats to himself, reflecting his mourning and longing for his departed love.
Realizing that he didn't need her as much
He finally comprehended that his dependency on her was not as strong as he believed it to be.
As he needed fixing again
In actuality, he was more concerned about his emotional turmoil and feeling like he needed to be repaired or restored.
Wasn't half as hard as he thought it was gonna be
The task of letting go and moving on was easier than he initially anticipated.
Well atleast you're being honest
He finds solace and comfort in being truthful with himself, even though it still hurts.
Don't go, but you never listen, do you?
Even though he vocalizes his pleas, he realizes that she never takes heed of his words and instead makes her own choices.
Don't go, just go, don't go
His words are desperate and futile, as he wants her to stay but knows she has already left.
Can you hear my voice on the telephone
He is reaching out to her, to have some sort of connection and interaction, even if just auditory.
Trying to feel alive again?
The validation of having someone else care about him in that way makes him feel alive and gives him purpose.
Finally realize that I didn't need them at all
Ultimately, he understands that his own emotional wellbeing and happiness come from within and do not require another person to exist.
Much less to feel alive again
He no longer needs someone else to provide the affirmations that help renew his vigor and zest for existence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jim ho
Just started listening to them today and they remind me alot of a modest mouse sound, their awesomeness is awesome
luis ba
me encanta!!hoy me acuesto conociendo un buen tema
xXLogicXx
Compleatly underrated band in this time of total crap "popular" music.
Andi E
This is one of the few songs which is actually relatable to me. It's so nice too, beautifully painful yet truthful.
Ag3ntW1nd3x
there's no point in even comparing the two bands. They're both amazing bands, unique in their own way
Thank You BabyGurl
This band is quickly becoming one of my faves. Fukin' crazy love...
ethan mead
yes yes and yes, my two favorites. I would give a lot to see those two perform together.
ItsOver9Thousand
Manchester Orchestra and Kings of Leon need to play a show together...2 best bands in the world...
Sarah Jane
Im really getting into this band!
shadwell420
Manchester Orchestra really is the best band to come out this century. Andy Hull is a fucking musical genius.