Nothing But Thieves’ origins lie in schoolmates Conor, Joe and Dave’s efforts in a variety of bands in their hometown of Southend, Essex. They gained valuable experience on the local live circuit, even if they weren’t going to change the world. Then Dom joined their school in the sixth form and everything went up a notch. A classically trained guitarist from the age of six, Dom brought a musicality and learning to the table which made everyone sit up and take notice. Not that this puts him on a pedestal with his bandmates. They all agree that it’s the mix of his formal training with Joe’s self-taught chops which lies at the heart of the Nothing But Thieves sound.
They released their debut ep, "Graveyard Whistling" on July 18, 2014. The band's single "Itch" picked up Hottest Record and Track Of The Day accolades on Radio 1 and also made it onto the Radio 1 playlist, as well as being added in regular rotation of Sirius XM new hard-rock channel Octane. The same year they signed to RCA Records.
They released their self-titled debut album on October 16, 2015. Frontman Conor Mason said in an interview about the album: Since this record was our first album we especially wanted to make each song stand out in the best way possible. I guess there are tones, lyrics and themes that tie in throughout the album; however, we generally wanted each song to have its own space and world. Overall, I think we achieved the variety we were after and it’s nice that our fans feel the same way too.
They released their sophomore album, called "Broken Machine", on September 8, 2017. The concept for the album came alive soon after the band had written and demoed “Broken Machine,” the 4th track, which became the centerpiece of the album. Lead singer Conor Mason describes it as a metaphor for systems that seem perfect on the surface but cracked underneath, whether that’s mental health, love, religion, or even politics. The singles leading up to the album’s release are “Amsterdam,” released on May 2, 2017, “Sorry” released on August 14, 2017, “Broken Machine” released on August 21, 2017, “I’m Not Made By Design” released on August 26, 2017, and “Particles” released on January 11, 2018.
They released a new ep, titled "What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?" on October 19, 2018. The lead single of the ep, "Forever & Ever More", was supported by a music video. On October 23, 2020, the band released Moral Panic. Which then followed with a tour in 2021 with Yonaka and Airways.
The band released three singles in 2023, "Welcome to the DCC" on March 15, "Overcome" on May 10 and "Keeping You Around" on June 23, before finally releasing their fourth studio album, "Dead Club City" on June 30, 2023, which peaked number 1 in the U.K Official Album Charts. They then released the single "Oh No :: He Said What?" on January 29, 2024 before dropping the deluxe edition of "Dead Club City" on March 15, 2024, this included the addition of new songs such as "Time :: Fate :: Karma :: God" and "Pure You" as well as the stripped edition of beloved songs from the original album.
Sorry
Nothing But Thieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wind me tighter than a wire
It's something that you do to me
I run away like mercury
And I know you think it's rough
When you're try'na patch us up
And I say honey what is love?
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
Maybe I'm bad natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
And I'm the t-shirt that I wear
Pick the thorns out of my hair
I broke your heart so carelessly
But made the pieces part of me
And now it hurts what we've become
'Cause you taught me how to love
It's me who taught you how to stop
And you just say I drink too much
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
Maybe I'm bad natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I been waiting so long
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I been waiting so long
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
Maybe I'm bad natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
The lyrics of "Sorry" by Nothing But Thieves present a conflicted character struggling with love and self-doubt. The song opens with a metaphor of desire as a killer, which sets the tone for the intensity of emotions to follow. The repetition of "I'm sorry" throughout the song suggests a deep sense of regret and a desire for forgiveness.
The second verse hints at alcohol being involved, possibly as a coping mechanism for the character's inner turmoil. However, the character also acknowledges their own flaws, wondering if they are defective, dumb, or bad-natured, which creates a sense of vulnerability and honesty. The chorus repeats the same line twice, "Maybe I'm [adjective], I'm sorry for what I've done," emphasizing the character's uncertainty and need for absolution.
The bridge introduces a shift in perspective, as the character sees their relationship as a learning process. They recognize the mutual influence they had on each other, both in teaching love and stopping harmful behaviors. The last section of the song climaxes with repetition of the phrase "I've waited for this, I'm ready for it," suggesting a determination to move forward despite the past mistakes and flaws.
Overall, "Sorry" is a raw and introspective song that explores the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You might kill me with desire
Your passion for me could be overwhelming and may cause my demise
Wind me tighter than a wire
Your love grips me tightly like a taut wire
It's something that you do to me
The effect you have on me is inexplicable
I run away like mercury
I try to escape like the liquid metal, mercury
And I know you think it's rough
I understand that you find this situation difficult
When you're try'na patch us up
When you're trying to fix our relationship
And I say honey what is love?
I ask you, my lover, what love truly means
You just say I drink too much
You dismiss my question and focus on my drinking problem
Maybe I'm defective
I might have flaws or be broken
Or maybe I'm dumb
Or maybe I lack intelligence or understanding
I'm sorry, so sorry for what I've done
I apologize for my actions
Maybe I'm bad natured
Perhaps I have a negative personality
Or maybe I'm young
Or maybe I am too inexperienced in life
And I'm the t-shirt that I wear
I am the things I wear, a representation of my personality
Pick the thorns out of my hair
Help me get rid of the thorny aspects of my personality
I broke your heart so carelessly
I carelessly destroyed your heart
But made the pieces part of me
But the broken pieces of you remain with me
And now it hurts what we've become
Our relationship now causes both of us pain
'Cause you taught me how to love
Because you were the one who showed me how to love
It's me who taught you how to stop
I was the one who ended our love
I've waited for this
I've been waiting for this moment
I'm ready for it
I am prepared for what's to come
I been waiting so long
I've been waiting for a long time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Conor Ryan Mason, Dominic Alexander Craik, James Lawrence Irvin, Joseph Langridge Brown, Julian Emery, Mike Crossey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@salander.s
[Lyrics]
You might kill me with desire
Wind me tighter than a wire
It's something that you do to me
I run away like mercury
And I know you think it's rough
When you're tryin' to patch us up
And I say, "Honey, what is love?"
You just say I drink too much
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
Maybe I'm bad-natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
And I'm the t-shirt that I wear
And pick the thorns out of my hair
I broke your heart so carelessly
But made the pieces part of me
And now it hurts what we've become
'Cause you taught me how to love
It's me who taught you how to stop
And you just say I drink too much
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
Maybe I'm bad-natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've been waiting so long
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've waited for this
I'm ready for it
I've been waiting so long
Maybe I'm defective
Or maybe I'm dumb
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
Maybe I'm bad-natured
Or maybe I'm young
I'm sorry, so sorry
For what I've done
@rodrigofbcardoso
The most polite band ever. First they released "Excuse me", now they realesed "Sorry". I'll be waiting patiently for "My condolences"
@amaniwashortername8998
This deserves more recognition
@Mitaknehovor
a lot of more :)))
@rickdt1
That's hysterical
@bdsimon
Yeah, they are planning on covering Nirvana's All Apologies on their next album
@princessballoon
@@bdsimon hahaha!
@kierandaly1652
when he sings, "I've been waiting so long", it gives me shivers. His vocals are so raw
@azcards07c47
He has amazing vocals....
@Hanna-hq9hz
yes yes yes yes
@lastghostcookie
Ik ik omgg