In late 2008 the band began recording their first album at Beach House Studios in Malmö, Sweden, with producer Anders Hallbäck. The album was completed in 2009 and all songs were mixed at ToyTown Studios by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Europe, Def Leppard, Backyard Babies, Deathstars, etc.).
In 2009 Royal Republic signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia and a record deal with Bonnier Amigo Music. The first single, All Because of You was released in September 2009 and is currently being aired on Swedish radio stations, including Sveriges Radio and Bandit Rock. Their debut album, We Are the Royal was released in Sweden in February 2010 and was well received by critics, fans and rock radio. Their second album was released on on the 24th of August of 2012.
Official website: www.wearetheroyal.com
OIOIOI
Royal Republic Lyrics
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Here we go
There is a man in a robe standing at my front door
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
What's that noise?
There is a big black dog singing songs that chills' my core
Am I alive?
Is this a case that I don't know how to close?
Is this a cage? Am I a show?
It is too soon for me to go
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
What's that sound?
There is an army at march coming up out of the ground
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
It's in my head
The earth is gone and I'm hanging on by a thread
Am I alive?
Am I alone?
Is this a case that I don't know how to close?
Is this a cage? Am I a show?
It is too soon for me to go
There is a man in a robe standing at your front door
There is a man in a robe standing at your front door
There is a man in a robe standing at your front door
I am the man in a robe standing at your front door
Yes, I am
Yes, I am
Now say goodnight
I am the man in a robe standing at your front door
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
The lyrics of Royal Republic's song OIOIOI seem to describe a surreal and confusing situation that the singer finds himself in. He first notes a man in a robe standing at his front door, which is followed by the sounds of a big black dog singing songs that unnerves him. The chorus includes the singer wondering whether he is alive, alone, or trapped in a case that he can't solve. The verse ends with the idea that it's too soon for him to go.
In the second verse, the confusion is amplified as the singer hears an army marching from the ground up, although it's in his head. He hangs on by a thread, but with no guidance as to what's happening. The chorus repeats with the same anxiety stricken thoughts. In the bridge, he wonders if the man in a robe is also at someone else's front door, while the outro/chorus has an intensifying repetition of "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh" creating a sense of paranoia and fear.
It's possible to interpret the lyrics through the lens of anxiety and surrealism. Perhaps the singer is grappling with a situation where things are spiraling out of control, and he can't seem to make sense of it. The feeling of "am I alive?" is a kind of groundlessness that sometimes accompanies anxiety. The confusion caused by the different elements in the song alludes to the surreal nature of anxiety.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
The beginning of a sequence of events that lead to confusion and chaos.
Here we go
The singer acknowledging the start of the chaos.
There is a man in a robe standing at my front door
The singer sees a stranger at their front door dressed in a robe, creating an unexpected situation.
What's that noise?
The singer hears a sound that adds to their unease.
There is a big black dog singing songs that chills' my core
The singer imagines the dog singing songs, making them feel even more unsettled.
Am I alive?
The singer wonders if what's happening is real or just a figment of their imagination.
Am I alone?
The singer ponders whether they have anyone to turn to in this situation.
Is this a case that I don't know how to close?
The singer questions if this is a problem that they can't solve on their own.
Is this a cage? Am I a show?
The singer wonders if they're trapped in a situation they can't escape from, or if they're being watched by someone.
It is too soon for me to go
The singer doesn't want to leave this world yet and hopes to find a way to survive.
There is an army at march coming up out of the ground
The singer sees another unexpected sight, adding to their confusion and fear.
It's in my head
The singer realizes that some of these events might just be in their mind.
The earth is gone and I'm hanging on by a thread
The singer feels like they're barely holding on to their reality as they know it.
There is a man in a robe standing at your front door
The singer addresses the listener, inviting them to imagine themselves in the same situation.
I am the man in a robe standing at your front door
The singer reveals that they are the stranger in the robe, perpetuating the chaotic scenario.
Yes, I am
The singer confirms their identity and perhaps revels in the chaos they've created.
Now say goodnight
The singer's way of ending the chaos and asking the listener to end the song with them.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
The song comes full circle, returning to where it began.
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.