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.
Their first album under their new name "Wooden Bones" was released April 28th, 2009
Merchandise and news is available from their Official site.
Into The West
Pilot Speed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all my memories follow you there
Where love took shape
And love woke shame
Now I'm left to take the blame
From rushin' in
From closin' up
What we've built up
You were never wrong
All the same
My way was so hard to change
So hard to change
So hard to change
This woolen blanket
This seaside view
And The war we waged on
Ocean chill
As we slipped away
The grey stood still
Held captive upon this hill
And the lies he told
The result of fame
Where all your actions
Belie your name
When the rising sun
Won't break my fall
You'll still be the one I call
The one I call
The one I call
[Indistinct background vocals]
In Pilot Speed's song Into The West, the lyrics center around a relationship that has ended and the aftermath of the breakup. The song opens with the imagery of crossing a bridge into the west, leaving all of the memories behind. The memories that follow the person are ones where love took shape and brought shame to the relationship. The singer is left to take the blame for the breakup, which implies that they may have contributed to the end of the relationship.
The chorus emphasizes the difficulty of changing one's behavior by using repetition of the phrase "so hard to change" and juxtaposes the act of rushing in with the idea of closing up or selling off what has been built. This suggests that the singer may have been impulsive or reckless in the relationship, ultimately leading to its demise. Additionally, the seemingly positive woolen blanket and seaside view are contrasted with the war the couple waged on the ocean chill, creating a sense of tension and unease in the relationship.
The final verse touches on the lies someone told that were the result of fame, and how someone's actions can belie their name. It ends on a poignant note, with the singer acknowledging that even if the rising sun won't break their fall, the person they will still call upon is their former lover. The use of indistinct background vocals adds to the haunting and melancholic atmosphere of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
When you cross that bridge into the west
The memories we built together may be taken away when you go to the other side, but I'll still remember them.
And all my memories follow you there
The memories of our love and the things we shared will stay with me and are now a part of me to carry forward.
Where love took shape
The place where we fell in love and started building a life together.
And love woke shame
The mistakes we made along the way that caused shame and pain, but we still held onto love.
Now I'm left to take the blame
I must take responsibility for my actions that led to the breakdown of our relationship.
From rushin' in
We moved too quickly in the beginning of our relationship and didn't take time to fully understand each other.
From closin' up
We closed ourselves off from each other and didn't communicate effectively, leading to misunderstandings and resentment.
For sellin' off
We gave up on our dreams and on each other too easily instead of fighting to keep them alive and thriving.
What we've built up
The life, love, and memories we created together.
You were never wrong
Despite our failures, you were never at fault and always tried your best to make things work.
All the same
Despite those efforts, things didn't work out the way either of us wanted.
My way was so hard to change
I struggled with letting go of my own desires and ego to compromise and work together.
This woolen blanket
The comfort and familiarity of our shared experiences and memories.
This seaside view
The beauty and majesty of the world around us that we once enjoyed together.
And The war we waged on
The conflict and battles we fought against each other instead of with each other to keep our relationship alive.
Ocean chill
The cold, harsh reality of our failed relationship.
As we slipped away
Our relationship slowly faded away until there was nothing left.
The grey stood still
The numbness and emptiness that filled the void where love had once been.
Held captive upon this hill
Unable to move on and escape the pain of our past, we remain stuck in our memories and emotions.
And the lies he told
The deceit and betrayal that damaged our trust and love.
The result of fame
The negative impact that fame and the pressure of living in the public eye had on our relationship.
Where all your actions
The hurtful and damaging things you did that made it hard for us to repair what was broken.
Belie your name
Your actions went against the person I thought you were, and it made it hard for me to forgive you.
When the rising sun
New beginnings and opportunities to move forward from our past hurt and pain.
Won't break my fall
Even if things still go wrong, I won't give up completely and will keep fighting for a better future.
You'll still be the one I call
Despite everything, I still hold onto hope that our love can be rekindled and that we can come together again.
The one I call
You are the one I turn to in my thoughts and heart, even if we are physically apart.
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.