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
Where Have You Been
Manchester Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard you're comin' back to life just for the fourth
I've been catchin' all your ghosts for every season
I pray to God that you won't come back here anymore
Do you pray with him too?
They should deliver all my blessings
In small brown paper handbags near the porch
While I sat and watched you reading with the Lord
I read with him, too
When you look at me
I'll be digesting your legs
'Cause I can hardly see what's in front of me
These days and those days too
I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin'
I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin' for you
I've got to break what I'm makin'
And turn it into nothin'
I've got to break what I'm making
And turn it into nothin' for you
When you look at me
I'll be digesting your legs
'Cause I can hardly see, what's in front of me
These days and those days too
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, oh God, where have you been?
God, my God, my God
Where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, God, where have you been?
The lyrics to Manchester Orchestra's song "Where Have You Been" are intentionally ambiguous, allowing the listener to interpret them in their own way. However, one common interpretation is that the song is about loss and grief. The opening lines "They call holidays an option for a reason / I heard you're coming back to life just for the fourth" suggest that the singer is struggling to cope with the absence of a loved one who used to be present during holidays. The line "I've been catching all your ghosts for every season" reinforces this idea that there is someone they have lost who continues to haunt them.
The next verse continues to explore this sense of loss and regret. The singer regrets not realizing that the loved one was hurting, as shown in the line "I wished I'd known that you were bleeding / While I sat and watched you reading with the Lord". The reference to the Lord again suggests that the singer may be grappling with issues of faith and spirituality as they try to come to terms with their loss.
The chorus repeats the question "God, where have you been?" which can be interpreted as a cry of desperation from the singer who is struggling to find meaning in their suffering. The closing lines "God, where have you been? / God, God, where have you been?" repeat the question, emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation and helplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
They call holidays an option for a reason
People have the choice to celebrate holidays or not for a specific motive
I heard you're comin' back to life just for the fourth
It is rumored that the person is reviving for a specific occasion or celebration
I've been catchin' all your ghosts for every season
The singer has been holding onto the memory of the person throughout different times of the year
I pray to God that you won't come back here anymore
The artist hopes and asks for it to not encounter the person again
Do you pray with him too?
The artist is asking if the person also prays to God
They should deliver all my blessings
The singer believes that blessings should be immediately available and accessible
In small brown paper handbags near the porch
The singer suggests that blessings should be found in a small and simple way
I wished I'd known that you were bleeding
The artist regrets not knowing or acknowledging the person's emotional pain
While I sat and watched you reading with the Lord
The artist watched the person participate in religious activities
I read with him, too
The artist also took part in religious activities with the person
When you look at me
I'll be digesting your legs
'Cause I can hardly see what's in front of me
These days and those days too
The singer metaphorically describes an intense feeling of affection and obsession for the person, which blinds them to everything else
I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin'
I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin' for you
The artist wants to use their creative output to make something meaningful for the person
I've got to break what I'm makin'
And turn it into nothin'
I've got to break what I'm making
And turn it into nothin' for you
The singer wants to discard their art without outputting anything in order to avoid the person seeing it
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
The singer is questioning and expressing frustration towards God's absence or inaction in their life
God, oh God, where have you been?
God, my God, my God
Where have you been?
The singer pleads and questions God's whereabouts in a more emotional and personal way
God, where have you been?
God, God, where have you been?
The artist continues to express their frustration and questioning towards God's presence and involvement in their life
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDY HULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DanielHarvey1980
hands down one of the greatest performances of my 41 years.
@RichardJambo
I saw them a few months ago. I have debated this same thing. It’s like shit was that the great band I have ever seen. 36 years of music tons of live shows…
@figvania4805
Yep as a musician andy gives with his words
@bobroach2516
This is the single best live recording of MO in my opinion. This whole show is insanely good. But this song in particular gives me chills every time. God bless, y’all.
@huntasoup
The whole show is awesome. I prefer watching it to listening to the studio versions of the songs. Even if I love them as well.
@dreed4069
Still listening to this song and live show 8 years later...best..band...ever
@meltedmarshplays
This is incredible.
Still nothing beats the show where Preston Lacey came on and sang the chorus and bridge and then all of Brand New walked on with their instruments and did the final jam with them.
@huntasoup
Jesse Lacey ;) and yes, it was awesome. My two favorite bands together performing one of the best songs ever. What else could I ask for?
@nanocheney
Preston Lacey 😂
@samgoodey2364
Best song I’ve ever seen sung live and always will be