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.
Everybody Wants You
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody dies
Whenever they're around you
So it comes as no surprise
That I feel the way I do today
But I haven't got the heart to say
God, it feels so wrong
God, it feels so strong
I hope nobody hears, hope nobody hears
Everbody wants to
Think they're understood
Or maybe understanding
Or at least I think they should
You know it wasn't supposed to be this way
I've guess I got a lot of nerve to say
God, it feels so wrong
I hope nobody hears about it
God, it feels so strong
I hope nobody hears about it
God, it feels so wrong
I hope nobody hears about it
God, it feels so strong
I hope nobody hears, hope nobody hears
God, it feels so wrong
I hope nobody hears about it
Hope nobody hears about it
Oh no
Everybody wants you
Everybody wants you
Everybody wants you
Everybody wants you
The lyrics of Sloan's song "Everybody Wants You" are about the confusion and fear that can come with romantic attraction. The singer acknowledges that everyone is drawn to this person, but at the same time, realizes that it could lead to heartbreak. The lines "everybody dies, whenever they're around you" suggest the power that this person holds over others, and how their mere presence can be overwhelming. The singer admits to feeling strongly for this person but is afraid to express their feelings out loud, possibly because of the potential consequences or rejection. The repeated cries of "God, it feels so wrong" reflect the internal conflict between desire and fear, and the hope that no one else picks up on these feelings.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of communication and understanding in relationships. The singer believes that everyone wants to feel understood, but it's not always easy to achieve. The phrase "I guess I got a lot of nerve to say" suggests the vulnerability required to express oneself honestly and openly. The fear of rejection is echoed in the repeated refrain of "I hope nobody hears about it," as the singer does not want to risk rejection or judgment from others. In the end, the song is a complicated commentary on love, fear, and vulnerability, captured in catchy rock melodies.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody wants you
Everyone desires you and wants to be with you.
Everybody dies
Death is inevitable for everyone, no matter how desirable or loved they are.
Whenever they're around you
Being in your presence is so powerful that it affects people deeply.
So it comes as no surprise
It's expected that people would be drawn to you and deeply affected by you due to your desirability.
That I feel the way I do today
I'm experiencing a strong, overwhelming feeling towards you today.
But I haven't got the heart to say
I'm too afraid to express my feelings, due to fear of rejection or making things awkward.
Everbody wants to
Everyone desires to have a sense of belonging or be understood by others.
Think they're understood
People want to believe that others truly understand them, even if it's just on a surface level.
Or maybe understanding
Perhaps people hope to be the ones who understand others, in order to feel significant or needed.
Or at least I think they should
I personally believe that people should strive to be understood or understanding, even if it's not always attainable.
You know it wasn't supposed to be this way
Things have turned out unexpectedly and not as planned.
I've guess I got a lot of nerve to say
I'm nervous to express my opinion on this, but I'm going to do it anyway.
Hope nobody hears about it
I'm afraid of the repercussions of expressing my feelings or thoughts, and hope it doesn't become public knowledge.
Oh no
Expressing my true feelings or thoughts would have negative consequences that I don't want to deal with.
Contributed by Anna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thelma
on Everything You've Done Wrong
Thelma I like the title