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.
People Of The Sky
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now a man standing tall in the wake of this night
(na na na na na)
His eyes are watering in anger at the thought of her sight
(na na na na na)
The scene of adultery sets the stage for his plight
On an innocent trip, how can one ruin so much
(ba ba bada ba)
It's like a three-legged dog in search of a crutch
(ba ba bada ba)
Dissecting in past all the motives of such
She once loved this person in a trial out of sight
But disposing of their present situation, it felt right
(ba ba bada ba)
Two winters and summers passed over like a sound
(ba ba bada ba)
And now the two of them are lost in a screaming battleground
With support all around him like a fence or a drink
He realises in sadness that now he must begin to think
(ba ba bada ba)
To filter his energy upon losses and fame
(ba ba bada ba)
She'll think of the restful, the peaceful or the gain
His sister's a friend, she's like a relative to both
Obliged through her brother under silhouetted oath
(ba ba bada ba)
But she's there for the two with her bias undone
(ba ba bada ba)
And she'll help see it through under moonlight or sun
But today they've still yet to look each other in the eye
And in a second he manages to dip to the other side
(ba ba bada ba)
Up to the people of the sky
(ba ba bada ba)
And now he'll never die!
The lyrics of Sloan's "People of the Sky" narrates the story of a relationship that has gone sour due to infidelity. The song begins with a man who used to fit very tight with his partner, but now stands tall in the wake of a disastrous situation caused by the woman's adultery. The scene of her unfaithfulness sets the stage for his plight as he tries to come to terms with the betrayal.
The lyrics highlight the difficulty of how one innocent trip can ruin so much. The man tries to understand the motives of the woman she once loved, but who has since left him to battle his own demons. With support from friends and family, the man comes to realize that he must begin to filter his energy upon losses and fame rather than the painful past.
The lyrics also mention the man's sister, who is a mutual friend of both parties, standing by them with her bias undone. However, despite the support and help of those around him, the man and his ex-partner have yet to look each other in the eye, and in a second, he manages to dip to the other side, up to the people of the sky, where he believes he will never die.
Overall, Sloan's "People of the Sky" is a poignant song that delves into the complexities of love, pain, and betrayal. It paints a picture of a painful situation, but also highlights the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
I once knew a pair that used to fit very tight
There was a couple who used to be very close and compatible
But now a man standing tall in the wake of this night
The man has become stronger and more independent after a difficult event
His eyes are watering in anger at the thought of her sight
He feels angry and emotional when he thinks about her
The scene of adultery sets the stage for his plight
The situation involving infidelity has caused him great difficulty
On an innocent trip, how can one ruin so much
A simple event can have a major impact and cause many problems
A belief in a soul, in a beauty, or in a touch
Believing in love, connection, and emotion
It's like a three-legged dog in search of a crutch
It's difficult to find something to support oneself when it feels like everything is falling apart
Dissecting in past all the motives of such
Trying to understand the reasons behind past actions and decisions
She once loved this person in a trial out of sight
She used to have feelings for someone she couldn't be with
But disposing of their present situation, it felt right
Ending their current situation seemed like the right thing to do
Two winters and summers passed over like a sound
Time passed quickly
And now the two of them are lost in a screaming battleground
Their intense emotions have caused them to be in conflict with each other
With support all around him like a fence or a drink
He has many people who care for and support him
He realises in sadness that now he must begin to think
He recognizes that he needs to start figuring things out and making decisions
To filter his energy upon losses and fame
To focus his efforts on accepting what's been lost and finding success in the future
She'll think of the restful, the peaceful or the gain
She'll focus on finding peace and happiness
His sister's a friend, she's like a relative to both
His sister is close to both him and his ex-partner
Obliged through her brother under silhouetted oath
She's committed to helping them because of her relationship to her brother
But she's there for the two with her bias undone
She's providing support and help without any personal bias or favoritism
And she'll help see it through under moonlight or sun
She'll be there to support them no matter what the circumstances or time of day
But today they've still yet to look each other in the eye
They haven't been able to face each other after all that's happened
And in a second he manages to dip to the other side
He's able to transition to a new phase in his life
Up to the people of the sky
He's looking up to the heavens for guidance or support
And now he'll never die!
He'll live on in some way, either through memory or influence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, CHRIS MURPHY, JAY FERGUSON, PATRICK PENTLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Temple
Sloan is one of the most underrated rock bands of the last 30 years.
Steven Resendes
Without a doubt
Daverz
@Steven Resendeslost within a sound..
Chuck Ficago
Four incredibly talented guys that have been making amazing music for 30+ years now. I've been a fan the whole time.
LEFT4BASS
I love this song, and it’s a shame it didn’t go way bigger. The music conceals some really deep lyrics.
Whitenacho
Totally!
First Lasterson
Yeah it was way better than the norm. Positive and cool
simonspeichert
This is what the 90s sounded like in Canada, kids. Thanks boys for the music and Andrew for this one in particular.
Dave Russell
Who disliked this perfect song??? Who hurt you??????
YouTube violated me
the people of the ground