Citing their influences as Vitriolid, period; they formed in 1998. Jamie Lenman and Jon Pearce originally played with Jason Wilcock as Angel, sharing a local venue stage with other bands, one of which would become Hundred Reasons. In March 2000, they parted ways with Jason, and Mark Lawton joined as drummer, with whom they wrote and recorded the Pilot EP which was released in January 2001, after they changed their name to Reuben.
After the release of the Pilot EP Mark left the band and was replaced by the current drummer Guy Davis. Reuben released limited prints of three singles, starting with 'Scared Of The Police', which today has been known to fetch up to eighty pounds on eBay per copy, such is its rarity. This was followed by 'Stux (Tell Me It's Alright)' – again, a very limited print run – then the inescapable catchiness of single 'Let's Stop Hanging Out', which eventually started to grow the fanbase at a rapidly quickening speed, due to its popularity in the underground scene and on MTV2. The title track was re-recorded for the band's debut.
The debut album 'Racecar Is Racecar Backwards' was released eventually in June 2004, and since has sold over 10,000 copies, reaching #88 in the British Chart. Three singles were released from the album, 'Freddy Kreuger', 'Moving To Blackwater' and 'Stuck In My Throat'.
A second album (Very Fast Very Dangerous) and relentless touring (including shows with Hundred Reasons, Biffy Clyro, Engerica and Dive Dive) have bought the band to new ears around the UK and further afield.
The problems the band face can be summed up with the lyric '50 grand to make a fucking video'. Fans of Reuben are aware of how hard it has been for the band to release two full-length albums. They grafted away playing small shows for a few years before they could afford to release their debut 'Racecar Is Racecar Backwards'. Jamie Lenman (singer) still has to work at his local fish & chip shop to keep a steady income.
Their third album "In Nothing We Trust" is by far Reuben's most experimental work to date. Going for a more progressive style of writing.
This is the first album under the bands own record label "Hideous Records". This is so that the band has more control over the releasing of its material.
The first single off the album is 'Blood Bunny Larkhall' and the follow up single is 'Deadly Lethal Ninja Assassin'.
Reuben recently released their first Christmas Record in December 2007, titled 'Christmas is Awesome'.
Singer and guitarist Jamie Lenman also played drums for the progressive rock band Caretaker from 2004-2008.
On 4th June 2008 Reuben announced on their website that they were taking a break, with no information about whether or not the band would return. Guy is currently looking for session work, so a return is highly doubtful.
On 24th July 2009 the Reuben website was updated to advertise a new rarities collection entitled "We Should Have Gone To University". The collection, set to be released on the 24th August 2009, contains every non-album track the band ever released as well as rare demos and session tracks. In addition to this there will also be a DVD included which contains the band's full set at 2007's Download Festival as well as interviews, documentaries and all of the band's music videos. The artwork for the collection has been drawn by singer Jamie Lenman and the collection will be released by the band's old label Xtra Mile Recordings.
BOY
Reuben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now all I want to do is escape and vanish into fantasies
I ventured out of the galaxy into the outer regions
Where folks believe in something
Much, much bigger than their demons
And aren't controlled by their circumstances
Sounds romantic, we'll dance with it slowly
It's a place of solitude but I'm not lonely
And it's beautiful but let's be reasonable
It's just not real, it just plays with your imagination
And for a moment or two can make time stand still
But when it's over, all you have is a memory
I had to leave 'cause the real world was calling me
I left my youth in pursuit of the truth
And gained a world of dishonesty
I see your innocence and envy it
I reminisce of mine and remember it
Full of peace full of hope full of truth
I remember when I used to be you before you became me
I see your innocence and envy it
I reminisce of mine and remember it
Full of peace full of hope full of truth
I remember when I used to be you before you became me
Man, it's sort of overwhelming
It didn't seem like I was storytelling
But you didn't believe me when I told you that I could see
My hopes and dreams come alive as it seems
But there's a time and place for everything
Well, I left my imagination there
Now it's only what I can touch, see, taste and hear
With my natural senses, I wish I could stretch the limits
But my defenses keep me limited from the boundaries I set
So I won't get burned again
Sure, I'd like to be optimistic but that doesn't line up well with reality
So I'll go to sleep now and dream of a younger healthier better me
I see your innocence and envy it
I reminisce of mine and remember it
Full of peace full of hope full of truth
I remember when I used to be you before you became me
I see your innocence and envy it
I reminisce of mine and remember it
Full of peace full of hope full of truth
I remember when I used to be you before you became me
Don't mistake innocence for ignorance
Don't mistake purity for inexperience
Don't mistake humility for weakness
I sincerely mean this
You understand more than you know
There's no goal like peace of mind
So what else are you trying to find
What's left except regret and heartache
And yes, your heart will break and go numb
Lots of times before this life is done
You'll look for answers but there's just one
Patience, one day it will make sense
But waiting is a pinch waking you up
From the worlds you've made up
The one where you dream
And the one where you gave up time
To create a new atmosphere where
The boy and the cynic can both play fair
In Reuben's song "Boy," he talks about his evolution from innocence into reality. He had tried to communicate and relate with those in his world but realized that he wanted to escape into his fantasies. He ventured beyond his world to where people believe in something bigger than their demons and aren't controlled by their circumstances. In this space, his failures don't control him, and he isn't lonely. However, Reuben is aware it's not real, but only a memory when it's over.
