This Detroit, MI band recorded their first Tooth and Nail full-length, A Fire So Big the Heavens Can See It, in St. Cloud, FL with James Paul Wisner, who has also produced Dashboard Confessional, Underoath, and The Academy Is. While making this CD, the band fought off small town cabin fever, was restricted to bicycle transportation, and even shared a lake with an alligator. But such ordeals are colorful stories for another time because these guys are simply thrilled (but not to death) with the finished product.
The track “To the Moon for All I Care” is one of the group’s favorite new tunes. On the surface, one might assume it is based around what Ralph Kramden always told his wife Alice on the old The Honeymooners show. But as drummer Adam McMillion explains it, this song goes far deeper than that.
“The song is about our favorite movie, Danny Deckchair, which is about this guy that’s kind of fed up with his girlfriend who is not very faithful. And his job is really boring, so he decides to attach these balloons to his fold-up deckchair and he flies away,” McMillion says. When he finally lands, he’s in a faraway town, miles from everything and everyone he knows. “He kind of gets to start his life over, and we always thought that’s just such a cool concept,” McMillion continues. In fact, this song’s main character demands at one point, “Tell me about my future ‘cause I already know my past.”
Another noteworthy song has the intriguing title of “Detroit Is Built on Secrets”. This one takes on some of the nasty rumors oftentimes spread about rock bands – even about nice guys like Search The City. “So this is what we’re up against in this city of secrets,” states its anti-gossip lyric. But even when confronted with obvious lies, this thoughtful band still finds room for a little self-examination. “In the bridge it says, “Oh my God, forgive me for who I’m not,”” McMillion elaborates. “All these rumors are going around,” he continues, “but we’re still not the people we want to be. We’re still not the people God wants us to be. It’s just a cry out; kind of a confession. We wanna be better. We realize that we’re not who we should be.”
These closely bonded band members, which also include Alex Sheldon (guitar), Jim Czech (guitar), and Josh Frost (vocals), draw artistic inspiration from many loud and noisy sources, then translate these harsher sounds into surprisingly melodic, highly emotional songs.
“We’re more influenced by hardcore music than anything else,” Frost says of Search The City’s sound. “It doesn’t show so much because we’re pretty pop-y in parts. But collectively, we all love bands like Jimmy Eat World and bands like that.” So how would they describe their unique style? “We’d probably say progressive rock or something like that,” answers Frost.
Although the group is proud of their new CD, this band is truly in their element in concert. “Live is definitely Search The City’s favorite thing to do,” McMillion says without any hesitation. “It’s a chance to release a lot of emotion. We all love what we do onstage where we’ll just look at each other and just start laughing and smiling because it’s so much fun. Playing live is definitely the best part about being in a band.”
Search The City’s original nucleus, Sheldon, Czech, and McMillion, came up with the band’s Mapquest-like moniker while seeking out other musicians to complete their final lineup. “They named it that because they were looking for all of the different members, all over different cities,” Frost explains. “That meant all over Michigan. And because I was living in Florida at the time, they just called it Search The City.”
No doubt, Search The City succeeded in getting all their geographic coordinates correct.
After the band went their separate ways and onto some side projects, Frost and Czech have announced via Facebook and AboslutePunk.com has reported that they are back together and writing a second full-length album that's due out in the spring of 2012.
Light The Fire
Search The City Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let it burn bright!
Light the fire!
Let it burn...
Hey! hey! Hey! Hey!
You left me speechless
Did you ever really care?
Was there something that I could have done
To make you believe that I'm still the one that you need?
That you need?
That you need?
Tonight:
Light the fire!
Tonight:
Let it burn bright!
Keep your speeches
We're done with your reasons
You play the game so well
When we finally saw your hands
You were never playing fair
You were never playing fair
Your secrets came along
We saw you for what you really are
And your biggest story left no scar!
Tonight:
Light the fire!
Tonight:
Let it burn bright!
Keep your speeches
We're done with your reasons
Tonight:
Light the fire!
Tonight:
Let it burn bright!
Keep your speeches
We're done with your reasons
Tonight:
We're done with your reasons tonight!
(Ohh, Ohh...)
