2006 saw the band tour Australia with The Strokes, record two tracks with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio, and after an intense bidding war, eventually sign with Capitol Records in the US. However, the deal would be short-lived, and 2007 saw the band part ways with Capitol after its merger with Virgin. The band toured with the Pixies, Editors, Cut Copy, Wolf & Cub and the Horrors, and played at the Sydney and Gold Coast legs of the V Festival. The band's first release, the Kept Low EP, was recorded and released August 2007 on Levity in Australia.
On their self-titled debut album, released in Australia independently in August 2008, they collaborated with producer Tony Cohen and mixed the album in Melbourne with Tony Espie
Mercy Arms have been on hiatus since February 2009 after touring with the Big Day Out nationally. This is mainly credited to Callinan and Moore's creative differences. New projects include Kirin & Julian playing in 'Fashion Launches Rocket Launchers', Kirin performing solo as 'Kirin J. Callinan', Ash Moss plays bass in 'Faker' & Thom has new band 'Canvas Kites'.
They unfortunately split in February of 2009 after an eventful four years.
Footsteps
Mercy Arms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Treading lightly down the corridor
Lean in close, I can feel you
Bated breath upon a bedroom door
Is this you that I'm seeing
Is this me that I am being now
Time faults and folds 'til it can't break free
Broken hopes of sincerity
Remind me of how we used to be
Is this you that I'm seeing
Is this me that I am being now
Try to speak
But the words won't come
Hollow hearts
Make the soul seems numb.
In Alaska
In Alaska
You can all wait.
In Alaska.
The opening lines of Mercy Arms's song Footsteps evoke a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for something that once was. The imagery of footsteps treading lightly down a corridor, and the bated breath upon a bedroom door, suggests a moment of anticipation and longing; as if someone is waiting for a lover, a friend or a family member to return after a long absence. The lyrics also imply the presence of the past - the memories, the feelings, the experiences that have shaped both the singer and the person they are waiting for.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more ambiguous and introspective. The lines "Is this you that I'm seeing / Is this me that I am being now" suggest a sense of disorientation or confusion. Perhaps the singer is grappling with a sense of loss, or with the realization that the person they are waiting for is no longer the same as before. The lyrics "Turn the clock back to face you / Time faults and folds 'til it can't break free" further imply a sense of regret or longing for a different time.
The last stanza of the song provides a striking contrast to the introspective and nostalgic tone of the preceding lyrics. The sudden mention of Alaska, and the line "You can all wait", seem to disrupt the emotional and narrative coherence of the song. This ambiguity may be deliberate, however. It can be argued that the final stanza is meant to jar the listener out of their assumptions and expectations, and to hint at a deeper meaning or symbolism that lies beneath the literal interpretation of the song.
Overall, Footsteps is a song that invites multiple interpretations and emotional responses. It may be seen as a tribute to the power of memory and longing, but also as a meditation on the elusive and fleeting nature of time, identity and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I can still hear your footsteps
The singer is haunted by the memory of hearing their ex-lover's footsteps.
Treading lightly down the corridor
The ex-lover's footsteps are portrayed as delicate and careful, almost as if they are trying to avoid detection.
Lean in close, I can feel you
The singer is desperate to feel close to their ex-lover, even though they are no longer together.
Bated breath upon a bedroom door
The singer imagines their ex-lover standing outside their bedroom door, waiting for something to happen.
Is this you that I'm seeing
The singer questions whether the person they are imagining is actually their ex-lover, or just a figment of their imagination.
Is this me that I am being now
The singer questions their own sanity and identity, wondering if they are losing themselves in their memories.
Turn the clock back to face you
The singer wishes they could go back in time and be with their ex-lover again.
Time faults and folds 'til it can't break free
The passage of time has created barriers between the singer and their ex-lover, making it difficult to move on.
Broken hopes of sincerity
The singer reflects on the broken promises and unfulfilled potential of their past relationship.
Remind me of how we used to be
Despite the pain of the breakup, the singer still cherishes memories of their time with their ex-lover.
Try to speak
The singer tries to express their feelings, but struggles to find the right words.
But the words won't come
Despite their efforts, the singer is unable to put their emotions into words.
Hollow hearts
The end of the relationship has left the singer feeling empty and hollow inside.
Make the soul seems numb
The pain of the breakup has left the singer feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from their own feelings.
In Alaska
This line does not appear to have any connection to the rest of the lyrics, and may be intended as a non-sequitur or inside joke.
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wander Almeida
I love Mercy Arms. "Footsteps" is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing. Good vibes from Brazil.
topfivedrewster
nice