Oleander was formed by Fred Nelson Jr. (drums), Doug Eldridge (bass guitar), Ric Ivanisevich (guitar) and Thomas Flowers (vocals, guitar) in the mid-90s. Their debut was Oleander, an EP released on Fine Records in 1996, which they followed with the full-length album Shrinking the Blob in 1997. The song "Down When I'm Loaded" became a regional hit, and Oleander signed with Universal Records.
During this time, Nelson left the band and was replaced with Scott Devours. Their major label debut was 1999's February Son which featured the hit singles "Why I'm Here" and "I Walk Alone." After supporting the album with a tour, they released Unwind in 2001. The song "Champion" became a hit, and a symbol of the sacrifice of firefighters during the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.
Some time later, the band parted ways with Universal Records and moved to Sanctuary, where they released Joyride in 2003.
In November, 2003, drummer Scott Devours issued a statement announcing he was leaving the band to join Ima Robot. The decision was amicable.
The band is on an unofficial hiatus. No statement has been released by the band, however vocalist Thomas Flowers is currently collaborating with the band The Black Summer Crush. The Black Summer Crush have parted ways with front-man Thomas Flowers (ex-Oleander). As a result, the band will now be fronted by Jay Buchanan and have changed the band name to The Pleasant Return. Flowers is rumored to be reuniting with his former Oleander band-mates.
parade
Oleander Lyrics
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Destined to fade
A glorious parade
Invisible
To me
I'm lyin' in the wake
Just about to break
The more they try to take
Take it from me
Take it away
Lines in the sand
And all the ungliness today
And all the in-betweens
That keep you away
Hey
Oh life can be so good
It's so misunderstood
The struggle and the strive
To do the things we should
We're lyin' in the wake
Just about to break
The more you try to give you know
The more they'll try to take
Take it from me
Take it away
Lies in disguise
In every promise that you make
And the all the in-betweens that keep you away
Hey
Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh take it from me
Oh take it away
Lies in disguise
And every promise that you make
And all the in-betweens that keep you away
Every color is a shade
Destined to fade
A glorious parade
Invisible
To me
The lyrics to Oleander's song "Parade" are reflective and introspective in nature, with the theme of impermanence running throughout. The first stanza speaks to the fleeting nature of all things, likening every color to a shade that is destined to fade away. The use of the word ‘parade' and the accompanying declaration of its invisibility to the singer suggests that the transience of life can sometimes seem distant or removed, despite the fact that it is constantly present. The second stanza is a commentary on the struggles of life – it speaks to the feelings of exhaustion and the realization that the more one tries to give, the more others try to take. Perhaps the ‘wake' refers to the aftermath of events, suggesting that the singer is lying emotionally spent, having given too much of themselves.
The refrain, however, takes a somewhat accusatory tone – the ‘you' it references seems to speak to those who are taking from the singer, whether intentionally or not. Even the promise of a good life, something we all strive for, is misunderstood – the struggle to do what is right and necessary can often feel like an uphill battle. The final repetition of the refrain brings the song full circle, with the singer again referencing the inevitability of things coming to an end. The repetition of the phrases "take it from me" and "take it away" throughout the song is perhaps a plea for relief – a hope that the things that are being taken from the singer by the world will somehow stop, or that they can at least find some respite from the struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Every color is a shade
Everything in life is temporary and will eventually fade away.
Destined to fade
Everything is meant to fade away at some point.
A glorious parade
Life is a beautiful and grand spectacle, but one that eventually leads to an end.
Invisible
The true nature of life is hidden and not easily understood.
To me
It is difficult for me to see the true nature of life and its fleeting beauty.
I'm lyin' in the wake
I am dealing with the aftermath of something, and am not in control of the outcome.
Just about to break
I am on the verge of giving up and cannot handle the stress anymore.
The more I try to give you know
Even when you try your best, things can still go wrong.
The more they try to take
Other people will take advantage of your hard work and try to benefit from it.
Take it from me
Believe me when I say that this is the truth.
Take it away
Remove the pain and the burden that I currently feel.
Lines in the sand
Boundaries that have been set and cannot be crossed without consequence.
And all the ungliness today
All the difficult, unpleasant things in life that need to be dealt with.
And all the in-betweens
All the situations that are not clearly defined and are difficult to navigate.
That keep you away
These difficult situations can prevent you from achieving your goals and desires.
Oh life can be so good
Life is full of wonderful and positive experiences.
It's so misunderstood
However, it is also complex and difficult to fully comprehend.
The struggle and the strive
The effort and determination required to achieve success.
To do the things we should
To achieve our goals and fulfill our responsibilities.
We're lyin' in the wake
We are dealing with the aftermath of something, and are not in control of the outcome.
The more you try to give you know
Even when you try your best, things can still go wrong.
The more they'll try to take
Other people will take advantage of your hard work and try to benefit from it.
Lies in disguise
People will deceive you and hide their true intentions.
In every promise that you make
Even promises that are made with good intentions can be broken or cause harm.
And all the in-betweens that keep you away
Difficult situations and unclear boundaries can keep you from achieving your goals.
Hey
A casual exclamation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD LOFTHOUSE BUTLER, TIMOTHY BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind