AJ Bovaird-bass
Glenn "Chico" Dunning-guita… Read Full Bio ↴Mike Bilcox-guitar/vocals
AJ Bovaird-bass
Glenn "Chico" Dunning-guitar/vocals
Liam Killeen-drums
Forging a bold path with their energetic punk-based debut album, 2002's Maybe One Day, Ajax, Ontario quartet Not By Choice has made an indelible stamp on the world of rock with the instant classics "Standing All Alone" and "Now That You Are Leaving." Honing their captivating songwriting, the band is becoming renowned as one of Canada's seminal punk rock outfits. Welcome to Secondhand Opinions, Not By Choice's sophomore release and first with MapleMusic Recordings. Expanding on the solid foundation forged by Maybe One Day, Secondhand Opinions finds Not By Choice realizing their adoration of punk rock with deeper ties to fundamental rock 'n' roll roots. Waitโฆsophomore? Isn't that the point some musicians find to be an awkward period of soul-searching vulnerability and nakedness? Wrong.
In the case of Secondhand Opinions, this is nothing less than the opportunity for Not By Choice to polish their craft, to deliver confident songs that boldly explore yet are comfortably familiar. Progressing past the standards set on their debut without alienating their core audience, Secondhand Opinions finds the music and the band revealing a truer, stronger essence. From the quiet albeit upbeat desperation of "Home" to the driven pace of "Days Go By" and mellow introspection that haunts epic track "Echoes," one instantly sees an expanded power and profundity to Not By Choice. "We're better musicians after this long," notes Chico. "We have more experiences to draw from and now we can incorporate those elements into our songs. Your style is inevitably going to change when you become better at what you love to do. You're not afraid to try new things because you know you can pull it off." "I suppose this album is a bit darker, but it's just the space I was in," shrugs principle writer Mike Bilcox. "You can't control muchโฆnot even the music you make, so if (the lyrics) came out with a bit more mood, that's just where my mind was. I don't think I'm writing about anything out of the ordinary. I tried to stray away from songs about girls, but they're the inevitable rock 'n' roll subject," he laughs. Producer Murray Daigle (Cauterize, Emerald Rain) - a long time friend who produced early demos for the band - brought a "no-nonsense" straightforward approach to the recording process. "The momentum really started to hit when we fully realized the breadth of Murray's ability. We stopped worrying about every detail," admits Bilcox. "He really brought out what we were looking for." "This record isn't about how we look or what bridge we're jumping on," shrugs Chico. "It's about our love to play music, so if nothing else, we'll be proud about the work we put into this album. But now that we're moving beyond an image, hopefully our fans have grown with us to care more about what these songs mean than what clothes we're wearing." Maybe One Day certainly earned Not By Choice their early share of prestigious acclaim with a Much Music Video Award for Best Independent Video ("Now That You Are Leaving"), a CASBY award for Best Independent Album, and inclusion on two Big Shiny Tunes compilations ("Now That You Are Leaving and "Standing All Alone"). Maybe One Day's release in Japan in September 2003 has had amazing success, selling over 25,000 records. Not By Choice blasts out of the confines of punk rock by incorporating their sundry catalogue of inspirations to enhance their own high-octane style, leaving them poised to dispel hoary old notions of the sophomore jinx with the release of Secondhand Opinions.
As of March 30, 2008, Not By Choice is on an indefinite hiatus.
Echoes
Not By Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I didn't see just what you were doing to me,
And I couldn't get your words out of my head,
I couldn't be just what you needed from me...
And now I see
From the day you left until the day I die,
I'll never forget the look in your eyes,
Everything you said and our last goodbye,
I'll never forget what we did that night
You never knew that it was right infront of you,
And you didn't see just what you were doing to me,
I hear your voice cause it echoes in my head,
And I can't believe the things you said to me...
And now I see
From the day you left until the day I die,
I'll never forget the look in your eyes,
No one can take back the night we shared,
Everything you said and our last goodbye,
I'll never forget what we did that night
From the day you left until the day I die,
I'll never forget the look in your eyes,
No one can take back the night we shared,
Everything you said and our last goodbye,
I'll never forget what we did that night
From the day you left until the day I die,
I'll never forget the look in your eyes,
No one can take back the night we shared,
Everything you said and our last goodbye,
I'll never forget what we did that night
The lyrics to "Echoes" by Not By Choice are a reflection of the struggles that come with relationships and recognizing when it's time to move on. The opening stanza suggests that the writer was not aware of the hold that their partner had on them, and the extent of the damage their words and actions had caused. This is emphasized in the second line where the writer states that they "didn't see just what you were doing to me," suggesting that the partner's behavior was harmful. The writer also acknowledges that they couldn't fulfill their partner's needs and that they were constantly caught up in their own thoughts, unable to move forward in the relationship.
In the chorus, the writer reminisces about the night they shared with their partner, and how they will never forget the look in their eyes. The repetition of this chorus throughout the song serves as a reminder that their connection will always be present, even if they choose to go their separate ways. The second verse focuses on the perspective of the partner, who also didn't realize the impact of their behavior on the relationship. The partner's voice echoes in the writer's head, suggesting that the thoughts and emotions associated with their time together will always be with them.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew it had a hold on you too,
I was unaware that you were also affected by this situation
And I didn't see just what you were doing to me,
I was oblivious to the actions you were doing towards me
And I couldn't get your words out of my head,
I kept replaying the things you said over and over in my mind
I couldn't be just what you needed from me...
I wasn't able to give you exactly what you wanted from me
And now I see
I finally understand what was happening
From the day you left until the day I die,
For the rest of my life
I'll never forget the look in your eyes,
I will always remember the expression in your gaze
No one can take back the night we shared,
The time we spent together cannot be undone
Everything you said and our last goodbye,
I will never forget the things you told me during our final farewell
I'll never forget what we did that night
I will always remember the actions we took during that time
You never knew that it was right infront of you,
You were unaware that what you wanted was within reach
And you didn't see just what you were doing to me,
You weren't aware of the harm you were causing me
I hear your voice cause it echoes in my head,
Your words continue to resonate in my mind
And I can't believe the things you said to me...
I am still struggling to accept the things you told me
Contributed by Addison P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.