Originally from Gu… Read Full Bio ↴Royal City were a Canadian Folk/Indie rock band.
Originally from Guelph, Ontario, the band subsequently moved to Toronto, where their folk rock style made them one of the most popular bands on Canada's indie scene.
Shortly after the release of Little Heart's Ease the band began an extended hiatus. Singer Aaron Riches currently lives in England pursuing a PhD in theology.
The band consisted of Aaron Riches, Lonnie James, Simon Osborne and Jim Guthrie. James replaced original drummer Nathan Lawr in 2002.
So far they have made three albums -
* At Rush Hour the Cars (2000)
* Alone at the Microphone (2001)
* Little Heart's Ease (2004)
Don't You
Royal City Lyrics
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And my lovely, you are so frail
Cigarette ends all of my friends departed
Empty ashtray of cigarette ends
And don't you ever be what they want you to be
And don't you ever be
After which, what forgiveness
Into the ear of Death I cast all my regret
Into the dirty ear of Death
And don't you ever be what they want you to be
And don't you ever be
And don't you ever be what they want you to be
And don't you ever be
These lyrics from Royal City's song Don't You describe a scene of decay and despair. The singer is standing by a balcony rail, looking down at their dirty fingernails and their frail lover. The empty ashtray and departed friends suggest that the singer has been engaging in self-destructive behaviors, smoking and perhaps drinking or doing drugs. The following lines paint a bleak picture of illness and regret, with the singer asking for forgiveness and pleading with death to take away their pain.
The repeated refrain, "And don't you ever be what they want you to be," is a message of defiance and self-acceptance. The singer is warning their lover not to fall into the same traps they have, not to give in to societal pressures to conform or to be something they are not. Instead, they should stay true to themselves and resist the urge to please others at the expense of their own well-being.
Overall, these lyrics paint a picture of someone who is struggling with addiction, regret, and despair, but who still holds onto a sense of self and the belief that their lover can avoid the same fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Dirty fingernails by the balcony rail
I have dirty fingernails and I'm standing by the balcony rail.
And my lovely, you are so frail
You look fragile and delicate, my love.
Cigarette ends all of my friends departed
My friends have all left and there are cigarette butts lying around.
Empty ashtray of cigarette ends
The ashtray is empty now that all the cigarettes have been smoked.
And don't you ever be what they want you to be
Never let others dictate who you should be.
And don't you ever be
Never compromise your true self and values.
Dung and ditches and illness in muddy places
There's dirt, filth, and disease in muddy areas.
After which, what forgiveness
What can we truly forgive after enduring such hardship and suffering?
Into the ear of Death I cast all my regret
I regret everything and I'm telling Death about it.
Into the dirty ear of Death
Death is not something clean or pure, but something grimy and unpleasant.
Contributed by Jeremiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.