The original lineup, consisting of Šarčević (vocals & bass), Ohlsson (guitar), and Färm (drums), released their first demo tape, Goofy, in early 1993. Soon afterwards, Larzon joined the band to play drums, allowing Färm to perform as the second guitarist. In the summer of 1993, they recorded a second demo tape, Melack. The band sent the tape to Burning Heart Records, a new record label formed earlier that year. They signed Millencolin to do a CD single, which culminated in the release of Use Your Nose in November 1993. Success of the single prompted Burning Heart to sign the band to release a full album. In July 1994, the band released Skauch, initially planned to be a single for their new album. However, the band decided to record four cover songs as well and released it as an EP instead. They put out their first major release, Tiny Tunes, in 1994. The recording and mixing of the album took two weeks. Legal trouble with Warner Brothers over the title and cover artwork of the album led the band to re-release it in 1996 under the name Same Old Tunes.
Millencolin continued to tour and in 1995 brought out their second full-length album Life on a Plate. This coincided with Millencolin beginning to tour outside of Scandinavia. At the end of 1995, the US record company Epitaph wanted to release Life on a Plate in the US, and the band agreed. They then toured further afield, touring Japan, Australia, Brazil and Canada, and played as part of the 1997 Warped Tour.
Further albums For Monkeys and compilation The Melancholy Collection followed, but the band's popularity increased in 2000 with the release of Pennybridge Pioneers, an album with more of a rock influence than the band's previous skate punk/ska punk sound. The recording took six weeks and they started their first major worldwide tour. Millencolin played in Wellington, New Zealand, followed by an Australian tour. This led to an early release of the album in Australia and New Zealand. Millencolin wrote on tour and release Home from Home in 2002. In 2003, the band received the Best Swedish Rock award from the Swedish Hit Awards.
Kingwood, released in March 2005, marked the band's return to a faster and more traditional punk rock sound, collaborating it with their recently founded rock sound, and completed a world tour in follow up of the album. The album debuted at No. 2 in the Swedish chart.
On October 22, 2007 the band entered the studio to start writing and recording songs for their seventh album Machine 15.
The band has hosted a skateboard contest at their own skatepark in Örebro, Sweden named the Millencolin Open. They say they started this annual contest because skateboarding is what brought them together and now they have the chance to make something good of their town and of skateboarding.
Šarčević released his second solo album entitled Roll Roll and Flee, whilst Färm promoted his side-project Franky Lee.
They wrote and released a single dedicated to their hometown football club Örebro SK titled Örebro in 2009. It was played in the stadium for the first time on May 11, 2009 in the home game vs Hammarby Fotboll.
In 2010, they toured in Canada and South America, where they played Pennybridge Pioneers in its entirety. They also played the 2011 Soundwave Festival in Australia.
In 2012 Millencolin celebrated 20 years as a band, they simply put up their own festival. "Millencolin 20 Year Festival" was a 2-day Open Air Festival at Brunnsparken, Örebro, Sweden on the 8th & 9th of June 2012. Millencolin closed both nights by doing two exclusive sets from the band’s entire 20-year long career with different songs each night. In addition to Millencolin, a bunch of international and national bands has played on stage. A temporary festival site was built, including a huge catering tent with food and drinks. Besides this, WESC presented a skate contest with invited pro skaters. There were also a camp just 5 min from the festival and with their own waterpark.
The band announced on facebook a limited "yellow bird" toy would be available in the festival but due on delay in the production the sale was only possible in future tours. Carry You single from the compilation album The Melancholy Connection was released on vinyl limited to 500 copies in this festival.
On April No Fun At All canceled their appear at 20 Years Festival due their disbandment [10]. So then the canadian trio Danko Jones was invited to join it the festival.
A Day To Remember's Jeremy McKinnon has stated that Millencolin has been a big influence on A Day to Remember.
On May 29, 2012, Millencolin released The Melancholy Connection, a follow-up compilation to The Melancholy Collection featuring b-sides from Pennybridge Pioneers onward. The album also features a DVD of a behind-the-scenes look at the previous decade of the band.
In February 2015, Millencolin announced their latest album True Brew would be released in April. The first track "Sense & Sensibility" premiered on YouTube, with a three-part mini documentary about the making of the album being posted leading up to the release. The album was released at different times in different regions; on April 22 in Sweden; April 24 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; April 27 in the rest of Europe and on April 28 in the US.
Ducks & Drakes
Millencolin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the first ones you had done.
My mistake, should have known,
It's a shame you passed on frowning.
When bells ring out for those who die,
I try to say one last goodbye.
The bullet's digging deeper in my side.
