Paper Tongues' eclectic sound ranges from bombastic songs like "For the People" that can light up a packed arena or a dance floor, while the soulful electronica-infused "Trinity" is inspiring and invigorating. Guitarist Devin Forbes comments, "Our music is extremely eclectic because we're all coming from different places. Aswan grew up with hip hop, Clayton grew up with electronica and I grew up with rock, but it all comes together fluidly in Paper Tongues."
Paper Tongues was officially born in 2007 on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina. Lead singer Aswan North, helped found the “Inprov Music Experience”, a weekly event where musicians played for the homeless at a main intersection in the middle of the city. The current band lineup congregated at uptown Charlotte weekly, slowly developing a bond. Aswan started cultivating his song writing and presence during those shows. He brought those street sounds and ideas to producers in Los Angeles. It didn't take long for Aswan's collaborators to feel the power and magnitude behind the ideas of his music. This caught Cody and Devin's attention. They had been formally playing as Paper Tongues. With Cody, Devin, Jordan and Clayton's help, Aswan quickly set out to find other members for this entity. As the songs sprung to life, Paper Tongues was reborn with the same vision to impact rock n' roll with a new sound.
A wide variety of influences inform Aswan's vibrant, vivacious vocal style, which falls somewhere between Al Green's Sultry falsetto and Steve Perry’s uplifting bravado. "Kool & the Gang and Grandmaster Flash were hugely influential. Anything out there with a great hook grabs my attention. As a kid, there was a ton of country music around me—Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty. I took all that in too, and it helped me write lyrics."
Working with producers Brian West (Nelly Furtado, K'naan, Béla Fleck), Mark Endert (Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, Madonna), John Fields (Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World), Billy Hume (Ying Yang Twins, Bone Crusher, David Banner) and up-and-coming producer, Nicolas Balachandran. Paper Tongues crafted an album that's bustling with energy. However, there's a deeper purpose for the band. Keyboardist Cody Blackler explains, "It's rock music for sure, but we also want to bring something new.”
Paper Tongues want to work from the inside out too. Aswan continues, "I wouldn't want to start a revolution. I believe things only change from the inside out. I don't feel that we can change much unless we're willing to join hands with people who have already been bleeding. We want to do something new and fresh with the tools that already exist so the people who built those tools respect and honor us as their nephews." There's no doubt they will.
Ultimately, for Aswan and Co. Paper Tongues is a way of life. "We want fans to walk away from our music with that good feeling. We think our music can bring healing for a group of people, a society, bad politics and artists that feel hopeless. Paper Tongues' music should heal you and make you take a chance again."
One More Time
Paper Tongues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
(Na na na na na na na na na
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
(Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na)
I'm like traffic lights and city streets
Calling you, look to me, I go
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
People hurt, I see them bleed
Their faces show the pain beneath, I go
Don't look down now
I'm your way out
Your skin is orange, my skin is green
But that don't mean a thing to me, I go
Don't point here friend
Just be kind man
Take a step and then you fall
You get back up and still you fall, I go
Don't hold back now
We'll win somehow
(Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na)
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
(Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na)
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
I catch too much heat when I fight defeat
Theres nothing left inside of me, I go
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
What if my home was built rome?
Would my kingdom fall or stand alone?, I go
Lets get free now
Tear that wall down
(Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na)
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
(Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na)
Don't turn back now
Just one more mile
Don't get lost inside of your mind
Its only dark until the sun rises
I think we were made for doing something
Don't excite the path, you never left it
If you turn you're never gonna be someone
Life is short, don't look back, I never saw you
This is how the world is gonna make it
One by one we're all gonna make it
Oh, lets hit the road
Lets see the world through brand new eyes
So much to see
There's more than you, there's more than me
Come, its just above
Its not that far, you can't somehow
What if you're late? for more than this
Your price is paid
Just one more mile
Don't get lost inside of your mind
Its only dark until the sun rises
I think we were made for doing something
Don't excite the path, you never left it
If you turn you're never gonna be someone
Life is short, don't look back, I never saw you
This is how the world is gonna make it
One by one we're all gonna make it
Its a brand new day
I'm still alive
What can I say?
The road was mighty hard
But its okay
I did my pride
Just one more mile
The lyrics to Paper Tongues's song "One More Mile" seem to be a message of hope and encouragement for someone who is facing a difficult situation or challenge. The repeated refrain of "Don't turn back now, just one more mile" is a reminder that success is within reach and that with persistence and determination, it's possible to overcome even the toughest obstacles.
