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.
Where Have All The Good People Gone?
Sam Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The leaves dried and the flower fell away
I've been sitting, I've been waiting for a sign
Inhuman beings taking up all of my time
Want to leave but I've got to stay
And I'm wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Traffic jam but I'm on the shoulder
Took ten cops to pull me over
Bangkok to Babylon
Where have all the good people gone?
I haven't met a friend in a long long while
They don't check my head but they, they check my style
The modern world is a cold, cold world
And all I meet are cold, cold girls
Want to leave but I got to stay
And I'm wondering more every day
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I'm on the shoulder
Took ten cops to pull me over
Bangkok to Babylon
Where have all the good people gone?
And it's always the same
We all just turn away
We are stealing from ourselves
We are feeding off ourselves
And we were born in the flame
We need a cool breeze and a summer rain
We are stealing from ourselves
We are feeding off ourselves
Come on, come on, come on
People, come on
Come on, come on, come on
People, come on
Oh the Milky Way has gone a little sour
The leaves dried and the flower fell away
Want to leave but I've got to stay
And I'm wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I'm on the shoulder
Took ten cops to pull me over
Bangkok to Babylon
Where have all the good people gone?
Want to leave but I got to stay
And I'm wondering more every day
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I'm on the shoulder
Took ten cops to pull me over
Time's up and we're running long
Where have all the good people gone?
Sam Roberts's song "Where Have All The Good People Gone?" speaks about a general sense of dissatisfaction with modern society and the people in it. The lyrics use imagery of the Milky Way going "a little sour" and leaves and flowers falling away to show how everything seems to be deteriorating. Roberts laments that he has not met a good friend in a long time, and that he is surrounded by "cold girls" in a "cold, cold world." He wants to leave but feels that he has to stay, even though he wonders every day where all the good people have gone.
The song's chorus repeats the questions "Where have all the good people gone?" and "Bangkok to Babylon, Montreal to Hong Kong," making it clear that this sense of disconnection and disillusionment is widespread and universal. The lyrics also hint at a sense of rebellion, with Roberts driving on the shoulder to avoid a traffic jam and resisting the ten cops who try to pull him over. Ultimately, though, the song ends on a note of hope, with Roberts calling for a "cool breeze and a summer rain" to refresh and rejuvenate society.
Overall, "Where Have All The Good People Gone?" is a powerful critique of modern society and a call for people to connect with each other and with nature in a more meaningful way. It speaks to a sense of disconnection and malaise that many people feel in today's world, while also offering a glimmer of hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the Milky Way has gone a little sour
The world has become a less hopeful place.
The leaves dried and the flower fell away
Things have changed for the worse and beauty is fading away.
I've been sitting, waiting for a sign
I'm feeling lost and searching for guidance.
Inhuman beings taking up all of my time
I'm surrounded by people who lack empathy and compassion.
Want to leave but I've got to stay
I feel trapped and unable to escape.
And I'm wondering more everyday
I question the state of the world and my place in it.
Montreal to Hong Kong
Everywhere I go, the same issues seem to persist.
Where have all the good people gone?
Why are there so few kind and genuine people in the world?
Traffic jam but I'm on the shoulder
I'm attempting to break free from the confines of societal expectations.
Took ten cops to pull me over
I'm being held back by authority figures trying to enforce the status quo.
Bangkok to Babylon
No matter where I go, the same darkness seems to follow me.
I haven't met a friend in a long, long while
I feel alone and isolated from others.
They don't check my head but they, they check my style
People judge me based on my outward appearance, rather than my character or intellect.
The modern world is a cold, cold world
The contemporary era can be heartless and unforgiving.
And all I meet are cold, cold girls
I encounter superficial people who lack depth and authenticity.
And it's always the same, we just turn away
Society as a whole avoids acknowledging problems and instead internalizes them.
We are stealing from ourselves, we are feeding off ourselves
We're damaging our own society and survival in selfish ways.
But we were born in flame
We came into the world with passion and potential to enact change.
We need a cool breeze and a summer rain
We require revitalization and positivity to recover from negativity and frustration.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Sam Lewis Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dark Gamer
Ohh the Milky Way, has gone a little sour
The leaves dried and the flower fell away
I’ve been sitting, I’ve been waiting for a sign
Inhuman beings... taking up, all of my time!
Want to leave but I’ve got to stay
And I’m wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
I haven’t met a friend, in a long long while
They don’t check my head but they, they check my style
The modern world, is a cold cold world
And all I meet are cold, cold girls!
Want to leave but I’ve got to stay
And I’m wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I’m on the shoulder, took ten cops to pull me over
Bangkok to Babylon
Where have all the good people gone?
And its always the same, we just turn away
We are stealing from ourselves, we are feeding off ourselves
But we were born in flame
We need a cool breeze and a summer rain
We are stealing from ourselves, we are feeding off ourselves
Come on come come come on people, come on come on come on people, come on!
Ohh the Milky Way, has gone a little sour
The leaves dried and the flower fell away
Want to leave but I’ve got to stay
And I’m wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I’m on the shoulder, took ten cops to pull me over
Bangkok to Babylon
where have all the good people gone?
Want to leave but I’ve got to stay
And I’m wondering more everyday
Montreal to Hong Kong
Where have all the good people gone?
Traffic jam but I’m on the shoulder
Took ten cops to pull me over
Times up and we’re running loud
Where have all the good people gone?
Woah woah woah woah woah woah woah woah
Monsieur Marques
Cripplingly underrated artist.
Terry Orr
When I think of great Canadian musicians Sam is right at the top. Sam Robert's music is a uniting force much like the songs I listened to growing up in the 60's. There's so much hate and anger in the world today, it's easy to become indifferent, Sam has enough guts to write about stuff that matters and leaves a lasting positive message.
James Slick
(US) American here: Canada has ALWAYS cranked some of Rock's "bangers"! too many to list! 👍😊👍
Nathan Blades
I got to admit he is absolutely my favorite musician in Canada his lyrics are so good
Riley Drummond
One of the most under-rated artists ever.
Eric Grimey
☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼
What this guy said times 50
Marie Griffin
Rightttt This is a top ten rock band for me and they just keep going & going ❤🇨🇦❤
Jakey504
@Eric Grimey what this guy said times 100
Kenny Triton
*underrated songs ever
Hubris423
One of those bands was that if you didnt know someone who didnt already know of them you would have never heard of em on the media. had to be alive and in the car listening to the radio or at the music store browsing when they launched