Ducks and drakes, burn out slow.
In my dreams you always grin.
For your sake, a red stone.
You had it tough from the beginning.
When bells ring out for those who die,
I try to say one last goodbye.
The white ties on your weight to rest,
But I'm not sure I did my best.
The bullet's digging deeper in my side, yeah.
Blue sights and movement it's for you, my friend, a bitter end.
This sorrow, it can't be denied, no.
Now all that's left for me is to comprehend, and try to mend.
The fun will always be in my side.
When bells ring out for those who die,
I try to say one last goodbye.
The white ties on your weight to rest,
But I'm not sure I did my best.
When bells ring out for those who die,
I try to say one last goodbye.
The white ties on your weight to rest,
But I'm not sure I did my best.
When bells ring out (When bells ring out),
When bells ring out for you.
One last goodbye (One last goodbye),
One last goodbye for you.
The song "Ducks and Drakes" by Millencolin is a melancholic and reflective piece that addresses the theme of loss and guilt in the context of death. The ducks and drakes represent the choices the singer made, which turned out to be the wrong ones, and the consequences they have to deal with. The lines "Ducks and drakes, burn out slow/ In my dreams, you always grin" suggest that the memories of the person who has passed away haunt the singer and make them feel remorseful about not being able to do more for them. The red stone mentioned in the song could be a symbol of remembrance or a reference to the grave marker.
The chorus of the song, which repeats twice, emphasizes the singer's attempts to say goodbye to the deceased person but also expresses uncertainty about whether or not they did enough. The line, "The bullet's digging deeper in my side," connotes a physical pain that reinforces the metaphorical guilt of the singer.
Overall, "Ducks and Drakes" is a touching and powerful song that explores the complexities of human emotions in the face of loss. It beautifully captures the anguish, regret, and mixed feelings of someone who has lost a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Ducks and drakes, on your own,
You're acting recklessly and not thinking things through, without any proper guidance or support.
Like the first ones you had done.
You're making the same mistakes you made in the past, not learning from them and repeating the cycle.
My mistake, should have known,
I admit that I was wrong and should have recognized the warning signs earlier.
It's a shame you passed on frowning.
It's sad to see that you put on a happy face, even though you're struggling and suffering on the inside.
When bells ring out for those who die,
When people die, they are remembered and recognized through the ringing of bells.
I try to say one last goodbye.
I attempt to say farewell to you for the final time.
The bullet's digging deeper in my side.
I am experiencing more and more pain and regret as time goes by, much like the feeling of a bullet wound that won't heal.
Ducks and drakes, burn out slow.
Your carelessness and poor judgment will eventually catch up to you, and it'll be a long and painful learning process.
In my dreams you always grin.
Even in my memories and subconscious, you appear happy and content, concealing your true emotions and struggles.
For your sake, a red stone.
As a symbol of love and caring, I have left you a red stone to remind you that someone cares about you and wants you to be happy.
You had it tough from the beginning.
You faced many challenges and hardships from the start of your life, which has contributed to your current struggles.
Blue sights and movement it's for you, my friend, a bitter end.
The blue sights and movement refer to a gun being aimed at you, and this leads to a bitter and tragic conclusion to your life, my friend.
This sorrow, it can't be denied, no.
I can't ignore the sadness that lingers within me, as the pain of losing you is too great to overcome.
Now all that's left for me is to comprehend, and try to mend.
The only thing left for me to do is to understand the situation and try to find a way to heal and move on from this tragedy.
The fun will always be in my side.
My memories of the happy times we shared will never leave me, and will always bring comfort and joy to my life.
When bells ring out for those who die,
Once again, the ringing of bells signifies the passing of someone who has died.
I try to say one last goodbye.
Just as before, I attempt to give you a final farewell and say goodbye for the last time.
The white ties on your weight to rest,
The white ties refer to the funeral tradition of wearing a white tie, and you are now laid to rest after your passing.
But I'm not sure I did my best.
I am plagued with doubt and uncertainty, wondering if I did everything I could to help you and prevent your untimely death.
When bells ring out (When bells ring out),
The repetition emphasizes the significance of the bell's tolling and what it represents.
When bells ring out for you.
When the bells toll for you, it signifies the end of your life and the sadness and pain that comes with it.
One last goodbye (One last goodbye),
The repetition of these words reinforces the finality of the situation, as it is the last opportunity to say farewell.
One last goodbye for you.
A final farewell to you before you are laid to rest and remembered by the tolling of bells.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK HANS OHLSSON, FREDRIK OLOF LARZON, MATHIAS LARS AKE FARM, NIKOLA SARCEVIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind