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 Rest of My Life
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found myself just looking out for trouble and strife
Someone with whom I spend the rest of my days
But if I ever said I wasn't set in my ways
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
You have to be a fool not to think about it
Am I
Gonna settle down ever gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
to settle down
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
Go make a man out of me
One thing I know about the rest of my life
I know that I'll be living in Canada
I know I said I'll share the rest of my days
But I was only going through a phase
Am I
Gonna settle down ever gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
to settle down
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
You have to be a fool not to think about it
Am I gonna settle down ever gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
Am I gonna settle down ever gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life to settle down
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
Am I gonna settle down ever gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life to settle down
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
The lyrics to Sloan's song "The Rest Of My Life" reflect the singer's apprehension about settling down into a long-term relationship. He feels conflicted about the idea of spending the rest of his life with someone because he worries that he won't be able to adapt to someone else's needs and wants. The opening lines express this sense of confusion and worry as the singer says, "I started thinking about the rest of my life / I found myself just looking out for trouble and strife."
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Am I gonna settle down ever gonna be / Someone who has to take the rest of my life to settle down?" This reflects the singer's anxiety about the expectations placed upon him to find a partner and settle into a predictable life. He wonders what kind of person wouldn't worry about this significant life choice, saying, "What kind of fool doesn't think about it / You have to be a fool not to think about it." However, he also realizes that he may be lying to himself about his ability to remain committed, as he admits in the next line, "Then I guess you caught me lying to myself / Go make a man out of me."
The final verse acknowledges that the singer will be living in Canada for the rest of his life, but he also admits that his desire for a long-term partner was only a phase. The song as a whole expresses the tension that many people feel between finding love and living an adventurous, flexible life.
Line by Line Meaning
I started thinking about the rest of my life
I've been contemplating my long-term future
I found myself just looking out for trouble and strife
I was seeking out problems and conflicts
Someone with whom I spend the rest of my days
I'm searching for a life partner
But if I ever said I wasn't set in my ways
I may be stubborn and resistant to change
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
I can't deny the truth about my personality
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
It would be foolish not to consider these things
You have to be a fool not to think about it
Neglecting to ponder one's future would be unwise
Am I gonna settle down ever gonna be
Will I ever be able to commit to one person and one place?
to settle down
To finally establish roots and stability
Then I guess you caught me lying to myself
If I can't settle down, I may have been lying to myself about my desire for stability
Go make a man out of me
I request personal growth and maturity
One thing I know about the rest of my life
I'm certain that I'll continue living in Canada
I know that I'll be living in Canada
My future is fixed in terms of geography
But I was only going through a phase
My earlier commitment to settling down may have been temporary
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bigb0yS
I started thinking bout the rest of my life
I found myself just looking out for trouble and strife
Someone with whom I'd spend the rest of my days
But if I ever said I wasn't set in my ways
Well then I guess you caught me lying to myself
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
You'd have to be a fool not to think about it
Am I
Gonna settle down
Am I gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
To settle down
Well I guess you caught me lying to myself
We'll make a man outta me
One thing I know about the rest of my life
I know that I'll be living it in Canada
I know I said I'll share the rest of my days
But I was only going through a phase
Am I
Gonna settle down
Am I gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
To settle down
Well I guess you caught me lying to myself
What kind of fool doesn't think about it
You have to be a fool not to think about it
Am I
Gonna settle down
Am I gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
Am I
Gonna settle down
Am I gonna be
Someone who has to take the rest of my life
To settle down
Well I guess you caught me lying to myself
@Headass-
Making the maritimes proud. One cool fact is Sloan is one of the very few bands to surpass the 30 year mark with ALL original members, and still releasing new music and touring. Very few bands can say the same. Again making the maritimes proud!
@joecobb7153
Making Canada proud....
You guys need to be Canadian first and Maritime second
sincerely a Ontario born Jew that spent a year in NS and loved it, but im home now
@dorianlindberg1662
That is such a cool point! So few bands can hold together like that!
@TheOatmealPeople
The Canadian Beatles. Wish more people listened to these guys
@TheOatmealPeople
@Con Derry I guess that was a stretch. This just kinda sounds like something the Beatles would have written
@brufrog
all the good people already do... :)
@stevejeffrey11
Lots of awesome Canadian music The Guess Who, April Wine, Triumph, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot
@j_freed
This is the coolest quasi underground band since April Wine…
@rileymcconnell4728
This would've fit perfectly on Revolver
@TheEd1957
My favorite Sloan song. Makes me proud to be Canadian !!!