While touring, the band crossed paths with Sum 41 manager/producer Greig Nori. While working with Nori, the band developed a more "radio friendly" sound. This lead to them signing with Linkin Park's label Machine Shop Records. The album Suffer, Survive was released in late 2004.
The band continued to tour with more high-profile bands such as Linkin Park, Sum 41, Papa Roach, The Used, Fear Factory, as well as older punk bands like SNFU. The band was a part of Linkin Park's 2004 Projekt Revolution Tour on which bands from Korn to Snoop Dog, Ghostface Killah and Less Than Jake played. The band also played at the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
After a lot of time spent on tour and different directions the band wanted to take, No Warning broke up in late 2005. Members went on to form bands such as Surplus Sons and Millenial Reign. Ben Cook now plays guitar and contributes to songwriting in Fucked Up, in addition to doing solo garage pop, under the name Young Governor.
IN LATE 2014, THE BAND ANNOUNCED THEY HAD REUNITED AND ARE NOW BACK TOGETHER. Hardcore kids around the world are rejoicing. Bring it on, No Warning.
Take It Or Leave It
No Warning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The story of my fucking life.
I see others so close together
And I'm left to look with a fucking mirror.
Look but no touch.
I see this shit and I lose my cool.
Life is looking endless and I'm here looking alone.
Because how the fuck am I supposed to know.
A losing streak and a lame excuse is way I walk away from you.
A chance I don't want to take, a choice I don't want to make.
Timing is everything and I won't make the same mistakes.
Flying with broken wings
And I didn't think I had what it takes. fuck you.
The lyrics to No Warning's "Take It or Leave It" express the feeling of being left out and alone while observing others in seemingly happy relationships. The first two lines "A moment a look and its fucking gone. The story of my fucking life." suggests a deeply rooted fear of missing out on love and happiness. The singer sees others having what they desire, and they are left looking at their reflection in a mirror, unable to touch or be a part of it. This creates an internal struggle between how they perceive their own life and what they are missing out on. The chorus continues the theme of uncertainty and fear of making choices, with lines like "A losing streak and a lame excuse is why I walk away from you" and "Timing is everything, and I won't make the same mistakes". Ultimately, the lyrics show the loneliness, fear, and frustration that come along with being left out of something we desire.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released on the album "Ill Blood" in 2002, one of No Warning's most successful albums. The album has been credited with changing the face of hardcore punk at the time, combining traditional punk sounds with more melodic and heavier elements. Another interesting fact is that No Warning comes from Toronto, Canada, and was part of the thriving punk and hardcore scene there during the late 1990s and 2000s. They were heavily influenced by bands like Sick of It All, Minor Threat, and Black Flag. Furthermore, the band's members have gone on to play in other successful bands, including Fucked Up and Terror. The music video for "Take It or Leave It" was also filmed in Toronto and features footage of the band playing in various locations around the city.
Another fact about the song is that it was produced by guitarist Chris Colohan, who has produced albums for many other punk and hardcore bands. The lyrics to "Take It or Leave It" were written by singer Ben Cook, who is known for his emotionally charged and personal lyrics. The song has been covered by several other punk and hardcore bands, including Mindforce and Turnstile. Additionally, the song was included in the soundtrack for the 2006 video game Tony Hawk's Project 8. Finally, the breakdown section of the song is considered one of the most iconic moments in modern hardcore punk.
The chords for "Take It or Leave It" are not known at this time.
Line by Line Meaning
A moment a look and its fucking gone.
Things change quickly and opportunities are fleeting.
The story of my fucking life.
This is a recurring theme in my experiences.
I see others so close together
I observe people forming close relationships.
And I'm left to look with a fucking mirror.
But I am isolated and cannot join them.
Look but no touch.
I can see what I want but I can't have it.
I see this shit and I lose my cool.
The frustration of my situation makes me angry.
Life is looking endless and I'm here looking alone.
I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and alone in the world.
Time will tell me if this is the way it goes.
I'll have to wait and see what happens.
Because how the fuck am I supposed to know.
I don't have any clear guidance or direction.
A losing streak and a lame excuse is way I walk away from you.
I keep failing and making excuses for why I can't commit to a relationship.
A chance I don't want to take, a choice I don't want to make.
I'm too afraid to take a risk or make a decision.
Timing is everything and I won't make the same mistakes.
I've learned that timing is important and I don't want to repeat past mistakes.
Flying with broken wings
I'm trying to move forward despite feeling broken.
And I didn't think I had what it takes.
I didn't believe in myself or my abilities.
fuck you.
An expression of frustration and anger towards the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN PETER WARDEN COOK, JAMES MATTHEW DELONG, JORDAN DANIEL POSNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind