1999 brought the demise of Candlebox and the members went their separate ways.
Peter Klett, a founding member of Candlebox and lead guitarist, is back. If youre looking for the hard rock bombast that was Candlebox, youll find it. What youll also find is the more melodic and ethereal, but equally as volatile side of rock n roll. The result is redlightmusic, a Seattle band with a sound clearly its own.
The bands self-titled debut on Digital Musicworks International (DMI) was produced by Klett along with Kelly Gray and Steve Thompson. redlightmusic finds Klett singing in addition to the expected role of guitarist, with many of the songs borne out of his battles with substance abuse. However, rather than dwell on the pain of addiction, the songs instead focus on the life perspective gained by overcoming such an obstacle. What has resulted is a triumphant collection of spiritually intense and life-affirming songs that are uplifting without being preachy. He bears his soul on these songs, and the result is candid, open and honest.
The song, "A Cigarette" puts you right in Kletts shoes and takes you along for the ride, as few songs do these days. The first verse sets the tone for the entire song:
A cigarette between my lips
A dark and smoke-filled room
I sit down and think of my life
And I wonder if Im living it right?
redlightmusic is also full of potential rock anthems, such as the opening track, "Say It Again," as well as "Face the Day" and "Beautiful," among others. The experience of the last few years has afforded Klett the opportunity for musical growth he couldnt possibly have imagined. The perspective I have on life these days has really allowed me to see further into the songwriting than before, says Peter Klett.
These new songs, however, would not exist without the chemistry within the band. The pieces all fell into place and redlightmusic was born when Klett began jamming with Tommy Woo (guitar and backing vocals), Jason T. Phraner (bass) and Keith Ryland (drums) in the summer of 2002. Woo, Phraner and Ryland have a long history playing together and an incredible musical rapport. Prior to redlightmusic, they spent eight years together in the Seattle band Tongue Tied, then another called Zoo on the Moon. Tommy was introduced to Peter through a mutual friend. Shortly thereafter, he brought in his old friends Jason and Keith, and the rest is history in the making. I have to say how amazing it is to have these guys in this band. I havent felt this kind of connection since the very early days in Candlebox, enthuses Peter Klett.
http://www.myspace.com/redlightmusic
Don't look back
Redlightmusic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What the hell am I still doing here?
What a fool to think that this
Is always only just for awhile
Try to see, see things clear
My strength is giving in
Try to figure out just what the hell
Don't look back
Life is still giving us a chance
Don't break down
Keep on pushing for the best
Almost out, where do I turn?
Give me more just to cure the need
Focus on the here and now
Ok man one more and I'm out of here
Try to see, see thing clear
My strength is giving in
Try to figure out just what the hell
What the hell am I still doing here?
Don't look back
Life is still giving us a chance
Don't break down
Keep on pushing for the best
Don't look back
Life is still giving us a chance
Don't break down
Keep on pushing for the best
The lyrics to Redlightmusic's song Don't Look Back explore the idea of letting go of past mistakes and moving forward towards a better future. The opening lines describe a sense of confusion and regret, with the singer questioning why they are still in their current situation. They acknowledge their own foolishness in thinking that things would only be temporary, suggesting perhaps that they have been stuck in a negative pattern for a while.
As the song progresses, we see the singer trying to gain some clarity and strength. They want to see things more clearly, but are struggling to maintain their resolve. The line "My strength is giving in" suggests a struggle to maintain motivation and avoid giving up. However, the chorus provides a message of hope, urging the listener to keep pushing forward and not give up.
The final lines of the song suggest a sense of determination, with the singer ready to move on to whatever comes next. They describe being almost out and searching for a way forward. While they still feel the temptation to indulge in their unhealthy behavior ("Give me more just to cure the need"), they are ready to put the past behind them.
Overall, the song provides a powerful message about the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. While acknowledging the difficulty of moving past past mistakes, it encourages listeners to keep pushing forward and seize the opportunities life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning calls it's so close
The morning is almost here and it indicates the passing of time
What the hell am I still doing here?
The singer is questioning their current situation and feels like they should move on
What a fool to think that this
Is always only just for awhile
The singer reflects on their past mistake of assuming their current state would only be temporary
Try to see, see things clear
My strength is giving in
The artist is struggling to maintain clarity and focus due to their exhaustion
Try to figure out just what the hell
What the hell am I still doing here?
The artist continues to question and seek clarity about their current situation
Don't look back
Life is still giving us a chance
Don't break down
Keep on pushing for the best
The singer encourages themselves and others not to dwell on the past, but to move forward and strive for improvement
Almost out, where do I turn?
Give me more just to cure the need
The singer is close to a breaking point and desperately seeks a solution to their problems
Focus on the here and now
Ok man one more and I'm out of here
The artist tries to maintain presence and focus on the present moment, preparing to move on to a new situation
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.