Originally formed as Pilate in 1999, the Toronto-based rock quartet changed… Read Full Bio ↴Originally formed as Pilate in 1999, the Toronto-based rock quartet changed their name to "Pilot Speed" in mid-2006, in order to avoid possible lawsuits as their music spread internationally from their native Canada. Pilate were born in 2000 after vocalist and New Zealand native Todd Clark left the music program at the University of Western Ontario where he'd been studying and placed an ad online for potential bandmates. Bassist Ruby Bumrah, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, answered the call, bringing with him fellow alums Chris Greenough (guitar) and Bill Keeley (drums). Citing influences like Crowded House, Radiohead, and U2 for Pilate's especially sweeping brand of melodic rock -- not so dissimilar to acts like Keane, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol -- they released the six-song EP For All That's Given, Wasted in the summer of 2001. It quickly sold out its initial pressing and established the guys as players in the Canadian music scene.

They then landed opening slots on shows for Broken Social Scene, DFA 1979, and Hot Hot Heat, and received the honor of Best Unsigned Band at the 2002 North by Northeast music conference (Canada's version of SXSW in the U.S.). Soon after, Pilate inked a deal with indie MapleMusic Recordings, which then released their full-length debut, Caught by the Window, in 2003. The album produced two hits on national radio and MuchMusic, as the guys toured North America, Australia, and Japan. Their follow-up, Sell Control for Life's Speed, appeared back at home in mid-2006, after which the band changed its name to Pilot Speed. The quartet had signed with Wind-Up earlier that same year following the completion of its third album overall (and first as Pilot Speed), Into the West; the label released the record that September.

Collide
Pilate Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Keep your promise to me tonight, tonight
Or have your eyes betrayed you
Oh tonight, oh tonight

You sell you secrets to me for a price
For a price
You run your blade right through me
My fear dies, leaving your's alive

And though your lips pursue me
In the shadow of your eyes
Love and fear collide

Not you

It's not too lat
Can we open this gate?
Girl I've been here before
I've walked cross these floors

It's not too late
Can we open this gate?
Girl I've been here before
I've walked cross these floors

My fears have won
What are you running from?
My fears have won
What are you running from?
My fears have won
What are you running from?

My tears run
What are you running from?
My fears have won
What are you running from?

My fears have won
What are you running from?

Overall Meaning

The song "Collide" by Pilate is a profound depiction of a troubled relationship between two people who are struggling to communicate their feelings to each other. The lyrics are powerful and emotive, and the use of metaphors makes the song rich and profound. The opening lines of the song "Keep your promise to me tonight, tonight Or have your eyes betrayed you" depicts the frustration and disappointment that arises when one partner feels like they are not being heard or understood. The lines, "You sell your secrets to me for a price, For a price You run your blade right through me" represent the emotional blackmailing that often happens in a relationship, where one partner uses the other's vulnerabilities to get what they want.

However, the most striking part of the song is the chorus, where the two conflicting emotions of love and fear collide. The lyrics "My fears have won, What are you running from? My tears run, What are you running from? My fears have won, What are you running from?" depict the deep-rooted fear and insecurity that the two partners feel. The song is about two people who are trying to come to terms with their true feelings and trying to understand each other better. The line "In the shadow of your eyes Love and fear collide" summarizes the essence of the song.

In conclusion, "Collide" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the complexity of human emotions in a relationship. The use of metaphor and the powerful lyrics make this song one of the most compelling love ballads of all time.

Line by Line Meaning

Keep your promise to me tonight, tonight
I hope you keep your word and fulfill your promise to me tonight.

Or have your eyes betrayed you
I hope your intentions are genuine and your eyes haven't misled me.

You sell you secrets to me for a price
You share your secrets with me in exchange for something valuable.

For a price
You have a price for sharing your secrets with me.

You run your blade right through me
Your words and actions hurt me deeply.

My fear dies, leaving your's alive
Your actions may have affected me, but you seem unscathed.

And though your lips pursue me, in the shadow of your eyes
Your words and actions conflict with the emotions present in your eyes.

Love and fear collide
My feelings of love for you are clashing with my fear of getting hurt.

It's not too late
There is still time to fix things between us.

Can we open this gate?
Can we work together to get past our problems?

Girl I've been here before
I have experienced similar situations in the past.