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.
The Other Man
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another group of hours till the end of the day
I wake up
Look am I alarmed? Please go away
Well everyone looks for the lost frontier
But no one cares if I last a couple years or so (A couple years or so)
As I look at the light at the end of my bed
As much as I ask I hear no reply
Whoever I'm asking must be busy in the sky
Oh lord can you hear me now?
Oh lord you must be busy somehow
Granting the wishes of the strong and the rich
While I'm just singing in my ditch
I wake up
Another day has gone and been a total waste
I wake up
And I ask myself if this gunna change?
I float along to the end of the day
But nothing I do matters anyway (Nothing I do matters anyway)
I carry on with constant fear
If I missed life would you shed a tear?
Cause no one else in the scheme of things
Will listen to the things I sing
Oh lord can you hear me now?
Oh lord you must be busy somehow
Granting the wishes of the strong and the rich
While I'm just singing in my ditch
Oh lord can you take the reins?
Oh lord I've been wandering for days
In a place I don't understand
Why didn't you make me like any other man
Ooooh yea! yea! yea! yea! yea! yea! yea! yea!
Oh lord can you hear me now? (Hear me now)
Oh lord you must be busy somehow (Busy somehow)
Granting the wishes of the strong and the rich (Strong and the rich)
While I'm just singing in my ditch
Oh lord can you take the reins? (Take the reins)
Oh lord I've been wandering for days (Wandering for days)
In a place I don't understand (Understand)
Why didn't you make me like any other man
Why didn't you make me?
Why didn't you make me?
Why didn't you make me?
Why didn't you make me like any other man?
Yea
The song "The Other Man" by Sloan is about the feeling of desperation and hopelessness experienced by individuals who are marginalized or neglected by society. The song's chorus repeatedly asks the question "Oh Lord, can you hear me now?" and expresses a sense of frustration that despite asking this question, there is no response or indication of help coming. The lyrics suggest that those who are "strong and rich" are more likely to have their wishes granted, leaving those who are struggling to feel left behind and forgotten.
The verses highlight the idea that life can seem pointless and unfulfilling, particularly for those who feel like they don't matter to anyone else. The singer of the song wakes up each day feeling like it's just another wasted 24 hours, and wonders if anyone would even care if they were to disappear. The lyrics imply that the singer feels like they are alone in their struggles and that no one else will listen to their voice or their concerns. The line "I'm just singing in my ditch" suggests that the act of creating art or expressing themselves through music is the only thing that gives the singer's life any meaning.
Overall, "The Other Man" is a powerful expression of the emotions that come with feeling like an outsider or a marginalized member of society. The song's repeated refrain and plaintive lyrics ask big questions about the universe and one's place in it, while also coming from a very personal and specific point of view.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up
I start my day
Another group of hours till the end of the day
I have a long day ahead of me
I wake up
I start my day again
Look am I alarmed? Please go away
I am not ready to start my day yet
Well everyone looks for the lost frontier
Everyone is searching for something
But no one cares if I last a couple years or so (A couple years or so)
Nobody cares about my survival
As I look at the light at the end of my bed
I see the light coming from the end of my bed
I question if I should be dead
I question my own existence and purpose
As much as I ask I hear no reply
I receive no answer to my questioning
Whoever I'm asking must be busy in the sky
I assume God is busy with other things
Oh lord can you hear me now?
I am asking God to listen to me
Oh lord you must be busy somehow
I acknowledge that God must have other things to do
Granting the wishes of the strong and the rich
God pays more attention to powerful and wealthy people
While I'm just singing in my ditch
I am just a small insignificant person
Another day has gone and been a total waste
My day has been unproductive and unfulfilling
And I ask myself if this gunna change?
I wonder if my situation will improve
I float along to the end of the day
I am moving through the day without purpose
But nothing I do matters anyway (Nothing I do matters anyway)
My actions seem pointless
I carry on with constant fear
I am constantly afraid
If I missed life would you shed a tear?
I wonder if anyone would care if I died
Cause no one else in the scheme of things
Nobody else is concerned with my life
Will listen to the things I sing
Nobody listens to my thoughts and feelings
Oh lord can you take the reins? (Take the reins)
I am asking God to take control of my life
Oh lord I've been wandering for days (Wandering for days)
I feel lost and without direction
In a place I don't understand (Understand)
I am in a confusing situation
Why didn't you make me like any other man?
I question why I am different from others
Why didn't you make me?
I am continuing to question my existence
Yea!
Exclamation of emotion
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Ross Sloan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mitchell Evans
I didn't dig this one when I was a teenager. Now it really stands out to me as one of their best. Sometimes you're just not ready for a song until you're ready, you know?
steven vogel
This song will never fail to send chills up my spine. I think this song could have been released in any decade and would still be a hit.
Talia Price
Agreed.
J B
TOTALLY!
makattak88
Makes my hair stand on end.
RJ Din
Such a well crafted song.
MrColdwilliam
100%
resettet
MOST UNDERATED BAND OF ALL TIME!!!
Jim Bob
Well said!
Dynomyster
It’s too good of a 🎵