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.
Love At The End Of The World
Sam Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't need diamonds and you don't need pearls
Water boils on the seven seas
Rivers of blood and she's setting me free
And you're still near me, baby
Smoke rising from an open field
Don't you know that the threat is real
You look around but you don't see snow
The heat is rising, baby
This is love at the end of the world
There's still love at the end of the world
Two wars and a revolution
Got me praying for absolution
There's blood on these hands, baby
Preacher saying that the end is nigh
Standing on a soapbox a hundred feet high
You're still by my side, baby
Light fades, becomes shade
You're holding on but you're slipping away
Till I can't feel you anymore
This is love at the end of the world
There's still love at the end of the world
Red lips, alabaster hands
Ooh girl, what you do to a man
The heat is rising, baby
You don't think, you just follow the herd
And you don't need bullets for a war of words now
They want what we've got, baby
Light fades, becomes shade
You're holding on but you're slipping away
Till I can't feel you anymore
This is love at the end of the world
There's still love at the end of the world
This is love at the end of the world
There's still love at the end of the world
Sam Roberts's song "Love At The End Of The World" is about finding solace in love amid chaos and destruction. The lyrics suggest that even in a world plagued by war, revolution, and natural calamities, love is still possible. The opening lines of the song, "This is love at the end of the world, you don't need diamonds and you don't need pearls," suggest that love can thrive in the most trying of circumstances. The chaos of the world, symbolized by rivers of blood and smoke rising from open fields, is contrasted with the steadying presence of a partner who stands by one's side through thick and thin.
The second verse of the song touches on the fear and uncertainty that comes with living in a world fraught with danger. The lines "Don't you know that the threat is real, from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro? You look around, but you don't see snow" suggest that the world is rapidly changing, and nature itself is under threat. However, despite this, love remains a constant. The central message of the song is that in a world that is breaking down, we need each other more than ever, and that love can be a powerful healing force.
Line by Line Meaning
This is love at the end of the world
Love can exist even in the most dire of circumstances.
You don't need diamonds and you don't need pearls
Material possessions are not necessary for true love.
Water boils on the seven seas
The world is full of chaos and destruction.
Rivers of blood and she's setting me free
Amidst the chaos, love can provide a sense of liberation.
And you're still near me, baby
Love can provide comfort and support during troubling times.
Smoke rising from an open field
The world is experiencing destruction and devastation.
Don't you know that the threat is real
The danger is present and should not be ignored.
From the top of Mount Kilimanjaro?
Even from a great height, the destruction can still be seen.
You look around but you don't see snow
The world has changed and is no longer as it was.
The heat is rising, baby
The situation is becoming more intense and difficult to handle.
Two wars and a revolution
The world is experiencing conflicts and upheavals.
Got me praying for absolution
The artist is seeking forgiveness for their involvement in the world's problems.
There's blood on these hands, baby
The singer feels responsible for some of the world's destruction.
Preacher saying that the end is nigh
A religious figure is warning of the impending end of the world.
Standing on a soapbox a hundred feet high
The preacher is trying to convince others of their message.
You're still by my side, baby
Love and support can help someone through difficult times.
Light fades, becomes shade
The world is becoming darker and more despairing.
You're holding on but you're slipping away
Despite efforts to hold on to love, it may still be lost.
Till I can't feel you anymore
Love can disappear, leaving one feeling alone and abandoned.
Red lips, alabaster hands
A description of the artist's love interest.
Ooh girl, what you do to a man
The attraction and desire the artist feels towards their love interest.
You don't think, you just follow the herd
Many people act without thinking during a crisis.
And you don't need bullets for a war of words now
Words can be just as harmful as physical violence.
They want what we've got, baby
Others may envy the love and support the artist has.
There's still love at the end of the world
Love can thrive even in times of great destruction and chaos.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SAM LEWIS ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Northern Thunder
CLASS OF 2010 LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD