Their debut EP Taking Abalonia was released in 2007. It was re-released with seven new songs on June 3, 2008, in Canada as a full-length LP under the name Howe Sounds / Taking Abalonia.
On July 1, 2009, Said the Whale released the EP The Magician to drum up anticipation for the release of their second full-length album Islands Disappear on October 13, 2009.
In the spring of 2011, Said the Whale toured the U.S. for the first time. During this time they were the subject of the CBC documentary "Winning America" directed by Brent Hodge and Thomas Buchan. The movie documented the band's trip and performances along the West Coast of North America on their way to and from Austin, Texas' SXSW Music Festival and culminated when Said the Whale won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards. The documentary aired on July 23, 2011, in British Columbia, and on April 7, 2012, across Canada.
They released their EP New Brighton on November 8, 2011, in preparation for their third full-length album, Little Mountain, released internationally on March 6, 2012.
In early 2012, the band was awarded a spot on the Canadian music magazine Rockstar Weekly's list of the "Top 12 RockStars to Watch in 2012". The list also included Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Rush. The band performed at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in 2012 and 2013.
Said the Whale released their fourth studio album, titled hawaiii, on September 17, 2013.
On January 4, 2017, they announced their fifth album, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide. At the same time, they announced the departure of Spencer Schoening, and that they would move forward as a trio. The album was released March 31, 2017. The first single was "Step Into The Darkness."
On March 5, 2017, they posted an Instagram video with an email address which fans could contact in order to listen to the whole album for free before its release. Fans could stream the whole album on a personalized, private SoundCloud account from the 10th until the 15th of March without leaking or sharing the link. From the 15th until the 26th of March, the fans could invite their friends to listen to the album in a "listening party" in order to promote it but still not sharing the link to the album, keeping it strictly limited to those who were sent the link.
In September 2018, Said the Whale signed to Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts, and announced a new record to be released in early 2019. The band released a new single "UnAmerican" on October 12, 2018. They released their sixth studio album, Cascadia, on February 8, 2019.
Throughout 2021, Said the Whale released a number of singles and music videos from their upcoming album, including "Honey Lungs," "Everything She Touches is Gold to Me," "Show Me Everything," and "99 to the Moon." In May, Bancroft announced he was launching a new record label called EVERYTHING FOREVER. Said the Whale's seventh studio album, Dandelion, was released on October 22, 2021, via that label.
Lines
Said The Whale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And every street that we crossed
We spoke aloud to each other
I spit against the wind
Down the cemetery lane
We got some dirt in our nails
And we clicked our heels to the west
No, I've got the most important line for you
For you
I've got the most important line
No, I've got the most important line for you
For you
With every stretch of the land
We felt the miles fall behind us
The horizon was brighter
We made some lottery turns, some gambling swerves
For the ex who was played
Oh the choices we made
Important dates and lovers for days
Seems frightful, but it's hardly the case
I got my mommy's advice and my father's attention to every single detail
And if what you said should fail, well, we'll get over it
I've got the most important line
No, I've got the most important line for you
For you
And I know, it breaks your heart to see me letting go
And I know, it breaks your heart to see me letting go
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
I've got the most important line
The lyrics of Said The Whale's "Lines" paint the picture of an adventure, where two people are driving and exploring together. They drive through cities, spit against the wind, and walk through cemeteries, getting dirt under their nails, all while exchanging important lines. The duo drives through stretches of land, feeling the weight of miles falling behind them. They make choices both good and bad, finding new lovers and important dates, but with the support of their parents, they know they can get over the challenges. Finally, the song ends on the realization that letting go is hard for someone, but the most important thing is to hold onto the important lines exchanged during the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we go off
We set off on our journey
And every street that we crossed
We traversed every road along the way
We spoke aloud to each other
We communicated openly with each other
I spit against the wind
I challenged the odds despite the obstacles
Down the cemetery lane
We went through a dark path
We got some dirt in our nails
We went through some tough times on the journey
And we clicked our heels to the west
We made progress towards our goal
With every stretch of the land
As we journeyed through new places
We felt the miles fall behind us
We left our troubles behind
The horizon was brighter
Our future looked promising
We made some lottery turns, some gambling swerves
We took risks on our journey
For the ex who was played
We were hurt by someone from our past
Oh the choices we made
We made some difficult decisions
Important dates and lovers for days
We reminisced about our past relationships
Seems frightful, but it's hardly the case
Despite the challenges, things are not as bad as they seem
I got my mommy's advice and my father's attention to every single detail
I have been equipped with wisdom and attention to detail by my parents
And if what you said should fail, well, we'll get over it
If things don't work out, we will bounce back
And I know, it breaks your heart to see me letting go
I understand that it hurts you to see me move on
I've got the most important line
I have something critical to say
No, I've got the most important line for you
This message is specifically for you
For you
This message is meant for you
Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
trashoclock
just gotta say this is still an absolute bop and is one of my top songs to sing when im alone aha
reactreactreactreact
Just say these guys play at Folk Fest in Ottawa and they absolutely killed it. Such an amazing live performance
Selassi E
They never seem to disappoint
Christina Mitchell
No words can express my love for this band.
peze80
Wonderful video and a wonderful song! Love it!
April1442
Gah, I told my friend about Said the whale, due to the fact he's a swing dancer. He showed up at the music video and they asked him to be an extra swing dancer, and now he's incredibly into them. Completely awesome :)
Harper Lane
Awesome job guys!
solanajo
This is magical!
NerdOnTheNet
I saw your MXC inspired video and now I'm watching this Back to the Future inspired music video. I hope you know that that is my all time favorite trilogy and movies. So yes, yes I am now becoming a fan of you guys and gonna spread the good news.
sujeto16a
I dont understand how this band is so underrated.