The band was formed in 1991, when Chris Murphy and Andrew Scott met at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax. Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson joined soon after. In 1992, the band created their own record label, called Murderecords, for themselves and other Halifax area bands, and the outfit released the 'Peppermint EP' (the release also known as just 'Peppermint').
According to Sloan's official website, the band's name refers to a friend's nickname. Their friend, Jason Larsen, was called 'Slow One' by his French-speaking boss, which with the French accent sounded more like 'Sloan'. The original agreement was that they could name the band after their friend's nickname as long as he was on the cover of their first album. As a result, it is Larsen who appears on the cover of the 'Peppermint EP'.
Later in 1992, Sloan released their full-length debut, titled 'Smeared', on Geffen Records. Like many indie rock groups before them, the band found that major label dealings were basically as much trouble as they were worth. In 1994, Geffen did not promote their second album, called 'Twice Removed', due to artistic disputes, although it sold well in Canada. Spin named the album one of the "Best Albums You Didn't Hear" in 1994. A 1996 reader poll by Canadian music magazine Chart! ranked it as the best Canadian album of all time only two years after its release. The same poll in 2000 ranked the album third, behind Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' and Neil Young's 'Harvest', while the 2005 poll once again ranked the album first.
After the release of Twice Removed, the band went on hiatus and were rumoured to have broken up, as they had rejected Geffen's offer for their next album. In 1996, however, they released the widely praised One Chord to Another on their own Murderecords label. Following 1998's Navy Blues album, Sloan released their first live album 4 Nights at the Palais Royale in 1999. Those albums were followed by Between the Bridges in 1999, and Pretty Together in 2001.
Sloan made a concerted effort to break into the US market on their 2003 release Action Pact. Songs were recorded in L.A. with Tom Rothrock producing. The glossier, radio-ready sound failed to raise Sloan's profile in the US, though they continued to be highly popular in Canada.
Sloan's first compilation album A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005, included two new songs, "All Used Up" and "Try to Make It". The Japanese release included two additional new tracks.
Now signed to Yep Roc Records for their US releases, they put out their eighth disc, Never Hear the End of It in 2006. The album contained 30 tracks with all the members of the band contributing new songs. It was met with widespread critical acclaim and became the highest charting Sloan album in the US up to that point.
In 2008, Sloan followed up their longest album with their shortest release Parallel Play.
In November 2009 Sloan added a digital music store to their website. The band released an online-only EP called Hit & Run to promote the store. The EP featured two songs by Chris Murphy, and one by each of the other band members. Murphy's Take It Upon Yourself was released as a free single. In February 2010, the band released another online exclusive, the compilation album B-Sides Win: Extras, Bonus Tracks and B-Sides 1992 - 2008.
In 2013, the band revealed plans for a double album, with each of the four sides featuring a solo suite by a different band member. In May 2014, it was announced that the new album would be titled "Commonwealth" and would be released in September 2014. On July 14, 2014, the band announced the official release date for the album (September 9, which turned out to be accurate) and the release of the album's first single, "Keep Swinging (Downtown)". The album cover portrays the band members as four-of-a-kind kings. The suits of these playing cards correspond to the titles of their solo sides: Jay Ferguson's side is called Diamond, Chris Murphy's is Heart, Patrick Pentland's is Shamrock, and Andrew Scott's is Spade.
Before The End Of The Race
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And boy it's confused, I run into your brother
I just pay no mind, not trying to be kind
There's a mark on my heart, couldn't say that I love ya
Couldn't say that I love ya
It started out slowly then burned out and smothered
I know you don't know that I wanted to love her
And I woke up amused in the arms of another
You know my only regret
Is that we never really met before
Cause you're lost in the race
This didn't turn out now the way I'd imagined
They say runner's up never enjoy the pageant
And all of those lines, I've had to decline
Just like your friends, they're divided and rationed
You know my only request
Is that we really should be together more
Before the end of the ra-ce
Ooh, before the end of the race
Yeah, before the end of the ra-ce
Ooh, before the end of the race
Yeah, before the end of the ra-ce
Ooh, before the end of the race
Let's make it like we never met before
The end of the ra-ce
The lyrics of Sloan's song Before The End Of The Race tell a story of a failed relationship. The song admits to starting off on the wrong foot and gradually turning sour. The singer seems to have developed feelings for someone, but for some reason, it did not work out, and the relationship ended abruptly. He reflects on wanting things to turn out differently and wishing he had expressed his feelings sooner. He seems to regret not being able to connect with this person before things went south. The lyrics suggest that the separation was not mutual, and the singer was more hurt by it.
Despite the sad undertones in the song, there are still some hints of hope and longing for the future. The lyrics reveal that the singer is still trying to make sense of what happened, but he seems to be accepting the reality of the situation. The phrase "before the end of the race" implies that the singer still has a chance to correct his mistakes and maybe rekindle things with the person he lost.
Overall, the lyrics of Before The End Of The Race paint a picture of lost opportunities, unrequited love, and regret. It's a relatable song that speaks to anyone who has ever experienced a failed relationship or missed an opportunity to connect with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
Started out one way, but turned out the other
Things began differently than expected or hoped, but took a bad turn.
And boy it's confused, I run into your brother
The situation is chaotic and uncertain, and I unexpectedly encounter someone related to you.
I just pay no mind, not trying to be kind
I ignore the confusion and chaos and don't make an effort to be nice or sweet.
There's a mark on my heart, couldn't say that I love ya
I'm emotionally scarred and unable to profess love.
It started out slowly then burned out and smothered
Our relationship started slowly but quickly died out.
I know you don't know that I wanted to love her
You don't realize that I had feelings for someone else.
I took the advice, afforded the price
I heeded someone's advice and paid the cost, likely referring to moving on with someone else.
And I woke up amused in the arms of another
I ended up with someone else and found it amusing the next day.
You know my only regret
There's one thing I wish could have been different or better.
Is that we never really met before
I wish we had met earlier so we could have had more time together.
Cause you're lost in the race
You're caught up in a competition or struggle, and it's preventing us from being together.
This didn't turn out now the way I'd imagined
Things didn't go according to plan or expectation.
They say runner's up never enjoy the pageant
Second place is never enough or satisfying, and can be compared to a beauty pageant.
And all of those lines, I've had to decline
I've had to turn down many offers or advances, much like a contestant in a beauty pageant.
Just like your friends, they're divided and rationed
Your friends are divided or distant, much like our relationship.
You know my only request
The one thing I'm asking or hoping for.
Is that we really should be together more
We belong together and need to spend more time together.
Before the end of the ra-ce
Before it's too late and our opportunities are gone.
Let's make it like we never met before
Let's start over fresh and forget any past mistakes or issues.
The end of the ra-ce
The conclusion of the events or struggle we're caught up in.
Contributed by Levi R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
nanaimoclipper
yes
i like the fireworks,