The band were founded at the University of Dundee in 1994 by Lightbody, Mark McClelland, and Michael Morrison of Shrug. After briefly using the name Polarbear, releasing the EP Starfighter Pilot (1997) and losing Morrison as a member, the band became Snow Patrol in 1997 and added Quinn to its lineup. Their first two studio albums, Songs for Polarbears (1998) and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001), released by the independent record label Jeepster Records, were commercially unsuccessful. The band then signed to the major record label Polydor Records in 2002.
Connolly joined Snow Patrol in 2002, and after their major-label debut album, Final Straw, the following year, with "Run", the album's biggest hit, the band rose to national fame. The album was certified 5x platinum in the UK. Their next studio album, Eyes Open (2006), and its hit single, "Chasing Cars"—reported in 2019 to be the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio—propelled the band to greater international fame. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and was the best-selling British album of the year. In 2008, Snow Patrol released their fifth studio album, A Hundred Million Suns; then, in 2009, they released their first compilation album, Up to Now; and, in 2011, their sixth studio album, Fallen Empires, was published. The band released their seventh album, Wildness, on 25 May 2018.
During the course of their career, Snow Patrol have won seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six Brit Awards and one Grammy. Final Straw, Eyes Open, and A Hundred Million Suns have sold ten million copies worldwide, combined.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Patrol
Studio albums
Songs for Polarbears (1998)
When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001)
Final Straw (2003)
Eyes Open (2006)
A Hundred Million Suns (2008)
Fallen Empires (2011)
Wildness (2018)
Batten Down the Hatch
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause we're all coming in
Like uninvited guests
Romancing everything
Keep your hands away
From what you can't afford
We don't think that we'll stay
Now that you look bored
God only knows
What Brian Wilson meant
Pick out your clothes
With some real intent
You don't seem to care
That I've been waiting here
Pulling out my hair
For you to come
My dear
I'll go all the way
As long as you go first
Running all this way
Has given me a thirst
Believe in what you want
As long as you can see
What's right in front of you
I guess that that's just me
God only knows
What Brian Wilson meant
Pick out your clothes
With some real intent
You don't seem to care
That I've been waiting here
Pulling out my hair
For you to come
My dear
The lyrics to Snow Patrol's song "Batten Down the Hatch" speak about uninvited guests who have arrived to romancing everything. The idea of "batten down the hatch" means to close something firmly, and in the case of the song, it portrays the guests making their way inside aggressively. The lines "Keep your hands away from what you can't afford" speak to the idea of greed and wanting what you can't have. The guests are aware that they don't belong there, so they don't think that they'll stay, and now that they look bored, they might leave.
The following lines "God only knows what Brian Wilson meant / Pick out your clothes with some real intent" alludes to an American musician, singer, and songwriter, Brian Wilson, who is regarded as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. When Snow Patrol sings about him in this context, they appear to be questioning his meaning, especially about life and love. It seems like they're trying to understand and make sense of it all. The line "You don't seem to care that I've been waiting here / Pulling out my hair for you to come, my dear" is about desperately waiting for someone to arrive. The singer has been waiting so long that he's almost gone crazy. The song's ending suggests that the singer will do anything to be with this person, as long as they go first.
Line by Line Meaning
Batten down the hatch
Secure everything, as everyone is about to come in.
'Cause we're all coming in
The group is coming in, without any invitation.
Like uninvited guests
No invitation, yet overflowing enthusiasm and charm.
Romancing everything
Completely engaging in the surroundings.
Keep your hands away
Avoid reaching out to things that you can't afford to have.
From what you can't afford
Stay away from things that you don't have bargaining power for.
We don't think that we'll stay
Anticipating the lack of interest and welcoming response from the host.
Now that you look bored
With the inability to engage with the surroundings, the guests might as well leave.
God only knows
An expression of uncertainty.
What Brian Wilson meant
Referencing Brian Wilson's songwriting skills and interpretation of his music.
Pick out your clothes
Dress for the occasion, but add a significant purpose to it.
With some real intent
Having a clear-cut motive behind the actions.
You don't seem to care
Feeling of unreciprocated emotions.
That I've been waiting here
Longing to connect with someone.
Pulling out my hair
Desperately wanting something while relinquishing control.
For you to come, my dear
Wanting to connect with a special person.
I'll go all the way
Willingness to go to any lengths.
As long as you go first
Expecting the other person to reciprocate the pledge.
Running all this way
Putting in intense effort into something.
Has given me a thirst
Resulting in a feeling of having a burning desire.
Believe in what you want
Have faith in one's beliefs.
As long as you can see
As long as the person is comprehending the reality.
What's right in front of you
Recognize things that are evident to the eye and close in proximity.
I guess that that's just me
The tendency to view things independently or having an idiosyncratic worldview.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY LIGHTBODY, JONATHAN QUINN, MARK MCCLELLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
theditti1010
Without SP, life is more boring and more sad. It's unbelievable how much beauty and joy their songs give! The whole ensemble is brilliant. Once a reporter asked if they rehearsed before the gig. I saw from Gary's smile: it wasn't necessary! They are brilliant!😯💙💙💙💙💙
Archer
Underrated song.
theditti1010
VERY BEAUTIFUL SONG. ❤️🔥💖 It's the band's fault that people don't know this song. They barely sang it in concert.😭
Sanchit
Only 7K views for this brilliant song? Unbelievable!
Holly Lagnatha
Why isn’t this song more popular right now?
희란
long time did not listen to this song, but u have still good vibe.
Trumpets Harps
Sunday morning wake up song, thanks Gary🎶
Sarah McRae
Gah, that transition though.
Roger melly
lovely.....any channy of the beach boy incident??