Born in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, he attended Loyola High School and McGill University. Roberts formed the band William in 1993. The band's name was changed to Northstar in 1996. Although the band gained some notice in independent rock circles, they couldn't break through to a national audience, and broke up in the late 1990s. Roberts' bandmate George Donoso went on to significant success in indie rock circles with The Dears, but Roberts struggled for several years afterward.
In 2000 Roberts began his solo career by independently releasing his first studio album, Brother Down. The album was largely unsuccessful but the title track would later go on to be re-recorded and re-released on a six-song EP titled The Inhuman Condition. The EP sold slowly at first, but by the summer of 2002 Roberts was all over the Canadian airwaves: his first single "Brother Down" had become one of the biggest Canadian hits of the year, and the follow up single "Don't Walk Away Eileen" quickly followed suit.
Roberts then signed to Universal Music, releasing his full-length debut, We Were Born in a Flame, in 2003. That album's singles, "Where Have All the Good People Gone?", "Hard Road", "Brother Down" and "Don't Walk Away Eileen", became major hits, especially in Canada.
The band's album Chemical City, produced with Joseph Donovan and released on April 11, 2006, got major radio play in Canada after its release, especially the single "The Gate".
The band's latest release, the album Love at the End of the World (May 20, 2008), included the song "Them Kids", which reached #1 on the Canadian indie chart (the R3-30), and also #1 on CFNY's Thursday 30 chart.
The band released the album Collider on May 10, 2011.
Every Part Of Me
Sam Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were always on the run
From that old witch up the street
In the days when I was young
Ride
Ride our bikes on into town
For some hockey cards and whatever trouble may be found
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Down
Down was only a direction
And sad
Sad was only on TV
And I had faith and I had protection
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
I still look back
The summer sun shining
A light was always shining on me
I was gone with the feel of her lips
On my very first kiss
And it seems so long since I left it all behind
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
Choking on cigarettes in the park
Chasing my old dog around the yard
Hanging out on the street until dark
And then it's time to go home
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Snow was always falling down
And the sound remains inside the very heart of me
My mother waving from the porch
And the sight of it still plays in every part of me
The song "Every Part Of Me" by Sam Roberts is a nostalgic reflection of childhood memories. The first verse talks about the innocence of childhood and how the biggest worry was a scary witch up the street. The second verse describes the excitement of going into town on their bikes and getting into some trouble, but these moments cannot be brought back. The chorus repeats the refrain that though these memories cannot physically be experienced again, they still remain a part of the singer's heart and soul, the song playing in every part of them.
The third verse reminisces about how everything seemed simpler in the past, with even feelings like sadness being only present on TV. The singer remembers having faith and feeling protected, most likely by a caregiver or loved one. The bridge of the song talks about the specific memories the singer has of their childhood, such as their first kiss, spending time in the park with friends, and playing with their dog. The song ends with a wistful look back at the sight of their mother waving from the porch, as the snow falls around them.
Line by Line Meaning
We
The following lyrics describe memories shared by the singer and their friends from their younger days.
We were always on the run
The group of friends were often trying to avoid the wrath of an elderly woman who lived nearby.
From that old witch up the street
The 'old witch up the street' was a person who the group of friends actively avoided.
In the days when I was young
The artist is reminiscing about their younger days.
Ride
The group of friends went on adventures together, often on their bikes.
Ride our bikes on into town
The friends would ride their bikes into town to buy hockey cards and find other sorts of mischief.
For some hockey cards and whatever trouble may be found
The friends loved to cause trouble together and often found opportunities to do so while in town.
I can never bring them back
The artist recognizes that they cannot go back to those days, even if they want to.
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
Although the memories cannot be physically accessed, they remain important and meaningful to the artist.
My memories are white and black
The artist's memories are vivid, but also feel static, almost as if they are from a different time.
But the song's the same
Despite years passing, the singer still has the same memories and feelings from those younger days.
It plays in every part of me
Those memories and feelings still have a profound impact on the artist and remain a significant part of who they are.
Down was only a direction
The singer was optimistic and viewed things as simply being 'down' or 'up', with no negative or positive connotations.
And sad was only on TV
Sadness was something that the singer did not often experience in their younger days, and saw it as something that only existed on the television.
And I had faith and I had protection
The singer felt secure and protected during their younger days thanks to the love and support of their family and friends.
The summer sun shining
The artist felt carefree and happy during the summer, which represents a particularly positive time in their memories.
A light was always shining on me
The artist felt safe and secure, with a metaphorical 'light' always shining on them, keeping them from harm.
I was gone with the feel of her lips
The singer is reminiscing about a particularly significant memory involving their first kiss with a girl they liked.
On my very first kiss
The singer is recalling a particularly strong memory involving their first romantic encounter.
And it seems so long since I left it all behind
The artist is comparing their current life to their younger days and feels as though it has been a long time since they were so carefree.
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
The artist recognizes that these memories are always in the back of their mind, even if they are not always immediately at the forefront of their thoughts.
Choking on cigarettes in the park
The artist remembers times when they would smoke cigarettes with their friends in the park.
Chasing my old dog around the yard
The singer remembers playing with their dog and chasing it around their childhood home.
Hanging out on the street until dark
The artist remembers spending time outside with their friends until it got dark outside.
And then it's time to go home
The singer remembers the feeling of having to go home after a fun day with their friends.
Snow was always falling down
The singer has a nostalgic memory of it often snowing during their younger days, which brings up positive memories of playing in the snow with their friends.
And the sound remains inside the very heart of me
The memories of snow and the sounds that came with it still hold a special place in the singer's heart.
My mother waving from the porch
The artist has a positive memory of their mother waving at them from their childhood home when they were leaving to go on an adventure with their friends.
And the sight of it still plays in every part of me
The sight of their mother waving remains an important and meaningful part of the artist's memories of their younger days.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sam Lewis Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K84
This is one of my favourite songs, loved this album. For me this is the best track off it. Beautiful :)
Cassandra Darling
One of my favorite songs of all time.
Shawn Hambler
Crazy this is the first time I’ve heard of this song
caleigardens
This song makes me feel so nostalgic in such a sweet way
SolonSaturn Gaming
We
We were always on the run
From that old witch up the street
In the days when I was young
Ride
Ride our bikes on into town
For some hockey cards and whatever trouble may be found
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Down
Down was only a direction
And sad
Sad was only on TV
And I had faith and I had protection
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
I still look back
The summer sun shining
A light was always shining on me
I was gone with the feel of her lips
On my very first kiss
And it seems so long since I left it all behind
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
Choking on cigarettes in the park
Chasing my old dog around the yard
Hanging out on the street until dark
And then it's time to go home
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Snow was always falling down
And the sound remains inside the very heart of me
My mother waving from the porch
And the sight of it still plays in every part of me
Rita J
Best song ever ... nostalgia
Trucker Kev The Paid Tourist
This has a very strong Kinks influence or is it just me?