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)
On-Off
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faces all screwed up like what I'd done
I didn't mean to hurt you so much
I knew it would hurt you but not like this
We all make a mess from time to time, dear
But it'll take me a lifetime to get this cleared
Somebody muttered something under their breath
[Chorus]
Nobody's perfect, that's what I say
No one has hurt me so much you say
I'm sorry
Running away seemed like the easy
Thing to do because I wanted time
To put a smile back on my dirty face
For once nothing's missing and I feel fine
I was afraid to tell you some things
But some things all find a way to get told
Hearing it from the lips of somebody else
Must have knocked the wind out of your sweet face
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of Snow Patrol's song On-Off describe a situation of regret and pain in a relationship. The singer begins by expressing disbelief at the hurt they have caused the other person, acknowledging that while they knew their actions would cause pain, they did not anticipate the extent of it. The use of imagery such as "faces all screwed up" emphasizes the physical and emotional impact their mistake has had on the other person.
The chorus reassures the other person that nobody is perfect and that the singer acknowledges the hurt they have caused. However, as the lyrics progress, the singer reveals that they initially chose to run away from the situation rather than confront it head-on. They were ashamed of their "dirty face" and needed time to come to terms with their actions before attempting to make amends.
Towards the end of the song, the singer admits to withholding information from the other person and acknowledges that they have learned the hard way that honesty is the best policy. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's regret and apology, as well as the importance of accepting responsibility for one's mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't believe what I was seeing
I was in shock and disbelief at what was happening before my eyes.
Faces all screwed up like what I'd done
The people's faces were distorted and upset, as if I had caused the unpleasantness that was happening.
I didn't mean to hurt you so much
I never intended for you to experience such pain and distress.
I knew it would hurt you but not like this
I was aware that my actions would cause you some pain, but I never anticipated they would hurt you to this degree.
We all make a mess from time to time, dear
It's normal to make mistakes or have missteps on occasion, my love.
But it'll take me a lifetime to get this cleared
However, I believe it will take me the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.
Somebody muttered something under their breath
I heard someone whisper something, barely audible, without directly addressing the situation.
But I let on like I was a little deaf
I pretended not to hear what they said, putting up a front and not acknowledging their comment.
Nobody's perfect, that's what I say
I believe that no one is perfect, and thus, we are all capable of making mistakes or faults.
No one has hurt me so much you say
You believe that no one has ever caused you as much pain and suffering as I have.
I'm sorry
I feel remorse for my actions and wish to express my apologies to you.
Running away seemed like the easy
Escaping from the situation felt like the simplest solution at the time.
Thing to do because I wanted time
I did not want to confront the issues at hand and needed some separation to think and gather my thoughts.
To put a smile back on my dirty face
I hoped that some space would help me regain my composure and bring a smile back to my face.
For once nothing's missing and I feel fine
At this moment, I am content and feel like nothing is lacking or absent in my life.
I was afraid to tell you some things
I was apprehensive and nervous to share certain information with you.
But some things all find a way to get told
However, eventually, the truth and certain details will inevitably come out.
Hearing it from the lips of somebody else
Learning about something significant from another person rather than me.
Must have knocked the wind out of your sweet face
This news or revelation must have left you feeling dismayed or shocked.
Chorus
The repeated refrain highlights the message of the song, that people make mistakes or cause pain, and apologizing or making amends is crucial.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY LIGHTBODY, JONATHAN QUINN, MARK MCCLELLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah McRae
I've listened to this almost as much in the past week as I did in 2001.
Mike Russo
Listening to the whole album right now...some songs I never listened to...my favorites are
Batten down the hatch
Making enemies
Olive
Ask me how I am
Kelli Turner
Yeah that shit sucked, I was not prepared to deal with it... it broke me... and it was so much easier to run away then to explain to you why I did!! How do you you tell the love of your life that they broke you!!!
Indie Music
I get tired of the waiting list
Kelli Leane Riley
Yeah that wasnt fun...