Novice is a four piece rock band from Hollister, CA. The band originally fo… Read Full Bio ↴Novice is a four piece rock band from Hollister, CA. The band originally formed in the fall of 2002 and has been turning heads ever since. In the beginning, the four members spent what ever free time they had writing and rehearsing songs and playing as many shows as they could. With each show the band proved to the audience that they were not your average “local band”. After only a short period of time, Novice had gained a large following in the local scene. In the summer of 2003, Novice headed into the studio to record the A Day out in the Sun EP. It was the band’s first official release and it did not disappoint. The EP sold over 1,000 copies in just a short amount of time. Realizing that it was time to take their music to the next level, Novice began shopping around for a record label to call their home and after a relatively painless search they found that home with Orange County’s Rigged Records. Armed with a new label and new momentum, the band began writing for their first full length release, Interrupting the Scenery. Since the band had developed such a large following in their local scene it was inevitable that the release of Interrupting the Scenery, in October of 2004, would be a huge success. Novice then spent the next year playing shows all across the west coast in support of the album. As with any band there were highs and lows during their travels across the land but, their hard work soon paid off as sales of Interrupting the Scenery kept on climbing; once again proving that Novice was not the average local band. The momentum did not stop there. After a year and a half of touring and promoting Interrupting the Scenery, Novice began writing and rehearsing for the much anticipated follow-up album, Forgive the Silence. From the time that Novice wrote and recorded Interrupting the Scenery, the individual members, as well as the band as a whole, had gone through quite a bit. This was made clear through the song writing as the band came out of the practice room with a collection of songs exhibiting a level of maturity that some artists never achieve. The album has been doing well since the release, considering the fact that it was released independently by the band. Since May 2006, Novice has sold approximately 1,000 copies of Forgive the Silence on their own, bringing their total record sales to over 4,000. Forgive the Silence brings Novice to a whole new level, yet it still delivers the same raw power that Novice fans have grown accustomed to. Shortly after releasing Forgive the Silence, Novice set out once again to bring their raw sound to the masses. Since their first tour, the band had grown accustomed to the road warrior lifestyle so the tour to promote the recent release was quite successful bringing Novice to a point they had never been before. Throughout the summer of 2006, the band kept busy playing everywhere their van would take them. However, Novice was denied access at the Canadian border but that’s a whole different story. Since their humble beginning Novice has shared the stage and the open road with hundreds of bands including Less Than Jake, Shiny Toy Guns, Emery, Forgive Durden, Joy Electric, Project 86 and so many others. There’s no telling what the future holds for these four musicians from smallsville but one thing remains certain. Whether on your iPod or the stage, there are few things that come close to the shear energy and power that Novice brings to the table.

Dancing In The Dark
Novice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need grace
I was really never listening
Though the sound of your voice I just cannot ignore
And I've been dancing in the dark with emptiness
I think you found my weakness
A sly of hand, one look and I'm a mess
There's always something in the way

Stand back and watch me fall
Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
Down and down again
Stand back and watch me fall
Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
But you deal me again

I need a second chance just like before
Cause I've always aimed to please myself as I shove you out the door
And I know your name has risen on my heart
I know I don't deserve you
Every choice I make tears us apart
But you still remain the same

Stand back and watch me fall
Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
Down and down again
Stand back and watch me fall
Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
But you deal me again

I need grace
You always give it away, give it away
You always bring me back to life when I hit the floor

Stand back and watch me fall
Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
Down and down again
Stand back and watch me fall

Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
But you deal me again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Novice's song "Dancing in the Dark" speak about a person who realizes that they have been ignoring their significant other's voice for far too long, and that they have been engaging in a meaningless dance with emptiness. They acknowledge that their partner has found their weakness, and that his or her sly actions and one look can turn them into a mess. The person acknowledges that there's always something standing between them and their loved one, and that they are to blame for making bad choices that cause them to drift apart. However, the loved ones remain the same, granting them them the grace to keep moving forward.

The chorus of the song repeats the statement “Stand back and watch me fall, just like a house of cards I will come down and down again, but you deal me again." The line describes how the person feels like their heart is as fragile as a house of cards, and how it keeps falling down again and again. However, their loved one gives them hope with every new chance, just like dealing a hand a game of cards.

Line by Line Meaning

I need grace
I am in need of forgiveness or compassion

I was really never listening
I was not truly paying attention to you

Though the sound of your voice I just cannot ignore
Even though I wasn't listening, the sound of your voice still caught my attention

And I've been dancing in the dark with emptiness
I have been struggling with a sense of loneliness or purposelessness

I think you found my weakness
You have discovered what makes me vulnerable

A sly of hand, one look and I'm a mess
You have a subtle yet powerful effect on me

There's always something in the way
Obstacles or distractions prevent us from connecting

Stand back and watch me fall
Observe as I fail or stumble

Just like a house of cards I will come down and down again
My situation or emotional state is fragile and easily disrupted

But you deal me again
Despite my flaws or failures, you continue to give me another chance

I need a second chance just like before
I am asking for another opportunity to make things right or repair our relationship

Cause I've always aimed to please myself as I shove you out the door
I have been selfish and focused on my own desires without considering your feelings

And I know your name has risen on my heart
You have become important or significant to me

I know I don't deserve you
I recognize that I have not treated you well or earned your love

Every choice I make tears us apart
My actions or decisions cause damage to our relationship

But you still remain the same
Despite my mistakes, you are consistent and constant in your love for me

You always give it away, give it away
You are generous and selfless in your love and forgiveness

You always bring me back to life when I hit the floor
You help me to recover or overcome my difficulties when I am struggling

Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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