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.
Emergency 911
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want no police
Around my door
No, I don't want no police
I don't want no policeman
Creeping around my front door
If you do
I don't want any part of you
If you do
If you do
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
I don't want no fire trucks
I don't want no fire trucks
On my block
No, I don't want no fire trucks
Flashing pretty lights
And driving up and down my block
Cause if you do
If you do
I don't want any part of you
If you do
If you do
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
Can I make a request that a certain part of you
Makes sure you feel safe
Makes sure I feel safe
Because if you can't
Then I can't trust you
I don't think it's any fun to have to invite 911
And if you do
If you do
I don't want any part of you
If you do
If you do
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
And if you do
If you do
I don't want any part of you
If you do
If you do
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
The lyrics to Sloan's "Emergency 911" express the singer's rejection of police presence in their community. They do not want to see police officers "creeping around [their] front door" and feel uncomfortable with their presence. Similarly, they do not want to see fire trucks with their flashing lights on their block. The lyrics suggest that the singer associates these emergency services with danger and does not find them to be a comforting or reassuring presence.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that if someone brings emergency services around, the singer does not want any part of them. They do not want to associate with someone who calls the police or fire department. The final part of the song makes a plea for safety, with the singer hoping that those around them can "make sure [they] feel safe." They suggest that if someone can't make them feel safe, they cannot trust them.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want no police
I don't want any police officers near my house
I don't want no police
I really, really don't want any police officers near my house
Around my door
Close enough to be on or around my doorstep
No, I don't want no police
I repeat, I really don't want any police officers near my house
I don't want no policeman
I specify that I don't want a singular police officer either
Creeping around my front door
I don't want any police officers sneaking or lurking near my doorstep
And if you do
If you actually do bring police officers near my house
If you do
I'm emphasizing that I absolutely mean it
I don't want any part of you
I want nothing to do with you or the situation you brought upon me
If you do
In case you still haven't understood my message
If you do
Again, I'm putting emphasis on my statement
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
I don't want to associate with you if you're going to bring trouble to me
I don't want no fire trucks
I also don't want any fire trucks near my block
I don't want no fire trucks
Again, I really don't want any fire trucks near my block
On my block
Near enough to be on or driving along my street
No, I don't want no fire trucks
Just to make it clear, I absolutely don't want any fire trucks near my block
Flashing pretty lights
I'm referring to the lights on the fire truck, not that they're attractive
And driving up and down my block
I don't want the fire trucks to be driving around and making a commotion
Can I make a request that a certain part of you
I would like to ask something of you
Makes sure you feel safe
Ensure that you, the listener, feel secure
Makes sure I feel safe
And also ensure that I feel safe
Because if you can't
If you're unable to guarantee our safety
Then I can't trust you
I won't be able to put my trust in you
I don't think it's any fun to have to invite 911
I don't want to have to call for emergency services, it's not something enjoyable
And if you do
If you really do manage to bring emergency services to my location
If you do
I'm repeating my warning
I don't want any part of you
I want nothing to do with you or your actions
If you do
In case you still don't understand me
If you do
I'm stressing my point again
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
I really don't want to associate with you if you're going to bring chaos to my life
And if you do
One more time
If you do
I'm making sure that you understand me loud and clear
Then I don't really wanna hang around with you
If you bring trouble, I don't want anything to do with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thelma
on Everything You've Done Wrong
Thelma I like the title