Sparta got a deal with Dreamworks in 2001 and released their debut EP Austere in early 2002. They released their debut full-length album Wiretap Scars on August 13, 2002. The album is mostly influenced by their previous work with At the Drive-In, which is a contrast from The Mars Volta, formed by the other two ex-members of ATD-I, which departs entirely from post-hardcore and instead focuses on progressive rock or psychedelic rock. This album is also a lot cleaner and more accessible than At the Drive-In's experimentation.
On May 25, 2003, Ward's cousin Jeremy, the sound manipulator for The Mars Volta, died of a heroin overdose. Hinojos would leave Sparta in 2005 to join TMV as their secondary guitarist and filling in Jeremy Ward's position as sound manipulator. He was replaced by Keeley Davis (Engine Down, Denali).
Sparta's second full-length album Porcelain was released July 13, 2004 and peaked at #60 on the Billboard 200. The first single released from the album was "Breaking the Broken," for which a music video was recorded that received much airplay.
In January 2006, they announced that they had signed a deal with Hollywood Records, which will release their third album Threes on October 24, 2006. The album peaked at #83 on the Billboard 200. It's the first album with guitarist Keeley Davis and its debut single was "Taking Back Control."
In June 2008, Ward stated that Sparta is on hiatus and without a label; he would focus instead on his alternative country band, Sleepercar, which released its debut album West Texas on April 22, 2008. Three years later, on August 3, 2011, Ward stated that Sparta was back in action and would play their first show in November in El Paso. That comeback would be short, as in January 2012, At The Drive-In reunited for a series of shows, splitting up once again at the end of the year. In January 2016, At The Drive-In reunited for the second time. However, days before the tour start in March 2016, it was announced that Ward had been replaced in the band by his former Sparta bandmate Keeley Davis.
Sparta would come back for a second time in 2017, with a line-up consisting of Ward, Miller, Gabriel Gonzalez and Cully Symington (Beach Slang, Cursive). They would release their fourth album, Trust the River, on April 10, 2020 on Dine Alone Records.
There is another band ith the sane name:
2. Sparta was also a NWOBHM band from Mansfield. They formed in 1980, and released two singles, plus participated on a five way split album before they split up. Hades Records released a compilation on vinyl in 2006. This compilation contained all their previously released songs, plus a few more.
La Cerca
Sparta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's left me warm
Count your blessings, you're the lucky one
The view from this window
Is frail and brittle
And I've done nothing to change anything
These hills in our hometown
Disguise the beaten down
I was raised in a certain way
And I think I've let you down
So I change my ways and I'll find a brand new path
Let's crash these gates and join this party
I want to be welcomed, not just tolerated
I'm watching my own eyes
Looking for truth
I started doubting but fell into the pool
These resolutions firm and panic sets in
In order to grow you must be open to learn
Grew up on a man-made line
That's left me empty
I've seen these scenes
Haunt me in my dreams
I've just begun to question why
How could I forget
Imaginary splits?
Don't have a thing to do with life
In Sparta's song "La Cerca," the lyrics are filled with introspection and self-reflection. It appears to be about growing up in a certain way and how that shaped the person they have become. The "man-made line" could be a reference to a physical border or division created by society, separating individuals based on class, race, or social status. The line has left the singer feeling warm, possibly indicating a sense of belonging or comfort in their predetermined position. However, they recognize that it is not a blessing but rather a privilege and that many people are not as fortunate.
The view from the window is described as frail and brittle, indicating a sense of vulnerability or fragility in the world they observe around them. They admit to not doing anything to change it, acknowledging their lack of action in making a difference. The hills in their hometown, which are used as a metaphor, are concealing the hardships and struggles that exist beneath the surface. The singer can no longer ignore the reality of the world and must confront it and become an agent of change.
The chorus represents a turning point in the song: the desire to break through societal barriers and be accepted for who they are, not just tolerated. The line, "I'm watching my own eyes/Looking for truth," seems to represent a journey of self-discovery and seeking to understand the world around them. The sense of panic when making resolutions is relatable, as it can be scary to make changes and confront uncomfortable truths. In the end, the singer recognizes the emptiness and lack of satisfaction they feel from living within the man-made line, and the song reaffirms the importance of questioning the status quo and striving for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Grew up on a man-made line
I grew up in a place where a physical boundary separates us from another community, and this divides us.
That's left me warm
However, being accustomed to it makes me feel comfortable, unchallenged in my beliefs, and content with the way things are.
Count your blessings, you're the lucky one
I've never known anything else or experienced the other side of this man-made line but I'm told to be grateful and acknowledge my privileged existence.
The view from this window
Yet, from my vantage point as a citizen living close to this boundary, I see the world around me crumbling down.
Is frail and brittle
The fabric of our society is becoming increasingly fragile, and each side of the man-made line is vulnerable to the same issues and problems.
And I've done nothing to change anything
I am partly responsible for this state of affairs; despite being aware of this division, I'm neither willing nor able to contribute to its resolution.
These hills in our hometown
Although it seems like the natural landscape around us is idyllic and beautiful, it covers a great deal of poverty and hardship that perpetuates in our town.
Disguise the beaten down
The rolling hills and greenery obscure the struggles of human lives and make them invisible to those living across the man-made line.
Can't turn a blind eye anymore
It is high time that we face this harsh reality and shake ourselves out of our comfortable apathy.
I was raised in a certain way
Growing up under the shadow of this man-made line and being conditioned into believing that social and economic problems are the norm has shaped my worldview.
And I think I've let you down
I am conscious that I have not lived up to my potential and made a difference in my life and my community.
So I change my ways and I'll find a brand new path
I commit to changing my perspective, learning from others, and exploring new ideas to find a way forward.
Let's crash these gates and join this party
I want to break down the barriers that divide us, connect with people on the other side of the man-made line, and create an inclusive community.
I want to be welcomed, not just tolerated
I don't want to be accepted begrudgingly or as a token representative, but have a genuine place in a society that values diversity and change.
I'm watching my own eyes
I'm inward-looking and self-reflective, examining my own beliefs and prejudices to move beyond them.
Looking for truth
I want to discover a higher purpose and a basis of commonality, an objective reality that lies beyond subjectively perceived differences.
I started doubting but fell into the pool
As I began to question the status quo, I encountered uncertainty and doubt, but my curiosity and courage propelled me forward.
These resolutions firm and panic sets in
Although I am determined to make a change, sometimes the enormity and complexity of the task can be overwhelming and scary.
In order to grow you must be open to learn
I recognize that learning and humility are the necessary preconditions of progress and evolution.
That's left me empty
Despite my relative privilege, and some material success, I have a deep sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness because I have ignored the realities behind the man-made line.
I've seen these scenes
I've encountered these same patterns, in different forms and variations, over and over again throughout my life.
Haunt me in my dreams
The pain and suffering of others in this divided and unequal world can be seen even in my unconsciousness, and it weighs heavily on my conscience.
I've just begun to question why
I am finally starting to challenge the assumptions and beliefs that have kept me from seeing the full picture of the lives cut off by the man-made line.
How could I forget
It is shocking and disorienting to realize how much I have unconsciously ignored and overlooked the many issues on the other side of the man-made line.
Imaginary splits?
The line that divides us is merely a symbolic construct, but its consequences are all too real and life-changing.
Don't have a thing to do with life
But in the end, life is the only measure of our success, progress, and dignity, and the man-made line does nothing to enhance or enrich it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind