The band has sold over five million albums worldwide, won four Juno Awards, and ten MuchMusic Video Awards. OLP has released eight studio albums to date, with "Clumsy" often being considered the most popularized of the set. The Heavyweight Songfacts reports that their eighth studio album Curve was recorded from 2010 through 2012 at vocalist Raine Maida's home recording studio. It was released on April 3, 2012.
Full circle: a theme that eagerly resonates with each member of multiplatinum survivors, Our Lady Peace. As the band approached the release of their seventh studio album, a feeling of renewal and excitement washed over Toronto’s favorite sons in a manner not felt since their earliest days.
Self-produced in lead singer Raine Maida’s Los Angeles home studio, the 10-track Burn Burn (in stores July 21 2009), marks the longest period between studio albums for Our Lady Peace. It also signifies a sonic and philosophical rebirth. The band now enjoys a creative and professional freedom that they haven’t experienced since the release of their now classic debut. “I think about the way we made Naveed,” Maida recalls. “We were just starting, we knew nothing about the business and we had no expectations. It was four guys in a room just trusting their instincts. We went back to that. ‘Liberating’ doesn’t really even sum it up.”
Burn Burn is a triumphant return to what Maida terms “a proper, mature rock album,” steeped in the kind of raw intensity that drove their early material. Blinding rays of anthemic light make way to the tender poise and precision of a band that was looking for a way out and found a satisfying new way in.
With caution thrown to the wind, tracks such as the stunningly arranged “Dreamland” and the overpowering first single, “All You Did Was Save My Life,” soar above angry clouds of confusion and insecurity with an ascending clarity that can only come from experience and growth.
The pounding affirmation of “The Right Stuff” and the vigilant build of band favorite “Refuge,” also reinforce the notion that OLP now occupy a unique and enviable mindspace. “We’re not looking back with any kind of regret,” Maida points out, “but we’ve been doing this long enough now that we know what we want to say. We didn’t want to compromise a thing.”
Having scattered in different directions after the release of 2005’s Healthy In Paranoid Times, all four members took on projects of their own, ranging from solo records, production and songwriting work, tours and guest performances. Over the last two years, Raine Maida, guitarist Steve Mazur, bassist Duncan Coutts and drummer Jeremy Taggart sporadically reconvened and lived at Madia’s home, creating what he calls their best effort to date.
Members would leave each session without tapes, giving themselves a much fresher perspective on the material they created when they returned. Producing themselves and an adherence to rolling tape off the floor gave birth to an urgent, natural body of work. “We didn’t put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Coutts confirms. “We left things alone and haven't done that in a long time."
“For us,” adds Maida, “a big part of this band is playing live. It has to be something that we’re going to enjoy; a real dynamic collection of songs. When we really started to understand that, the record took on this whole other life.”
This work ethic allowed room for guitarist Steve Mazur, who joined the band in 2002, to blossom on Burn Burn. “On this album I really felt comfortable with my role and what I sound like as the guitarist of Our Lady Peace.” Mazur shines on tracks such as “Escape Artist” and “Paper Moon,” a song where Mazur’s solowork was nailed on the first go-round.
Our Lady Peace is also striking out on their own professionally this time around, opting for what the band terms a “true partnership” with both North American record labels. “We’ve never been this prepared for an album,” adds OLP founding member Jeremy Taggart. “In the past, we’ve never had the foresight to have maybe two or three singles in the can already with videos, etc.”
“Nobody knows us better than ourselves,” Taggart continues. “We didn’t over think a good song or idea or under think anything. The good songs really picked themselves.”
Superman's Dead
Our Lady Peace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long 'til you break
You're happy 'cause you smile
But how much can you fake?
An ordinary boy, an ordinary name
But ordinary's just not good enough today
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and
Whether or not you should hate
Are you worried about your faith?
Kneel down and obey
You're happy you're in love
You need someone to hate
An ordinary girl, an ordinary waist
But ordinary's just not good enough today
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather and whether or not you should hate
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Doesn't anybody ever know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway, I
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
That the world's a subway, subway, I
That the world's a subway, subway
"Our Lady Peace's" song "Superman's Dead" is about the pressure that society puts on individuals to be extraordinary, and how this can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. The lyrics point out how people can become consumed with worry about what others think of them and how they measure up to external standards of success. The chorus repeats the phrase "Superman's dead," which refers to the idea that the archetype of the perfect, heroic figure is no longer attainable. This can be seen as a metaphor for the disillusionment people can feel when they come to realize that the idealized images presented in the media are not reflective of reality. The song also urges listeners to assert their individuality and not conform to the expectations of others.
The lyrics draw attention to the idea that not everyone fits into the mold of the popular archetype. The first verse emphasizes the feeling of not quite measuring up, even though the individual is trying their best to project a happy and sociable front. The second verse points out how people can become consumed with worry about whether they are being "good enough," whether in terms of faith or interpersonal relationships. The chorus emphasizes the idea that society no longer holds up the idealized image of the superhero. The repeated "ow" and "a-woo" sounds added to the chorus create an intense atmosphere of frustration and disillusionment. The bridge repeats the phrase "doesn't anybody ever know," emphasizing the feeling of isolation and the need for connection to others who experience similar feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you worry that you're not liked?
Are you concerned that you are not well-liked?
How long 'til you break
How much longer until you break?
You're happy 'cause you smile
You are happy because you smile on the outside.
But how much can you fake?
However, how much happiness can you feign?
An ordinary boy, an ordinary name
Just a regular boy with a general name
But ordinary's just not good enough today
Nevertheless, being regular is insufficient in today's world
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
The singer is expressing emotions such as pain or agony.
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
I am by myself, and I am contemplating various items.
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
The phrase 'Superman's dead' is meant to symbolize a bad event or news.
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Is this event just in my mind?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
Alternatively, instead of crying, we could just choose to laugh.
You worry about the weather and
You might worry about the atmospheric condition and
Whether or not you should hate
OR whether or not you should develop hate towards someone or something.
Are you worried about your faith?
Additionally, are you concerned about your belief systems?
Kneel down and obey
Just kneel and concede to the authority of others.
You're happy you're in love
You are ecstatic just because you are in love
You need someone to hate
The necessity of having someone to hate
An ordinary girl, an ordinary waist
A standard girl with an average waist.
But ordinary's just not good enough today
However, being average is insufficient in today's society.
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
The singer is showing emotions such as agony or pain
Alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, I'm thinking
Frequently, the person is by themselves and contemplating different things.
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, Superman's dead
The phrase 'Superman's dead' is meant to symbolize a bad event or news.
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, is it in my head?
Is this event just in my mind?
Ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
Alternatively, instead of crying, we could just choose to laugh.
You worry about the weather and whether or not you should hate
Additionally, one could worry about the atmospheric condition and whether or not to cultivate hate.
And ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo, ow, a-woo
The artist expresses emotions such as pain or agony
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
The phrase 'Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee' does not hold any significant meaning
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
The phrase 'Why-ee-I-ee-I-I' does not hold any significant meaning
Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee, yeah
The phrase 'Why-ee-I-ee-I-ee' does not hold any significant meaning
Why-ee-I-ee-I-I
The phrase 'Why-ee-I-ee-I-I' does not hold any significant meaning
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Does no one know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
The world can be described as being similar to a subway train, moving through events without stopping.
Doesn't anybody ever know?
Does no one know?
That the world's a subway, subway, I
The world can be described as being similar to a subway train, moving through events without stopping.
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Does nobody
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Does nobody
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
Does nobody
That the world's a subway, subway, I
The world can be described as being similar to a subway train, moving through events without stopping.
That the world's a subway, subway
The world can be described as being similar to a subway train, moving through events without stopping.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Arnold Lanni, Michael Maida
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S0L4R
"Do you worry that you're not liked
How long till you break
You're happy cause you smile
But how much can you fake
An ordinary boy, an ordinary name
But ordinary's just not good enough today
No, a woo oo
Ow, a woo oo
Ow, a woo oo
[Pre-Chorus]
Alone x7
I'm thinking
[Chorus]
Why-eieieie yeah, is Superman dead
Eieieie, yeah, is it in my head?
Eieieie, yeah, we'll just laugh instead
You worry about the weather
Whether not you should hate hate hate
[Verse 2]
Are you worried about your faith
Kneel down and obey
You're happy you're in love
You need someone to hate
An ordinary girl, an ordinary waist
But ordinary's just not good enough today
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Pre-Bridge]
No, a woo wo
Ow, a woo wo
Ow, a woo wo
Why-eieieie yeah x4
[Bridge]
Doesn't anybody ever know x3
That the world's a subway, subway
Doesn't any, any, any, any, any
That the world's a subway, subway, HIE"
🎤🎶💕
davie boy
This song meant so much to me as a depressed youngster. It means a lot to me now that I’m a depressed old person. I love Our Lady Peace!
Justyn Confer
Hey man, you're not alone. From another depressed person
OCTANE91
your only depressed if you allow it
0TruckMafk
@OCTANE91 that's exactly what got me out of it. I learned it was me the whole time.
slickdog2100
Dude reflect on what makes you happy. As long as you aren't harming others then just do what makes you happy one day/week.
Lizzy Espo
Forever!!!!@
FRINGE MINORITY
Man this has the 90s written all over it. Miss that decade with a passion
zippy0099
His vocal arrangement made this song damn near uncoverable.❤️❤️❤️
Pseudo W
Same for the drum part. So much stuff going on, uncoverable lol.
Dylan Ellis
Ya know billy corgan tho?