The verses of the song feature some vivid imagery and metaphors, with the singer comparing themselves to things like traffic lights and city streets, and urging the listener to "take a step and then you fall / You get back up and still you fall." The bridge of the song offers some reassurance, saying "I think we were made for doing something / Don't excite the path, you never left it / If you turn you're never gonna be someone / Life is short, don't look back, I never saw you / This is how the world is gonna make it / One by one we're all gonna make it."
The song seems to offer a powerful message of hope and resilience, urging listeners to keep pushing forward even when they feel like giving up. It's a motivational anthem that could resonate with anyone who is feeling discouraged or overwhelmed, and a reminder that even when the road ahead seems long and difficult, it's always possible to take one more step and keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Na na na na na na na na na
Refrain/Background music
Don't turn back now
Don't give up yet
Just one more mile
Keep pushing yourself further
I'm like traffic lights and city streets
I'm always here and ready to guide you
Calling you, look to me, I go
Follow my lead
People hurt, I see them bleed
I see the struggles people face
Their faces show the pain beneath, I go
I understand their pain and I'm there to help
Don't look down now
Don't lose hope
I'm your way out
I'm the solution
Your skin is orange, my skin is green
We may be different, but we're in this together
But that don't mean a thing to me, I go
I don't judge based on appearances
Don't point here friend
Don't blame or criticize
Just be kind man
Show compassion and understanding
Take a step and then you fall
You may stumble along the way
You get back up and still you fall, I go
I'll keep supporting you
Don't hold back now
Give it your all
We'll win somehow
We'll succeed in the end
I catch too much heat when I fight defeat
I face criticism when I struggle
Theres nothing left inside of me, I go
But I'll still keep trying
What if my home was built rome?
What if I had great aspirations?
Would my kingdom fall or stand alone?, I go
Would I succeed or fail, but I'll still try
Lets get free now
Let's break down the barriers
Tear that wall down
Eliminate the obstacles
Don't get lost inside of your mind
Don't doubt yourself
Its only dark until the sun rises
Things will get better
I think we were made for doing something
We all have a purpose
Don't excite the path, you never left it
Don't let fear hold you back
If you turn you're never gonna be someone
If you give up, you'll never succeed
Life is short, don't look back, I never saw you
Life is too short to have regrets
This is how the world is gonna make it
This is how we'll make a difference
One by one we're all gonna make it
We'll all succeed if we try
Its a brand new day
A new opportunity to achieve our goals
I'm still alive
I'm still here, pushing forward
What can I say?
I've overcome adversity
The road was mighty hard
The journey was difficult
But its okay
But I made it
I did my pride
I persevered and accomplished my goals
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ASWAN NORTH, JORDAN HARDEE, NICOLAS BALACHANDRAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crystalann Aronhalt
I love this song so much. Heard it on RadioU and had to call the station to find out what it was called and who it was by. Then soon discovered I couldn't find it ANYWHERE! So glad I can listen to this whenever I want now :)
HeavenlyGlory
Hard to find music like this, especially from this band. Love them much. I❤️RADU
Pat 1984
Love there music I hope they blow up and make it big there great dudes I wish them the best go take over the charts Paper Tongues
Joshua Scalf
I love this song. I heard it first on the radio in Santa Maria. Well, now it is making waves in New Orleans.
DDA
The real questions is what's happened from 2010 to now during that time? Their last album was in 2010, I've waited 8 years to hear this song, yeah pretty pumped to hear this song.
Jaqen H'Ghar
I saw them opening for Switchfoot in 2010 and I saw them again in 2011 from the front row and Aswan gave me a fist bump (humblebrag I know), he always had some of the most amazing energy of any of the live shows I've seen and was so bummed when they didn't put out any more albums after that. Still sad to not have heard anything since the few songs that were released last year.
Elie Duguay
This group is so ready.
It’s mind boggling why they aren’t pumping out albums .
Guys YOU ARE READY.
I can’t pay you and can’t support you if you don’t drop it on iTunes.
Stop giving it away.
nathaniel alvarado
Mannn they were awesome they need to blow up!@
Yung Momentum
@DDA He's in a song called When I'm Lost by Brandon Burke
DDA
Dude their last album was in 2010 and I've been waiting 8 years to hear this song! OMGoodness these guys are amazing, the real questions is what happened during that time?