The band released their second studio album on February 24, 2009 entitled Masterpiece Theatre.
It takes some real cojones to include the word 'Masterpiece' in your album title, but Josh Ramsay isn't too worried. "I suppose I could be digging myself into a hole calling the record Masterpiece Theatre," he chuckles, "but it's tongue-in-cheek. And I'm not the kind of person that people would assume as being an egomaniac. I hope not, anyway."
Given his feverish imagination and comprehensive musical gifts, Ramsay could probably get away with a little egomania. And with the release of Masterpiece Theatre, the frontman of Vancouver's Marianas Trench makes a iron-clad case for a prodigious set of talents - both his own and those of his bandmates, guitarist Matt Webb, bassist Mike Ayley, and drummer Ian Casselman.
Marianas Trench had already elevated itself above the rest of the pack with a 2006 debut, Fix Me, that showcased a knack for colouring outside the lines of factory-issue millenial punk, shrewdly-built pop, and super-adrenalized modern rock. The single and in particular the video "Shake Tramp" was enough to demonstrate these qualities, coupled with Ramsay's uninhibited urge to be the complete song-and-dance man.
But with both the industry and the fans beating down the door for a quick second album, the Trench decided to put on the brakes. "All of a sudden you have six months to do your next record," Ramsay sighs. "So I really had to just put my foot down and say, 'No, I need the time to do this.' I was not interested in putting something out for the sake of putting something out."
Two years later, Marianas Trench has re-emerged with Masterpiece Theatre. And not surprisingly, it's a work of soaring ambition and decisive technical prowess – that easily might not have happened. "It's one thing when you're Chad Kroeger and you just finished writing 'How You Remind Me'," Ramsay states. "I didn't have some mega-platinum song to back up my argument with, so I was lucky that the band and the label trusted me enough to do it."
By "it", Ramsay means he was allowed to indulge a high-concept fantasy for the band's sophomore album, which is built, for starters, around a song called "Masterpiece Theatre". Adopting Brian Wilson's notion of the 'pocket symphony' and then running with it, the three distinct versions of “Masterpiece Theatre” dotted across the record feature an almost perfect balance between the vocal theatrics of Queen and the more hymnal qualities of the Beach Boys.
By the time “Masterpiece Theatre” is reprised for a final, climactic time, every other song on the album is quoted and incorporated into an intricately constructed dramatic revue that swings from pristine pop, to propulsive riff rock, to quasi-doo wop, to robotic new wave, and finally into a wholly satisfying thematic payoff.
"You know in the climax of a musical, there's always that medley at the end, and I thought that would be cool on a rock record," explains Ramsay, "but it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I wrote it in the studio as we recorded it, and it took about three weeks."
After a beat, he adds, "But really it took me two years because it draws from all the songs on the whole album."
Bassist Mike Ayley readily admits, "I don't think any of the three ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ songs could have gone on Fix Me had they been written at the time. ‘Masterpiece’ 2 and 3 in particular are amazing songs that really explore the potential of Josh's writing. You really have to hear them to get it. It's like trying to explain ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to somebody who has only heard Kanye West and Katy Perry."
Ramsay agrees. "I really wanted to have a 'Good Vibrations'/'Bohemian Rhapsody’ style song on the first record,” he says, “but I don't think I was a mature enough writer to have written it yet, and I still feel like I was in over-my-head when we did this one, and I just barely made it."
Ramsay is unnecessarily modest; the whole of Masterpiece Theatre demonstrates a startling compositional maturity compared to the Marianas Trench of two years ago.
"Beside You" is a panoramic exercise in big emotions, with a dash of the Dream Academy's "Life In a Northern Town”. "Acadia" begins with a clipped, bright acoustic guitar, and blossoms into something like the Who reconsidered by U2, reimagined for the net generation. In the crunchy "All to Myself", the power ballad "Lover Dearest", and the strident "Good to You" (in which he duets with Kate Voegele), Ramsay pulls out the kind of honeyed vocals more attuned to modern RnB than white, adolescent rock.
"I always had that aspect in my voice but the first record just didn't have songs that were conducive to me singing that way," he states. "I think it's from growing up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson. With these songs, it made sense to stretch out a little more."
On "Cross My Heart" and "Celebrity Status", the band conjures up a kind of perfect pop crossover. Producer Dave 'Rave' Ogilvie was responsible for the latter track, which cops a move he used on Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" with three drummers (Casselman, Ramsay and Shane Wilson) playing at once - much to Ramsay's delight. "He's just worked with so many great artists which makes his well of tricks and ideas so vast," he says.
True to Ramsay's quest for "more diversity on this album" - not to mention the indulgence of his record label - Rave was just one of four prominent guest producers eventually roped into Masterpiece Theatre. Their collective resume includes Nine Inch Nails, Sum 41, Iggy Pop, Avril Lavigne, and Hedley among others.
