Griffith and bassist Jake Brown first met in the late 1990s, when the two musicians played in a couple of North Florida punk combos. Griffith eventually moved north to Boston, but they maintained their friendship via e-mail and late night phone calls. In 2001, Brown issued a disc of Griffith's demos, called The Purple Magnolia, through his "really, really, really indie" label, Computer Club Records. When Griffith returned to Florida the following year, it seemed obvious that the two friends should team up in a band. They enlisted guitarist/keyboardist Justin Etheridge and drummer Brandon Cook to fill out the line-up. Taking their moniker from a lyric by Fugazi precursor Rites of Spring, Moments In Grace was born. They quickly began playing live gigs, but most of their time was spent holed up at Griffith's rented rehearsal space - dubbed "the Factory" - writing songs and refining their sonic approach.
In June 02, Moments In Grace supported Liars Academy at a show near Birmingham, Alabama, and the two like-minded outfits became fast friends. Later that year, Liars Academy was recording tracks with renowned indie producer/engineer McTernan at his Salad Days Studio in scenic Beltsville, Maryland. During a break between sessions, McTernan overheard the band's guitarist listening to Moments in Grace's early demo CD.
"I was like, Holy shit, who is that?'" McTernan recalls. "Jeremy's voice was unbelievable. I just couldn't stop listening to it."
Impressed and moved by what he'd heard, McTernan reached out to the young band, with an eye towards signing them to his new Salad Days imprint. He flew down to St. Augustine, Florida to see them play live, and while he was intrigued with their provocative sound, it was clear Moments in Grace was still in its embryonic stage. It wasn't until drummer Tim Kirkpatrick (formerly of prominent hardcore outfit As Friends Rust) was drafted into the fold that the band began to truly gel into something special.
The four musicians knew they had found their fire after penning the yearning, anthemic "Stratus." "It really set the tone for what we wanted to do with the band," says Griffith. "Recording it was awesome as well. We rented a Hammond B3 organ, which is really cool to get to play. We also brought in a string section, which took the song to a whole other place."
On April 18th 2006, the band posted a blog on their Myspace page saying that they "had decided, after extensive touring and promotion for our album "Moonlight Survived", to take a rest from the band. Did we break up? Not officially, there's always a chance that Jeremy, Tim and I will write music together again (touring? no.). However, we're all very much wrapped up in our own separate lives at this point."
As of 2009: Tim is currently living in Hollywood, CA and recently played drums for an As Friends Rust reunion tour in Europe. Jeremy lives in Atlanta, GA and records all sorts of great bands. Jake lives in St. Augustine, FL and is currently playing bass for Frodus, and singing/playing guitar in The Eastern Wave.
No Angels
Moments In Grace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crippled by your spells
I walked blindly toward this lifeless hell
The truth undergone by fear
The system shut down
It brought you back to tears
The many moments that I cried tainted by the suits
In our simple mind and I was lost
If you say there are no angels
If you say there is no peace
If you sat there are no angels
Then let the heavens crumble to the sea
If you know there is no hell
I'm looking for peace
A moment alone I will serve with conviction
For the crimes I have committed
You want to scorn my lovers paint
A letter on their chests I will cherish the simplests
Moments and live my life without regret
If you say there are no angels
If you say there is no peace
If you sat there are no angels
Then let the heavens crumble to the sea
Darker days where the lines are blurring
We feel the burning
We hope we will find a way
The lyrics of Moments In Grace's song No Angels seem to be about someone who has been living their life under the control of someone else's influence. The first two lines "I lived my life, Crippled by your spells" suggest that the person has been under a spell or control of some kind. The next line is "I walked blindly toward this lifeless hell," which gives an indication that the person is not happy in their current situation and feels trapped. The following line says "The truth undergone by fear," which implies that the person is afraid to confront the truth of their situation.
The lyrics then delve into the idea that the system has shut down and the person is left feeling lost and alone. There is a suggestion that something has caused a rift between the person and their loved ones, as the line "The many moments that I cried tainted by the suits" implies that there has been an issue caused by someone in a position of power. The lines "And the ties a fire broke out in our simple mind and I was lost" convey an internal struggle within the person and demonstrate that the situation they are in is causing them distress.
The chorus of the song is a defiant statement against someone who is denying the existence of heaven and hell. The repeated lines "If you say there are no angels, If you say there is no peace, If you say there are no angels, Then let the heavens crumble to the sea" suggest that the person is willing to confront their situation head-on, regardless of any consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
I lived my life
My life was lived under your control and influence.
Crippled by your spells
Your spells (words and actions) have made me weak and helpless.
I walked blindly toward this lifeless hell
I followed your path heedlessly towards a joyless existence.
The truth undergone by fear
I am afraid to accept the truth.
The system shut down
The system (society, rules, or norms) failed us.
It brought you back to tears
Your actions have caused you to regret.
The many moments that I cried tainted by the suits
The many times I cried were ruined by the formalities and insincere actions of others.
And the ties a fire broke out
The bond we shared was destroyed.
In our simple mind and I was lost
In our state of simplicity, I became lost and confused.
If you say there are no angels
If you claim there is no goodness or hope in the world.
If you say there is no peace
If you deny the possibility of peace or harmony.
Then let the heavens crumble to the sea
If that is the case, then let everything fall apart.
If you know there is no hell
If you understand that there is no eternal punishment or suffering.
I'm looking for peace
I seek tranquility and harmony.
A moment alone I will serve with conviction
I will use my time alone to focus on my beliefs and values.
For the crimes I have committed
I acknowledge the mistakes I have made.
You want to scorn my lovers paint
You want to criticize or judge the people I love.
A letter on their chests I will cherish the simplests
I will value the simple moments and experiences I share with them.
Moments and live my life without regret
I will appreciate the moments in my life and live without any remorse.
Darker days where the lines are blurring
Times are becoming more confusing and difficult.
We feel the burning
We experience intense emotions such as pain, anger, or passion.
We hope we will find a way
We hope to find a solution or path forward during these challenging times.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind