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)
Ways
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I should try to make it right
Are you ready for the shit to hit
I think you say you are but aren't
Doctor make it better instantly
You're the only one who can
I've waited here my whole damn life
And I've forgotten what I wanted
Maybe I can do it
If I put my back into it
I can leave you if I wanted
But there's nowhere else that I can go
Maybe I won't suffer
If I find I way to love her
I'd be lying to myself
But there is no way out that I can see
If I lied you'd know it instantly
So I just had to look away
All the honesty I've ever lost
I can't begin to even curse
I never knew the taste of blood til now
It's clear I never should have known
Breathing fire was never this much fun
So there's a dark side in us all
The lyrics of Snow Patrol's song "Ways & Means" tell the story of a person who realizes they have been too busy to make amends with someone they care about. They want to make it right and fix the situation, but they feel uncertain if the other person is truly ready for that. They turn to a doctor, perhaps for some medical intervention or advice, but ultimately the doctor can't help them in the way they need. The singer feels trapped and unsure of what to do next, considering leaving the person but unable to find somewhere else to go. They contemplate lying to themselves, perhaps about finding love with the other person or about being able to leave, but ultimately know deep down that there is no easy way out of their situation. The lyrics end on a dark note, suggesting that everyone has a "dark side."
The song is a poignant exploration of the difficulty of reconciling with someone while feeling trapped and unsure of oneself. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but one could read them as a reflection on a failing relationship or a family conflict. The lyrics strike a relatable chord for anyone who has grappled with regret, uncertainty, or the desire for change. The song's somber melody and contemplative tone beautifully captures the emotional complexity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Getting too busy to make amends
I've been preoccupied with other things and haven't had time to make things right with you
I should try to make it right
I know I need to do something to fix our relationship
Are you ready for the shit to hit
Do you really think you can handle the problems that will come our way?
I think you say you are but aren't
I don't believe that you are as prepared as you claim to be
Doctor make it better instantly
I'm in pain and need you to help me heal quickly
You're the only one who can
I rely on you to make everything better
I've waited here my whole damn life
I've been waiting for something meaningful to happen for a long time
And I've forgotten what I wanted
I don't even remember what I was hoping for anymore
Maybe I can do it
I'm starting to believe that I can make things work
If I put my back into it
If I really put in the effort and work hard
I can leave you if I wanted
I have the ability to walk away from this if I choose to
But there's nowhere else that I can go
There's nothing else out there for me at the moment
Maybe I won't suffer
Perhaps I won't experience as much pain as I think I will
If I find a way to love her
If I can figure out how to truly love and appreciate her
I'd be lying to myself
I know deep down that I'm not being truthful with myself
But there is no way out that I can see
I don't have any other options or solutions
If I lied you'd know it instantly
You're perceptive enough to catch me in a lie right away
So I just had to look away
I avoided eye contact because I knew you would see right through me
All the honesty I've ever lost
I've been dishonest with you a lot in the past
I can't begin to even curse
I'm so ashamed of myself that I can't even express how sorry I am
I never knew the taste of blood til now
I've never felt this much pain before
It's clear I never should have known
I wish I had never experienced this level of agony
Breathing fire was never this much fun
I'm enjoying the thrill of doing something dangerous and reckless
So there's a dark side in us all
Everyone has a part of them that is capable of doing bad things
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARY LIGHTBODY, MARK PETE MCCLELLAND, JONATHAN GRAHAM QUINN, IAIN DENIS ARCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dead Apricot
Simple two-chord intro and a blinding Ebow slide make this amazingly haunting.
Joel Mooneyham
The Final Straw was truly brilliant.
Rob ONeil
Yes, yes it was/is....and I'm 53!
Dave Becker
love the guitar feedback on this track
Bill Tolles
Amazing tune!!!!!!
JazzySnazzyInc
this sounds so different from the more recent snow patrol...yet still so good
Draven
This song got me threw my first broken heart.
AudioMouseProductions
im just getting into Snow patrol. pretty good music, AWESOME guitar riffs, just.... OWO WOW MUCH GOOD
Charlotte Emily
My favourite track of theirs Xx
Share Mamabear
I love this cd, its a good one, thanx