Monophonics were formed in 2005; originally a instrumental ensemble comprised of guitarist Ian McDonald, bassist Myles O’Mahony, saxophonist Alex Baky, trumpeter Ryan Scott, and drummer Austin Bohlman, the band has recently added the dynamic soul vocals of keyboardist Kelly Finnigan. The result is a psychedelic soul & heavy funk sound, which harks back to the stylings of the late 60’s and early 70’s, all while keeping its feet planted in the present.
As a mainstay of San Francisco venues such as The Independent, Brick and Mortar & Boom Boom Room, the Monophonics have created a national buzz and fervent local following, sharing the stage & bill with such names as The Budos Band, Orgone, Lonnie Smith, Kings Go Forth, Soulive, and many many more. Their touring schedule has brought their signature rowdy, hard-hitting live set to over 400 dates from California up to Motown and down to Louisiana establishing themselves as yearly residents at the legendary New Orleans Jazz Festival. The band has also played some of the major music festivals on the west coast including High Sierra, Joshua Tree, Blacksheep Family Reunion, and Las Tortugas.
Already in 2012 the band has signed on with top booking agency Intrepid Artists Int’l and has seen their touring schedule triple fast and has helped get them get in big festivals like Wakarusa in Arkansas and the Portland Waterfront Blues Fest in Oregon. Other big news in 2012 is the bands new record In Your Brain which was released and distributed worldwide May 15, 2012 by legendary label Ubiquity Records (Orgone, Shawn Lee, Breakestra, Connie Price, & The Keystones). It was recorded & produced by Ian McDonald and Kelly Finnigan in San Francisco and was mixed by Sergio Rios from ORGONE at Killion Sound in LA. With a transformation of the group in the last 18 months, they have matured and found our own sound. This new record sits on the fuzzy psychedelic side of Soul and Heavy Funk! Taking a cue from their San Francisco roots and greats like Norman Whitfield, George Clinton's Funkadelic, David Axelrod, and Sly Stone, the group has found their path which has taken on a direction that focuses on great tones using analog equipment, a simpler and more spontaneous songwriting approach and trying to always catch a vibe that brings back thoughts of the 1969 psychedelic movement!
Promises
Monophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who lied to the world
Hid from the truth
Lived a life with no rules
I knew a man
Who lied to himself
Scared of reality
Scared to ask for help
And He made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
Leaving broken hearts to weep
I had a friend
Who had big dreams
Took on the world
But soon turned to scheme
I had a friend
Though he became a stranger
Hid from the world
Lived a life high on danger
And he made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
Disappointment runs deep
And He made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
And the bad blood runs deep
And He made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
And the bad blood runs deep
The song "Promises" by Monophonics addresses the issue of people making promises they cannot keep, disappointing those around them and leaving broken hearts in their wake. The verses detail the stories of two individuals who live a life of deception, constantly lying to themselves and others. The first verse describes a man who is afraid to face reality and unable to seek help. The second verse tells the story of a man with big dreams who turns to schemes and danger, becoming a stranger to his once-close friend. Both men make empty promises, letting down those who put their trust in them.
The use of repetition in the chorus drives home the message of the song, emphasizing the impact that broken promises can have on those affected. The repetition of the line "And he made promises" also highlights the pattern of behavior of these two men and others who similarly deceive. The lyric "bad blood runs deep" further illustrates the lingering effect that broken promises can have on relationships long after they are made.
Overall, "Promises" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of making false promises and not living up to one's word. It highlights the importance of being honest with oneself and others, and the consequences that can come from hiding from the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a man
I was acquainted with a man
Who lied to the world
He was not truthful to the world
Hid from the truth
He avoided facing the reality
Lived a life with no rules
He did not have any moral principles or guidelines to follow in life
I knew a man
I was acquainted with a man
Who lied to himself
He was not honest with himself
Scared of reality
He was afraid of facing the truth
Scared to ask for help
He was hesitant to seek assistance
And He made promises
He made commitments
But they were all just lies
He did not honor his promises
And he broke promises
He went back on his commitments
Bringing tears to their eyes
It caused them emotional pain
That he could never ever keep
He was incapable of fulfilling his commitments
Leaving broken hearts to weep
It left people heartbroken and sad
I had a friend
I was friends with someone
Who had big dreams
He had ambitious aspirations
Took on the world
He faced the challenges with enthusiasm
But soon turned to scheme
But he resorted to deceitful actions
Though he became a stranger
He became unfamiliar to me
Lived a life high on danger
He engaged in risky and perilous activities
Disappointment runs deep
The feeling of letdown is intense
And the bad blood runs deep
There is a long-standing animosity
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Austin Bohlman, Kelly Finnigan, Ian McDonald, Myles O'Mahony
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PauloHenrique-fc3jx
I knew a man
Who lied to the world
Hid from the truth,
Lived a life with no rules
I knew a man
He lied to himself
Scared of reality
Scared to ask for help
And he made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
Leaving broken hearts to weep
I had a friend
Who had big dreams
Took on the world
But soon turned to schemes
I had a friend
Though he became a stranger
Hid from the world,
Lived a life high on danger
And he made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
Breaking his promises
Disapointment runs deep
And he made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to their eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
I'm breaking his promises
And the bad blood runs deep
And he made promises
But they were all just lies
And he broke promises
Bringing tears to my eyes
And he made promises
That he could never ever keep
He's breaking his promises
And the bad blood runs deep
@unabtanium
Just heard this for the first time. I thought it was a soul tune from the early 70’s. Great tune!
@ivannava1352
I first heard these guys in a record store and I thought it was like older music and I asked the guy and he said nope, that they're very recent and it's so cool cause this band has such a nostalgic feel to it, so awesome
@hakankoluack8846
it's like quentin tarantino film soundtrack
@jae.razo86
Get out of my head lol 🤙🏽
@J4CKTR1PP3R
Word...
@mandolaa4855
True
@beatle116
This is exactly what a broken promise feels like absolute Fury. This band doesn't miss
@brothajay9626
Where have I been for the last several years. My mind is blown by their music. This takes me back to my Father's era. Soul music is alive and powerful. ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
@katevrt91
this whole album is AWESOME!
big thanks for this excellent music, kisses from greece and waiting for you.
@84live
♥️