Before recording any full length albums, Radiohead found their demo tape and invited them to be part of the US tour for The Bends. After that, they moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Los Angeles, California to record their first album. Several band mates suffered from substance abuse and homelessness after moving from Alabama.
Their first album, self-titled, drew from these experiences and unfortunately received little recognition or sales. The subsequent album Villa Elaine caused them to be praised as "the next big thing". Villa Elaine was recorded when the band was living in an apartment of the same name in Hollywood. Remy Zero's third album The Golden Hum was also received well. A 30 second clip of the song "Save Me" from The Golden Hum was used as the theme song for WB's Smallville. Remy Zero's music has also been on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show. Most recently Remy Zero's song "Fair" from Villa Elaine was used in the film Garden State, and "Prophecy", also from Villa Ellaine was used in The Last Kiss. In 2003 Jeffrey Cain, Cedric Lemoyne, and Gregory Slay formed The Engine Room and wrote the theme song to the television show Nip/Tuck titled "A Perfect Lie" which was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Remy Zero broke up after making The Golden Hum and many of its members have joined new bands. Shelby and Cinjun Tate have created Spartan Fidelity, Jeffrey Cain has formed Isidore with Steve Kilbey of The Church and recorded a solo album under the name Dead Snares,Gregory Slay has recorded multiple albums as Sleepwell, and Cedric Lemoyne has collaborated with Orenda Fink of Azure Ray on an album set for release in early 2009.
In 2006 there was reason to believe, from their MySpace posting, that the group was attempting to reform. However, as of Summer 2007, the Remy Zero MySpace page showed the following statement: "The story so far: We formed in Birmingham, AL in 1989. We took a break in 2003. We thought momentarily that we might start making music again, but now... who knows. We'll keep you posted here on whatever we're doing - together or separately - as much as we can. Stay tuned...". The Remy Zero website now has the following message:
"The five of us thank all of you who have listened, & had faith in us.
These years as Remy Zero have given birth to music and friendships that will hopefully live on past this moment. We will take the inspiration, lessons, and spirits we have encountered as each of us moves forward into new territories. Remy Zero has been put to rest.
thank you again
peace,
cedric, cinjun, jeffrey, gregory, shelby".
On Tuesday May 22, 2007 Jeffrey Cain's solo album Dead Snares Speak the Language was released, featuring performances with fellow Remy Zero members Cedric LeMoyne, Gregory Slay and Leslie Van Trease. A limited edition release on 180 gram vinyl was made available through SoundIsidore Recordings.
Motorcycle
Remy Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And closed the gates.
Shadows move all across my room
In waves of late.
I almost think this table is alive.
[Chorus]
Nothing could go further in the dark.
Circle and cycle.
Now it's going to change,
You say nothing stays the same.
Stay, I'm afraid.
I sleep all day.
A thousand hours are in your mouth.
I dreamed our learning and
Now its time to dream our turning out.
[Chorus]
This is on, it can't be wrong.
Repeat chorus.
Goodnight, sweet Michael.
Now you're going to change,
You say nothing stays the same.
Free and wild, an amazing child.
You'll be my end.
Remy Zero's song Motorcycle is a reflective piece that ultimately touches on the inevitability of change. The opening lines, “Too much wine has crossed my mind and closed the gates, shadows move all across my room in waves of late” set the tone for the song- that of subdued sadness and self-awareness. The singer feels trapped and immobilized by their own thoughts, unable to move forward. The line, “I almost think this table is alive” reinforces this feeling of being stuck, or perhaps of feeling like the world is moving around them while they remain still.
The chorus, with its repetition of “Black motorcycles, nothing could go further in the dark, circle and cycle, now it’s going to change, you say nothing stays the same” further emphasizes the theme of change throughout the song. The motorcycles could represent change, or perhaps uncertainty- they are powerful and unstoppable, but also unknown and sometimes scary. The singer acknowledges this change and uses it as a source of comfort, reminding themselves that nothing stays the same forever.
The final verse, “Free and wild, an amazing child, you'll be my end,” could be interpreted in a few different ways. It seems to be addressed to someone specific, perhaps a lover or a friend. The idea of being “free and wild” suggests that they might be leaving, or evolving into someone new- someone that the singer can’t keep up with or follow. The final line, “you'll be my end” suggests that this change is bittersweet- it might be painful for the singer to lose someone they care about, but it’s also inevitable. Overall, Motorcycle is a thoughtful and introspective song about the natural progression of life and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Too much wine has crossed my mind
I have consumed too much alcohol and it's clouding my thoughts.
And closed the gates.
It's as if my mind has shut down.
Shadows move all across my room
There are dark thoughts and feelings overwhelming me.
In waves of late.
These feelings seem to come in waves.
I almost think this table is alive.
My imagination is running wild and making me think things that aren't true.
[Chorus]
The refrain of the song begins.
Black motorcycles.
These motorcycles represent danger and a sense of the unknown.
Nothing could go further in the dark.
When things are uncertain, it's hard to predict what will happen.
Circle and cycle.
Life repeats itself in cycles.
Now it's going to change,
Change is inevitable.
You say nothing stays the same.
Things are constantly in flux and undergoing transformation.
Stay, I'm afraid.
Fear is holding me back from making a move.
I sleep all day.
I'm avoiding my problems and responsibilities by sleeping.
A thousand hours are in your mouth.
There are many things left unsaid and unspoken.
I dreamed our learning and
I once thought we were growing and becoming more mature.
Now its time to dream our turning out.
But now it's time to reevaluate and reinvent ourselves.
[Chorus]
The refrain of the song begins again.
This is on, it can't be wrong.
We're going to take action and trust that we're making the right choice.
Repeat chorus.
The refrain is repeated.
Goodnight, sweet Michael.
A farewell to a friend or a part of oneself.
Now you're going to change,
Things are going to change, whether you're ready for it or not.
You say nothing stays the same.
Things are always in motion and transforming. Don't expect things to stay the same.
Free and wild, an amazing child.
The world is full of potential and endless possibilities.
You'll be my end.
This journey will come to an end and we'll have to embrace the next phase of our lives.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AUGUST CINJUN TATE, CEDRIC LEMOYNE, CINJUN TATE, GREGORY SLAY, GREGORY SCOTT SLAY, JEFFREY CAIN, JEFFREY CAIN THOMPSON, SHELBY TATE
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