Beeson originally formed a band called Johnson in 2001 with his friend Berckelman, before creating the indie band label Motherlovin' Records in 2004. Subsequent bands included Malcolm X & the Black Auditorium and Berkfinger and The Sweats, the latter combining to form Philadelphia Grand Jury in early 2008. Dan Williams (aka Dan W. Sweat) was the band's original drummer before departing from the group in September 2009 to focus on performing with Art vs. Science. He rejoined the band in 2013 as a part of the band's reunion.
In May 2009, the band signed a joint venture deal with Boomtown Records to release their records, on their own label, Normal People Making Hits, with distribution through Shock Records.
In June 2009, the band released "Going to the Casino (Tomorrow Night)" as a 7" vinyl EP. The EP was self-recorded, produced and released. "Going to the Casino" received significant airplay on Triple J and featured on the television mini-series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, also appearing on the soundtrack album. The band's debut album, Hope Is for Hopers, was released on 25 September 2009, reaching #34 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
At the fourth annual AIR Awards, held on 22 November 2009, Philadelphia Grand Jury won an award for 'Best Independent Single or EP'. The video for "The Good News" was filmed in North Sydney and at Parsley Bay, Rowe Street-Bondi Junction & Lighthouse Reserve-Vaucluse.
In October 2010, the band announced that they had Welch had left the band, as the 'rigours of the road have proved too arduous for the 55-year-old drummer'. Welch's replacement was Berlin-based, Brisbane-born Susanna "Susie Dreamboat" Patten (formerly of I Heart Hiroshima), who performed with the band on their tour of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Patten finished touring with the band in January 2011.
In March 2011, news surfaced that the band had abandoned work on the follow up to Hope is for Hopers. When FasterLouder sought a follow-up, they were met with the following statement in regards to the band's current status.
Philadelphia Grand Jury are on something of a hiatus. No need to make it a bigger deal than it is. Creative individuals tend to have more than one project and Philadelphia Grand Jury is just one of Berkfinger’s musical personas. Berkfinger is currently focusing on other projects, including moving his recording gear to Berlin to finish the recordings that he has been working on in the various incarnations of studios that he has built over the years.
On 2 November 2011 the band posted on their Facebook page that the band had broken up.
Beeson moved onto production and remix work under the moniker of Boyhood, while Berckelman relocated to Berlin and began working on a solo project entitled Feelings. In 2013, Berckelman assembled Beeson and Williams to join him on tour in Australia under the Feelings moniker. The three playing together for the first time in nearly four years immediately sparked rumours of a reunion, which were confirmed with a midnight performance by the band at the 2013 BIGSOUND Festival in Brisbane.
No You Don't
Philadelphia Grand Jury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you ever hurt someone you love?
Do you see what I mean?
No you don't
Would you ever eat out of a hand?
Could you ever feel less like a man?
Did you ever?
No you won't
Did you ever?
No I never
No you won't
No you don't
At its core, "No You Don't" by Philadelphia Grand Jury is about feeling disconnected and misunderstood, both by others and even by oneself. The repeated refrain "No you don't" serves to drive this point home - no one truly understands the singer or his experiences. The first verse asks whether the listener has ever been in a difficult situation that caused them to hurt someone they loved. The singer then questions whether the listener truly understands what he means by asking "Do you see what I mean?" but immediately replies with "No you don't," indicating that the listener likely cannot empathize with the singer's experiences.
The second verse takes a more introspective turn, as the singer questions his own sense of masculinity and self-worth. He asks whether the listener could ever feel less like a man and whether they would be willing to eat out of someone's hand, indicating a loss of control and power. Again, the singer immediately answers his own questions with a resounding "No I never" and "No you won't," implying that he himself could never give up control or feel less than masculine.
Overall, "No You Don't" is a poignant and introspective song that delves into the universal human experiences of feeling lost and disconnected from others.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been out on the ropes?
Have you ever taken a risk that could lead to something dangerous or harmful?
Did you ever hurt someone you love?
Have you ever inflicted emotional or physical pain on someone very close to you?
Do you see what I mean?
Do you truly comprehend or understand what I am trying to convey?
No you don't
Your response or reaction to my statement or question indicates that you do not understand.
Would you ever eat out of a hand?
Would you let someone control or manipulate you completely?
Could you ever feel less like a man?
Is it possible for you to become extremely weak or powerless?
Did you ever?
Did you ever experience something specific that I am referring to?
No I never
I have never experienced what you have mentioned or asked.
No you won't
You will never experience or do what I have asked or suggested.
No you don't
Your inability to understand or relate to the situation at hand is obvious.
Contributed by Blake V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.