I'll wager that if you could see
The things that we all plan to be
You'll come running back, just running back to me
But if this were lost today
We would surely cease to be
If we turn and face the deafening sound
Of a hope that's crashing to the ground.
To the ground-
To the ground.
Tonight:
Light the fire!
Tonight:
Let it burn bright!
Keep your speeches
We're done with your reasons
Tonight:
Light the fire!
Tonight:
Let it burn bright!
Keep your speeches
We're done with your reasons tonight!
Light the fire!
Let it burn bright!
(Light the fire!)
Light the fire!
Let it burn bright!
The lyrics of Search The City's song "Light The Fire" reflect the emotional aftermath of a relationship that has ended due to one person's betrayal. The song is about moving on and not wasting any more time on someone who has shown their true colors. The chorus of "Light the fire! Let it burn bright!" represents the singer's desire to let go of the pain and anger they are feeling and to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and passion. The verses continue this theme, with the singer reflecting on the lies and deception they faced in the relationship, and questioning whether there was anything they could have done to prevent it.
The bridge of the song shifts from addressing the individual relationship to a more universal message. The singer suggests that if their former partner could see the potential of what they could become in the future, they might regret their actions and try to come back. However, the singer acknowledges that they would not be the same person without this experience, and that sometimes hope can be destructive if it is not tempered by reality.
Overall, "Light The Fire" is a song about acknowledging pain and betrayal, and then using that experience to fuel a brighter future. It is a message of resilience and determination that can resonate with anyone who has ever faced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Light the fire!
We need to ignite a passion within ourselves, to stir up the desire to be better and to reach our goals!
Let it burn bright!
We need to keep that passion and drive alive, to let it burn brightly and not let it fade away!
Hey! hey! Hey! Hey!
A simple expression of pushing ourselves to go further, to not give up, and to keep striving for greatness!
You left me speechless
Your actions or words have surprised me so much that I don't know how to react or respond!
I picked my heart up from the floor.
Your actions or words have hurt me so much that I feel as though my heart has been shattered into pieces, and I'm only just beginning to pick them back up!
Did you ever really care?
I'm questioning whether you ever truly cared about me and my well-being, or if it was all just a facade!
Was there something that I could have done
I'm reflecting on my own actions, wondering if there was anything I could have done differently to change the outcome of our situation!
To make you believe that I'm still the one that you need?
I'm wondering if there was anything I could have done to convince you that I'm still the one you need in your life, despite any struggles or difficulties we may have faced!
Keep your speeches
I don't want to hear any more of your justifications or reasons for why things ended the way they did!
We're done with your reasons
We don't want to hear any justifications or explanations anymore - it's time to move on and let go of the past!
You play the game so well
You're very skilled at putting on a facade and hiding your true intentions or motives!
When we finally saw your hands
When we finally saw your true motives or intentions, all the lies and secrets you've been keeping were revealed!
You were never playing fair
Your actions were not honest or just, and you were not treating others fairly or with respect!
Your secrets came along
All the secrets and lies you've been keeping were brought to light, and your true character was revealed!
We saw you for what you really are
We finally saw your true character and intentions, and it was not what we thought or hoped for!
And your biggest story left no scar!
Even though you may have thought your biggest lie or secret would have had an impact, it ended up having no lasting effect or consequence!
I'll wager that if you could see
I'm willing to bet that if you could see what we're capable of achieving, you would regret your actions and come running back to me!
The things that we all plan to be
We have big dreams and aspirations, and we're determined to make them a reality no matter what obstacles we may face!
But if this were lost today
If we were to give up or lose our motivation and drive, we would cease to be the people we are striving to become!
We would surely cease to be
Giving up or losing our drive would mean losing ourselves and everything we've worked so hard for!
If we turn and face the deafening sound
If we confront the overwhelming challenges and obstacles in our path, despite how difficult or scary it may seem!
Of a hope that's crashing to the ground.
Even when our hopes and dreams seem to be shattering and falling apart, we will still persevere and keep pushing forward!
Let it burn!
We need to let the fire within us keep burning brightly, even in the face of adversity or challenges!
Contributed by Charlotte L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.