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)
Disaster Button
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The function sweet was full
With people I had never seen before
Ripped up ticket stubs
Confetti on the floor
It dawned on me I'd seen it all before
You look a fucking mess
No ones getting out of here tonight
Hit that button there
The one that just says wrong
We'll lose our lives through all our favorite songs
[Chorus]
Go forward to later you'll land flat on your feet
When you were in the room, I was nailed to my seat
I'm like a prisoner getting ready to talk
I feel the blood in my hands and the threat in your walk
And suddenly it lifts the roof off the place
It puts a volt in my step
And a grin on my face
It cant contain me but you leaning on me
To get me back in my box
And snap the branches off me
A little after 4
The function suite is dead
And I am just a ripped up ticket stub
But here's a helping hand
A voice that's far to close
And I am up and on my broken limbs
[Chorus]
And suddenly it lifts the roof of the place
It puts a volt in my step
And a grin on my face
It cant contain me but you leaning on me
To get me back in my box
And snap the branches off me
The song Disaster Button by Snow Patrol is a poetic representation of a night out, capturing the highs and lows of partying. The opening lines depict the end of a night out, with the function suite full of unfamiliar faces and the remnants of the party scattered across the floor. From the lyrical imagery of ripped up ticket stubs and confetti, the singer begins to feel like they have experienced this before, likening the feeling to being trapped in a cycle of routine.
The chorus is a reflective moment, where the singer has time to contemplate their feelings of being trapped in their circumstances. They are metaphorically "nailed to their seat" like a prisoner getting ready to talk. But when the mood in the room changes and the music lifts the roof, it puts a volt in their step and a grin on their face. However, they express that they cannot contain this feeling of euphoria, but someone (possibly a lover or friend) is there to lean on them to bring them back to their 'box' or routine.
The lyrics evoke the feeling of partying and the subsequent feelings of vulnerability and introspection. The line "cool your beans my son" suggests a hint of disapproval from a parent/authority figure, adding to the themes of inner conflict and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
A little after 12
It's just past midnight
The function suite was full
The event venue was packed with people
With people I had never seen before
The singer didn't recognize any of the attendees
Ripped up ticket stubs
Discarded evidence of entrance to the function suite
Confetti on the floor
Celebratory paper debris on the ground
It dawned on me I'd seen it all before
The singer realized they've experienced similar events previously
Cool your beans my son
Calm down, young man
You look a fucking mess
You appear disheveled
No ones getting out of here tonight
The singer perceives a sense of entrapment
Hit that button there
Press that particular button
The one that just says wrong
Choose the option that's not correct
We'll lose our lives through all our favorite songs
Enjoy the moment so much that time seems to fly by quickly
Go forward to later you'll land flat on your feet
Progress through the night and things will turn out fine
When you were in the room, I was nailed to my seat
The singer was captivated by the other person's presence
I'm like a prisoner getting ready to talk
The singer feels trapped but still wants to express themselves
I feel the blood in my hands and the threat in your walk
The singer senses danger or possible trouble
And suddenly it lifts the roof off the place
An unexpected event occurs that creates excitement and energy
It puts a volt in my step
The energy inspires the singer to move faster or dance harder
And a grin on my face
The singer can't help but smile
It cant contain me but you leaning on me
The singer feels restrained and pressured by the other person
To get me back in my box
To control or suppress the singer's behavior
And snap the branches off me
To take away the singer's growth and individuality
A little after 4
It's just past 4 in the morning
The function suite is dead
The event venue is now empty and quiet
And I am just a ripped up ticket stub
The singer feels discarded or worthless
But here's a helping hand
Someone is offering support
A voice that's far too close
The person offering support is too intimate or involved
And I am up and on my broken limbs
Despite feeling hurt or damaged, the singer is standing on their own
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NATHAN CONNOLLY, GARY LIGHTBODY, JONATHAN GRAHAM QUINN, TOM SIMPSON, PAUL WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
deeceetee
Always reminds me of a right good night out with my friends from school, many years ago;
A little after 12
The function suite was full
With people I had never seen before
Ripped up ticket stubs
Confettied on the floor
It dawned on me I'd seen it all before
Cool your beans my son
You look a fucking mess
No one's getting out of here tonight
Hit that button there
The one that just says wrong
We'll lose our minds to all our favourite songs
Go forward to later you look light on your feet
When you were in the room, I was nailed to my seat
I'm like a prisoner getting ready to talk
I feel the blood in my hands and the threat in your walk
And suddenly it lifts the roof off the place
It puts a volt in my step
And a grin on my face
It can't contain me but you need an army
To get me back in my box
And snap the branches off me
A little after 4
The function suite is dead
And I am just a ripped up ticket stub
But here's a helping hand
A voice that's far too close
And I am up and on my broken limbs
Go forward to later you look light on your feet
When you were in the room, I was nailed to my seat
I'm like a prisoner getting ready to talk
I feel the blood in my hands and the threat in your walk
And suddenly it lifts the roof off the place
It puts a volt in my step
And a grin on my face
It can't contain me but you need an army
To get me back in my box
And snap the branches off me
And suddenly it lifts the roof of the place
It puts a volt in my step
And a grin on my face
It can't contain me but you need an army
To get me back in my box
And snap the branches off me
Peter Lincoln
Thank you very much for the lyrics. God Bless. 😊
Marion Moore
Different, real rocker good upbeat.
Like it. Had to listen twice. Catchy
Little number. 👏👍✌️😊🌹
darren shaw
The solo’s fuckin mint 👍
Sea-Saw
Why was this never released .. I’ve never even heard it at any concert..it’s a brilliantly evocative song ....one of my favourites amongst the many tho...
JoSch from the Lake
a masterpiece, they did not recognize
Sea-Saw
@JoSch from the Lake I'm glad you posted it gave me a chance to listen again.. twice, it still is a really good track. 👍
TsukasaElkKite
It’s on A Hundred Million Suns!
Yolly
I've seen you before live!!! And, I couldn't believe how much I was in awe!!!
Not fucking now!!!
Little Italy
❤❤❤❤❤💪