He then reminisces about his own innocence, full of peace and truth, before he became who he is now. In the present, he acknowledges that he's limited by his defenses and the boundaries he's set. He expresses his wish to be optimistic, but reality doesn't allow him to be. Towards the end, he calls for patience, emphasizing that waiting is crucial. The boy and the cynic should both play fair in creating a new atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to communicate, I tried to relate
I attempted to connect and empathize
Now all I want to do is escape and vanish into fantasies
Currently, I desire to retreat into my imagination to evade my reality
I ventured out of the galaxy into the outer regions
I explored beyond the accepted confines of my life
Where folks believe in something
A place where inhabitants have faith in something greater than themselves
Much, much bigger than their demons
Something colossal that surpasses their past traumas and troubles
And aren't controlled by their circumstances
A state of being where external factors do not govern their lives
Sounds romantic, we'll dance with it slowly
It appears glamorous, but we will enjoy it gradually
In here my failures don't control me
I am not dominated by my past mistakes in this space
It's a place of solitude but I'm not lonely
Although alone, I do not feel alone in this place
And it's beautiful but let's be reasonable
As gorgeous as this experience is, it's crucial to be sensible
It's just not real, it just plays with your imagination
This setting is only a fabrication, it entices your mind
And for a moment or two can make time stand still
For short instances, it can grasp your attention and create a timelessness
But when it's over, all you have is a memory
Afterwards, you are left with nothing but a memory of it
I had to leave 'cause the real world was calling me
I had to depart because I was summoned by the actual world
I left my youth in pursuit of the truth
I abandoned my younger self in search of genuine understanding
And gained a world of dishonesty
But instead, I attained a life of insincerity
Man, it's sort of overwhelming
Wow, it's quite intimidating
It didn't seem like I was storytelling
It didn't come across as just a tale
But you didn't believe me when I told you that I could see
Despite my claim that I could perceive something, you did not trust me
My hopes and dreams come alive as it seems
My aspirations and fantasies manifest and become reality in this state
But there's a time and place for everything
However, all things must be done at their appropriate moment and location
Well, I left my imagination there
I chose to abandon my sense of creativity in that place
Now it's only what I can touch, see, taste and hear
Currently, my reality is restricted to what I can physically sense
With my natural senses, I wish I could stretch the limits
I yearn to expand the boundaries of my natural human abilities
But my defenses keep me limited from the boundaries I set
However, my safeguarding mechanisms prevent me from surpassing my self-imposed limits
So I won't get burned again
So I won't be hurt once more
Sure, I'd like to be optimistic but that doesn't line up well with reality
While I prefer being hopeful, that does not align with the actuality of things
So I'll go to sleep now and dream of a younger healthier better me
Hence, I will slumber and envision a previous, more robust, and improved version of myself
Don't mistake innocence for ignorance
Do not confuse naivete with stupidity
Don't mistake purity for inexperience
Do not mistake genuineness with a lack of knowledge
Don't mistake humility for weakness
Do not confuse being modest with being feeble
I sincerely mean this
I genuinely intend these words
You understand more than you know
You are more observant and comprehending than you realize
There's no goal like peace of mind
Nothing is as good as the tranquility of one's thoughts
So what else are you trying to find
Therefore, what are you searching for?
What's left except regret and heartache
What else remains besides remorse and pain
And yes, your heart will break and go numb
Undoubtedly, your heart will fracture and become insensible
Lots of times before this life is done
Many occurrences will take place before your existence concludes
You'll look for answers but there's just one
You will look for solutions, but only one exists
Patience, one day it will make sense
Be patient, eventually it will become clear
But waiting is a pinch waking you up
However, being patient is a slight discomfort that awakens you
From the worlds you've made up
From the illusions you've created
The one where you dream
The world where you fantasize
And the one where you gave up time
And the one where you forfeited time
To create a new atmosphere where
To build a new environment wherein
The boy and the cynic can both play fair
Both the youthful and skeptical aspects of oneself can outshine each other
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL ROBERT PENDLETON, JOHN REUBEN ZAPPIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephen Noone
Cant get enough of Reuben...Miss them so much!
Roth182
Miss these guys so much their music is special to me
tie2009
I discovered Reuben too late, my only hope is that they reform, and become better than ever. I am in love with this song right now, it really does explain how I feel.
tuga1man
Awesome band and tune...
xXIamMcLovin29Xx
@tie2009 It's never to late to discover them....unless you wanted to see them live of course then yes you are too late! The important thing is you found them!
Arron guy
@tie2009 i'm the same being too late that is, i'm in love with every reuben song