"I feel really fortunate to have worked with all those guys," Ramsay says, "coz they all bring really unique things. Dave Genn and I have a really good working relationship with each other, and he has such a unique style with arrangement and stuff. Greig Nori was a really pleasant surprise. As far as I can tell, he wanted to work with us because he liked our video. The whole time he was just trying to get me to dance around like an idiot. And Raine Maida, man? Raine's a trip!"
Bassist Ayley also credits Maida for encouraging the band to “find a personality-identity that wasn't as evident when we started the production process," while also praising Ramsay for his production efforts. Ramsay took charge of four songs on the finished record. “Josh is really about capturing the emotion and power which isn't surprising considering all the feeling in the writing,” he says.
Oddly enough, Ramsay also wanted Disney's in-house genius Alan (Little Mermaid) Mencken to twiddle the knobs for the climactic version of "Masterpiece Theatre", but admits, "it's a pretty tall order to get an Academy Award winner to come and work on your record."
Still, the album is certainly not diminished by the few things Ramsay didn't get. And once the world gets a load of this Masterpiece, Mencken, Pharrell Williams, Phil Spector... you name it. They'll probably be lining up.
Toy Soldiers
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To this broken Capulet
How, how, how if not for you
And you'll be my local hero
Be my role model
And don't, don't, don't fail me now
(My love)
Don't you wanna love,
Don't you wanna love,
I'm your biggest fan
It's so good to finally meet ya
I deserve a little more
Wouldn't you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
Don't you wanna love,
Don't you want to
Don't you think I deserve better after all that we've been through (love)
Don't you wanna love (love)
Now what you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
Toy soldiers
I will love you like goodbye
I will love you like you died, died
A martyr for me
(My love)
Don't you want love
Don't you want this
Don't you look so shocked
This was not the way I planned it
I deserve a little more
Wouldn't you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
Don't you want love,
Don't you fight back
Know this will hurt less if you just submit so (love)
How bout a little gratitude
For what I say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
They don't know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be forever
One day you will
Learn to love me
One day you will
Thank me, you'll see
If I can't have you
No one can
Follow you like (toys)
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like (follow you like toys)
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be
Don't know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be forever
The song "Toy Soldiers" by Marianas Trench tells the story of a person who is obsessed with someone and their desire to be loved by that person. The lyrics suggest that the person singing is in love with someone who does not feel the same way, and they are using every means necessary to make that person fall in love with them. The line "I'll follow you like toy soldiers" suggests that the person is willing to blindly follow their love interest and do whatever it takes to make them happy.
The lines, "Don't you wanna love, don't you wanna love, I'm your biggest fan, it's so good to finally meet ya," suggest that the person singing is infatuated with their love interest and has been following them for quite some time. They feel that they have a connection with this person and are deserving of their love. The lyrics paint a picture of a dangerous obsession that can lead to destructive behavior if left unchecked.
Overall, "Toy Soldiers" is a powerful song that touches on themes of unrequited love, obsession, and dangerous behavior. The message is clear: love should never come at the expense of one's safety or well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Who'll be my Montague now,
To this broken Capulet
Who will be my lover and supporter now that I feel separated and alone
How, how, how if not for you
And you'll be my local hero
Be my role model
And don't, don't, don't fail me now
(My love)
In my desperation for companionship, I am now dependent on you to be my savior and example. I need you to come through for me, my love.
Don't you wanna love,
Don't you wanna love,
I'm your biggest fan
It's so good to finally meet ya
I deserve a little more
Wouldn't you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
I am pleading for you to love me and meet my standards. I adore you, my love, but I expect more from you. Don't you want to give me everything I deserve?
Don't you wanna love,
Don't you want to
Don't you think I deserve better after all that we've been through (love)
Don't you wanna love (love)
Now what you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
I question why you don't want to love me as much as I love you after all that we have been through together. Don't you think I have earned it? Now, what is your response?
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I'll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I will follow and obey you blindly like a toy soldier. I am putting my trust in you completely.
I will love you like goodbye
I will love you like you died, died
A martyr for me
(My love)
I will love you deeply and passionately as if we are about to part ways forever or as if you have sacrificed your life for me. You have become like a martyr for me, my love.
Don't you want love
don't you want this
don't you look so shocked
this was not the way I planned it
I deserve a little more
Wouldn't you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
I question why you seem surprised or hesitant to love me in this way. This is what I have planned, and I believe I deserve more from you, my love.
Don't you want love,
Don't you fight back
Know this will hurt less if you just submit so (love)
How bout a little gratitude
For what I say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
I am instructing you to stop resisting my love and just give in to it because it will be easier for you. I expect you to be appreciative of my love for you.
They don't know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be forever
Others may not truly understand who you are, but I believe I do. We are the only ones meant to be together, and I will always comprehend and accept you for who you are.
One day you will
Learn to love me
One day you will
Thank me, you'll see
If I can't have you
No one can
I am convinced that you will eventually fall in love with me despite your hesitancy. One day, you will appreciate me for loving you so deeply. If I cannot have you, then nobody can.
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be
Don't know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
I understand you in a way that nobody else does because we were always meant to be together. Others don't know you like I do, and they never will.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bellabloodstar9050
Who’ll be my Montague now,
To this broken Capulet
How, how, how if not for you
And you’ll be my local hero
Be my role model
And don’t, don’t, don’t fail me now
(My love)
Don’t you wanna love,
Don’t you wanna love,
I’m your biggest fan
It’s so good to finally meet ya
I deserve a little more
Wouldn’t you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
Don’t you wanna love,
Don’t you want to
Don’t you think I deserve better after all that we’ve been through (love)
Don’t you wanna love (love)
Now what you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
Toy soldiers
I will love you like goodbye
I will love you like you died, died
A martyr for me
(My love)
Don’t you want love
Don’t you want this
Don't you look so shocked
This was not the way I planned it
I deserve a little more
Wouldn’t you say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
(My love)
Don’t you want love,
Don’t you fight back
Know this will hurt less if you just submit so (love)
How bout a little gratitude
For what I say-oh, a-oh, a-oh
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
They don’t know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be forever
One day you will
Learn to love me
One day you will
Thank me, you’ll see
If I can’t have you
No one can
Follow you like (toys)
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like (follow you like toys)
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow you like
To-o-o-o-o-oy soldiers
I’ll follow
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be
Don’t know you
Not like I do
Only you and I were meant to be
Understand you
Just like I do
Just like you and I were meant to be forever
Submit Corrections
Thanks to Tyler Peters for adding these lyrics.
Track "Marianas Trench"
on Bandsintown
Writer(s): Josh Ramsay
AZLyrics
M
Marianas Trench Lyrics
album: "Ever After" (2011)
Ever After
Haven't Had Enough
By Now
Truth Or Dare
Desperate Measures
Porcelain
Fallout
Stutter
Toy Soldiers
B Team
So Soon
No Place Like Home
Search
@ZoulStar
The song’s based on a creepy letter Josh received from a fan. It inspired him to write this song, which (I presume) the idea is about those who blindly follow and obey out of love(love is blind), to the point of becoming borderline obsessive. Some of the lyrics are from the letter, though I don’t know the specifics. Either way, you can clearly hear the stalkerish vibe this song has through the lens of that.
Though, in context to the Album’s story, this is what I was able to pick up from it:
1 - Queen Coralina manipulating Josh into staying with her, gaslighting him, showing that this is a one sided, toxic relationship. Multiple times within the song she constantly tries to keep him close, like during the chorus “They don’t know you, not like I do, Only you and I were meant to be”, and parts like “This’ll hurt less if just submit so, how about a little gratitude about what say” and so one, it just seems clear that this is an abusive relationship.
2 - The toy soldiers in the story represent what I mentioned previously, with they are in complete obedience to Coralina and follow her orders. Not just because she’s queen, but they are literally toys to her; she can do whatever she wants to them. They may be strong soldiers, but in the end their just tools/objects to her to use.
Though I don’t blame you for thinking this way, cause even now and after their marriage, Josh clearly loved Amanda a lot. But I guess if you wanna add that context to the song, I feel as though Josh amplified that obsessive love more, just for the theme of the song and album, which is about the growing, and crumbling of a relationship, but also a story about a man trying to escape Toyland and save its land from an evil queen.
Either way, their’s A LOT of ways to see this song(heck, every one of MT’s songs). And depending if you’re a fan of MT or not, with or without context of the concept album, and the context of Josh writing from experience, I think the point is able to make it across regardless.
Either way, I love this song and the album a lot, and have WAY too much time analyzing and the meaning to everything. (I love this band if you couldn’t tell lol dang this is long)
@rakiahbaker5589
This is the liveliest stalker song I've ever heard.
@redthunderbird7332
I'm pretty sure Josh said this song was based on a crazy stalker fan he had once, and wrote the song from their perspective. The "you" in this song is Josh Ramsay, the singer, it's supposed to be creepy
@cockycookie1
Aight that's bloody terrifying 💀
@jeffjefferson8453
naw he's definitely trying to cover his own ass
@emilycompo1092
My condolences. 😔
@cassidyho939
The lyrics are chilling when you hear them a second time around, especially "..I deserve better after all that we've been through..." and "Don't you look so shocked this isn't the way I planned it" (implying he broke in to "surprise" them) and "This will hurt less if you just submit". The scariest one is where he mentions being martyred for him, suggesting death is in the cards for the object of his obssession-if they aren't six feet under already.
This is the catchiest Yandere song I've heard in ages.
@hushfalls
I wonder how may people realize this is a stalker song...
@yolandastargaze4565
hushfalls that’s why people like it 👀
@spawnoftacobell1644
“This’ll hurt less if you just submit”
No one’s going to point out that line? Because it sounds like stalking isn’t the only bad thing in this song.
@12bakd75
It's a concept album bro. Every song has a meaning to the entire story.