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)
The President
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've run from everyone that I have ever known
I'm aching cold
I'm aching from the bones the very blood of me
And it's broke before you know it
Before you knew what it was for
All you know is you can't fix it
To your instincts to your family
To the wisdom you'd ignored
Are you finally gonna ask us for help?
I've crashed to earth
But I'd fallen for so long that it was just relief
I saw your face
In everyone that looked me in my drunken eyes
And it's broke before you know it
Before you knew what it was for
All you know is you can't fix it
And you wish you'd listened more
To your instincts to your family
To the wisdom you'd ignored
When you finally gonna ask us for help?
I can see you at the front gate
As you wait on my return
The years have blurred to eons
But the tears have never dried
But I'm not coming to you like this
So battered down and sad
I will take the road forgotten, again
At first glance, Snow Patrol's song "The President" seems to be about a person who has hit rock bottom and is struggling to reconcile with their past. The opening lines, "I've run to ground / I've run from everyone that I have ever known," suggest that the singer is feeling utterly alone and disconnected from others. The following lyric, "I'm aching cold / I'm aching from the bones the very blood of me," reinforces this sense of emotional and physical pain. The use of the word "cold" seems to connote a sense of emptiness and isolation, while the reference to bones and blood suggest that the person's whole being is wracked with suffering.
The chorus provides a powerful message about the dangers of neglecting one's inner voice and support networks. The lines, "All you know is you can't fix it / And you wish you'd listened more / To your instincts to your family / To the wisdom you'd ignored," imply that the person has missed out on vital guidance and care that could have prevented their current struggles. The chorus is a rallying cry for the person to seek help from their loved ones and from within themselves. However, the final line, "Are you finally gonna ask us for help?" seems to suggest that this person has been resistant to accepting help in the past and may still be hesitant to reach out.
The bridge of the song contains a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the persistence of grief. The lines, "The years have blurred to eons / But the tears have never dried," convey the idea that the person has been struggling silently with their pain for a long time. The final verse seems to offer a glimmer of hope, as the person declares their intention to take control of their life and take a different path. Overall, "The President" is a powerful and emotive exploration of the pain of isolation and the power of seeking help.
Line by Line Meaning
I've run to ground
I've settled/established in one place for a long time
I've run from everyone that I have ever known
I've avoided contact with everyone I used to know
I'm aching cold
I'm cold and in pain
I'm aching from the bones the very blood of me
I'm in pain throughout my entire body
And it's broke before you know it
Something has broken without you realizing it
Before you knew what it was for
Before you understood its purpose
All you know is you can't fix it
You know it's broken, but you can't repair it
And you wish you'd listened more
You regret not paying more attention
To your instincts to your family
To your gut feelings and loved ones
To the wisdom you'd ignored
To the advice you didn't follow
Are you finally gonna ask us for help?
Will you finally seek assistance from us?
I've crashed to earth
I've hit rock bottom
But I'd fallen for so long that it was just relief
I had been falling for a long time, so hitting the ground was almost a relief
I saw your face
I recognized you
In everyone that looked me in my drunken eyes
In every person who made eye contact with me while I was intoxicated
I can see you at the front gate
I can imagine you waiting for me at the entrance
As you wait on my return
As you anticipate my arrival
The years have blurred to eons
Time has passed so quickly that it feels like an eternity
But the tears have never dried
But the pain and sadness from the past has not gone away
But I'm not coming to you like this
But I won't come to you in my current state
So battered down and sad
So beaten and overwhelmed with sadness
I will take the road forgotten, again
I will take an unfamiliar path, yet again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: GARRET JACKNIFE LEE, GARY LIGHTBODY, JONATHAN GRAHAM QUINN, NATHAN CONNOLLY, PAUL WILSON, TOM SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Relflow
Flamestar1989 It's ok.
I've been alone, just write. That's all I do, to keep myself from ending what would be a bright future.
Shard of a Heart.
Bring it so, true to the soul,
What you claim it to be.
Write, write, it'll never go.
That’s how your heart goes,
write, is all I can say,
that's how I'll go too.
Write my soul, my story.
It'll never end.
@jupiter1217
In an interview, Gary said he'd written it for (and about) one of the homeless men he used to talk to when he went for a walk, when he lived in Santa Monica while writing and recording this album. I'll Never Let Go was written for another of them.
@andreeab8934
If Gary wasn't a musician, he'd be one of the greatest poets of our times.
@SlicedApart
Andreea B The two aren't mutually exclusive.
@denniskoch9836
Agreed
@jenniferbrown2658
He IS one of the greatest poets of our time!
@NickyBarboza
he takes one thought and drives it into a story that tears you down. SO personal, so real
@technicoloredlife
Seriously? Who can dislike this song? It's beautiful, and this album blew me away! I love you Snow Patrol!
@williampahrman8085
I've been in recovery for many years now, from many hurts and issues, especially trauma. This song touches that piece of my soul.
Ouch and Thank you 😢🙏🦋
@GraemeK84
I could just as easily listen to this song on my CD, on repeat, endlessly. But I figured I'd come to youtube today and instead listen to it with other people who appreciate the power of this song. I wonder how many listens there'll be by the end of the day..... 25,586 and counting.
@sarahlund-nt3kw
It's one of those ballads that's just so beautiful, that it stops me in my tracks.