The quartet recorded two albums together: Let's Cut the Crap & Hook Up Later On Tonight, released on Black Dog Records in 1998, and Kids in Philly, released on Steve Earle's now-defunct E-Squared Records in 2000. Both critically acclaimed CD's were recorded and produced by the band and recording engineer Paul Smith above an auto repair garage in south Philadelphia.
Metz and Vance left the band in 2000, and were replaced by Mick Bader on drums and Joe Hooven on bass. Augmented by Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner on lap steel, this version of the group toured extensively to support Kids in Philly. Marah performed the song, "Point Breeze" from Kids in Philly on The Late Show with Conan O'Brien in 2000. Bader and Hooven left Marah in 2001 and were replaced by Jon Kois (drums) and Jamie Mahon (bass) of Philadelphia psychedelic rock band The Three For Tens.
The Bielankos, with Kois and Mahon, left for Wales in late 2001 to record their third CD, Float Away with the Friday Night Gods with former Oasis producer Owen Morris. It was released on Artemis Records in 2002.
In 2003, Marah returned to the auto garage and recorded their fourth record, 20,000 Streets Under the Sky. The CD was released on Yep Rock records in 2004. The band toured this album with John Wurster (of Indie Rock-stalwarts Superchunk) on drums, Mike Brenner on lap steel, and Kirk Henderson on bass and keyboards.
In 2005, the band entered The Magic Shop recording studio in New York City to record their fifth album with the help of Henderson and two new members, Adam Garbinski and Dave Peterson. The result, If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry (IYDLYC), was hailed by critics as a return to form for the band.
The release of IYDLYC was complemented by the recording and release of a Christmas album, A Christmas Kind of Town, on October 18, 2005. The band, solidified as a three-guitar quintet, embarked on a year-long tour of the US and Europe to support the two albums. Highlights of the tour included Serge Bielanko's intense renditions of "Dishwasher's Dream" off of IYDLYC, as well as occasional performances of "Reservation Girl," an original song that has never been officially released by the band.
Dave Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, and Adam Garbinski at ACL 2006.The band played at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 16, 2006, which was highlighted by a rousing introduction by St. Louis scenester/character Beatle Bob and a cover of The Who's "Baba O'Riley." Marah later played the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 15th, 2006, featuring a spirited performance from the band with Dave and Serge Bielanko jumping over the crowd barriers into the audience. The audio of this performance was released on iTunes on November 7th, 2006.
On September 21, 2006, the band's website announced the release of a live DVD of the IYDLYC tour, entitled Sooner or Later in Spain. The DVD, which was originally recorded and released as a fan bootleg, was released on November 17th, 2006.
Marah, with Christine Smith now a full time member, entered Nashville's 16 Ton Recording Studios in August 2006 to record songs for a new record. In April 2007, the group recorded and mixed additional songs at Brooklyn, New York's Excello Recording. In June, Marah announced that the new record, Angels of Destruction, would be released on January 8, 2008 and previewed the album at a concert/listening party in Philadelphia on September 8th, 2007. Angels of Destruction was preceded by a 6-song 10" EP entitled Can't Take It With You which was released in October 2007. A Christmas EP called Counting the Days was released in November 2007.
The new album was released in early January 2008 to widespread acclaim. Almost immediately afterwards, however, plans for an extensive US tour were cancelled following the departure of Garbinski, Peterson, and Henderson. A statement from Dave Bielenko stated that the current line-up could not agree on tour plans, and that to acquiesce to rhythm section would have represented a "musical regression." Bassist Johnny Pisano and drummer Joe Gorelick were hired as replacements, and in late February the band embarked on a European tour to promote the album.
In August 2008, Dave Bielanko, Smith and Pisano started recording new material at 16 Ton Studios in Nashville. Bielanko has stated his intentions of recording "a lilting beautiful folky record of acoustic guitars, tack pianos, and the stand-up bass".
Leaving
Marah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And cold and wet my man
It's just become this race
To leaving
A pocket full of lint
A pocket full of shit
Matches from the bar
When I'm out on the street
I get light on my feet
[Chorus:]
Sometimes we suffocate & choke & gag
When the air we breathe becomes poison dope
We leave in the morning with blood by our side
Seeking happiness & long lost hope
We dream of new found freedom
But we're just too scared of leaving
Sometimes we dream of new found freedom
But we're brothers for a reason
I rest in my skin
Then it starts again
The whisper on the wind
Behind me like a friend breathing
Even down by the sea
I hear my name on the breeze
[Chorus:]
No matter what
The cat drags in
No matter what
The wind might bring
The road won't rise to meet us friend
Till we listen to the song
We're singin'
When I'm out on the street
I get light on my feet...
[Chorus:]
The song "Leaving" by Marah is a reflection on the struggles of leaving behind a life that's become stagnant and suffocating, in search of new found freedom and hope. The opening lines, "Pitiful shoes, then we stepped in rain, And cold and wet my man, It's just become this race, To leaving" set the tone of the song, where the singer is looking to leave behind everything that's held them back. The theme of leaving runs throughout the song, as the lyrics talk about leaving behind a pocket full of lint, matches from the bar, and seeking happiness and lost hope.
The chorus talks about how the air we breathe has become like poison dope, making it difficult to breathe and choking us. The singer dreams of new found freedom but is afraid to leave, as they're brothers for a reason. The song talks about trying to find some peace and solace, even down by the sea, but still hearing their name whispered in the wind. The lyrics emphasize the fact that no matter what comes and goes, the road won't rise to meet them until they listen to the song within them.
Overall, the song "Leaving" is a powerful reflection on the struggles of leaving behind a life that's become stagnant and suffocating in search of new found freedom and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Pitiful shoes, then we stepped in rain
Our shoes are in poor condition and we got caught in the rain.
And cold and wet my man
My partner is also cold and drenched.
It's just become this race
Our situation has turned into a competition.
To leaving
We are both trying to leave.
A pocket full of lint
My pocket only contains dust.
A pocket full of shit
My other pocket contains useless items.
Matches from the bar
I have matches from the bar that signify nothing.
What reason should I stay?? I say
I question why I should stay in this place.
When I'm out on the street
When I leave the house and venture outside.
I get light on my feet
I feel unburdened and free.
Sometimes we suffocate & choke & gag
Occasionally, our surroundings are suffocating and toxic.
When the air we breathe becomes poison dope
The atmosphere around us becomes poisonous.
We leave in the morning with blood by our side
We depart, taking our unresolved issues with us.
Seeking happiness & long lost hope
We search for happiness and optimism we've lost.
We dream of new found freedom
We yearn for newfound liberation.
But we're just too scared of leaving
However, we are too frightened to depart.
But we're brothers for a reason
Despite our differences, we have a close bond.
I rest in my skin
I feel content with myself.
Then it starts again
However, the cycle begins anew.
The whisper on the wind
I hear a faint voice on the breeze.
Behind me like a friend breathing
It feels like a friend is right behind me.
Even down by the sea
Even while I'm at the ocean.
I hear my name on the breeze
I can hear someone calling my name in the wind.
No matter what, the cat drags in
No matter what we do, consequences ensue.
No matter what, the wind might bring
We cannot predict what may come with the wind.
The road won't rise to meet us friend
We can't expect everything to work out easily.
Till we listen to the song
Unless we actively listen to the message we're hearing.
We're singin'
We're singing our own tune.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID BIELANKO, SERGE BIELANKO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind