(2) R&B duo Men at Large arrived during the tail-end of the new jack swing era with strong support and creative input from fellow Clevelander Gerald Levert. Expressive vocalists Dave Tolliver and Jason Champion began with Atlantic subsidiary EastWest and released two albums for the label: Men at Large (1992) and the relatively mellow One Size Fits All (1994). They reached Billboard's R&B chart with seven singles from those titles, including the Top Ten hits "Use Me" and "So Alone," the latter of which was a ballad addressed to Tolliver's mother, who had recently passed. Third and fourth Men at Large albums were issued through independent labels during the late '90s and 2000s. After the duo split, Champion recorded contemporary gospel material and was featured on high-profile albums by A-listers Kirk Franklin and Deitrick Haddon. Tolliver popped up on tracks by Rome and 8Ball & MJG and released solo albums in 2009 and 2015. In 2016, with Edgar "Gemini" Porter in place of Champion, Tolliver reactivated Men at Large through the single "Date Night." ~ Andy Kellman
Holiday
Men At Large Lyrics
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Coming down like an armageddon flame (hey!)
A shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another amen (amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
"The representative from california has the floor"
Sieg heil to the president gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause
Just cause
Because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
The lyrics to Men at Large's song "Holiday" highlight various struggles and issues that people are facing. The opening lines refer to the falling rain, which represents a bleak environment. The phrase "armageddon flame" means that this environment is deadly and will lead to destruction. The line "the ones who died without a name" is a commentary on the many people who pass away in the world without leaving a mark or any recognition of their existence.
The second verse continues this commentary on the current state of society. The dogs are howling "out of key" which can be interpreted as a disruption in the order of things. The reference to faith and misery is a reflection of society's continuing struggle with religion and its effects on humanity. The final line of the verse, "the company lost the war today," is a commentary on the devastation caused by war and the loss of industry.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the need for people to be different from the "hollow lies" and to recognize that the present is the start of the future. The line "on holiday" implies that people need time to reflect and understand their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Listen to the rain falling
Coming down like an armageddon flame (hey!)
The rain is falling fast and hard
A shame
It's a tragedy
The ones who died without a name
People are dying and no one knows who they are
Hear the dogs howlin' out of key
Dogs are howling loudly and uncomfortably
To a hymn called faith and misery (hey!)
The dogs are howling to a song about belief and suffering
And bleed, the company lost the war today
People have been hurt; the company has failed
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
I want to hope and think differently from the false statements
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is the beginning of our futures
On holiday
We are on vacation
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Hear the drum beating out of rhythm
Another protester has crossed the line (hey!)
Someone else is protesting and pushing the boundaries
To find, the money's on the other side
They realize that the reward is on the opposing team's side
Can I get another amen (amen!)
Can I get another agreement and support?
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (hey!)
Many men are rallying around a flag symbol
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument
A silence has been imposed upon a memorial
The representative from california has the floor
A delegate from California is speaking
Sieg heil to the president gasman
Heil to the president who controls the gas
Bombs away is your punishment
You will be punished with bombs
Pulverize the eiffel towers
Destroy the Eiffel Tower
Who criticize your government
People who are against the government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
The broken glass is making a loud noise
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Eliminate anyone who disagrees and is categorized as a homosexual
Trials by fire setting fire
Punishing people by burning them
Is not a way that's meant for me
I don't want that kind of life
Just cause
For a good reason
Just cause
For a good reason
Because we're outlaws yeah!
We are rebels, and we like it!
This is our lives on holiday
This is how we live our lives when we are on vacation
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael Pritchard, Frank Wright, Billie Joe Armstrong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind