Several of Streetlight's members were already well known among the New Jersey ska community for their roles in past ska bands from that area, most notably Catch 22's Tomas Kalnoky, James Egan, Mike Soprano, and Josh Ansley, as well as One Cool Guy's Stuart Karmatz, Pete Sibilia, Dan Ross, and Chris Paszik.
The band's first album, Everything Goes Numb, was released on August 26, 2003, and was distributed by Victory Records. They headlined their first ever show at Rutgers University on December 9, 2003 in front of a sold out audience.
The line-up has gone through several changes since the band's conception and currently consists of Matt Stewart on trumpet, Mike Brown on alto and baritone saxophone, Jim Conti on alto and tenor saxophone, Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, Pete McCullaugh on bass guitar, Karl Lyden on trombone, and Chris Thatcher on drums.
Though the band has enjoyed little mainstream commercial success, they have received acclaim in alternative music circles, and their debut album is currently in Interpunk.com's top 100 items, over 2 years after its release. In addition, they regularly sell out their live shows, and their first few shows at Rutgers and The Stone Pony not only sold out, but had people coming from as far as Minnesota and Canada. Their second album, a reworking of Catch 22's Keasbey Nights was released on March 7, 2006.
Streetlight Manifesto's third album, entitled Somewhere in the Between came out on November 13, 2007. Rumors also have it that the band is currently working on a series of 8 albums entitled "The 99 Songs of Revolution" in co-operation with Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, a side-project of singer Tomas Kalnoky slated for release in early 2009.
On November 17, 2009, the band's website announced that "99 Songs of Revolution: Volume One" has been ready for release for quite some time but "some record labels are just plain horrendous." They are also in the process of arranging a tour for 2010 but will spend some time in the studio until they have "a few records to release."
The first album of 99 Songs of Revolution was released on March 16, 2010. On this CD, the band covered songs by artists such as The Postal Service, Radiohead, and NOFX.
Band Members:
Mike Brown - Baritone Sax
Karl Lyden - Trombone
Jim Conti - Tenor Sax
Matt Stewart - Trumpet
Chris Thatcher - Drums
Tomas Kalnoky - Guitar, Vocals
Pete McCullaugh - Bass
www.streetlightmanifesto.com
The Saddest Song
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody's laughing like there's no tomorrow and even if there was
Would you still go following your friends?(following your friends)
I don't care where we went wrong
We're still singing those same sad songs
"It's my life, not your life, I'll end it when I want"
And now I'm off to save the world once again
But I don't know how I'll pull it off this time
I think I'm going to drown
Now he's off to save the world once again
But he don't know how he'll pull it off this time
I just know I'm going to drown
And it's the saddest song you'll ever hear
The most pain you will ever feel
But you grit your teeth because it don't get better than this (know this)
And you'll try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins
And you can't think of anything that you would change
Stop!
"Look and you will see" is what I think she said to me
I'm not too sure because it could have easily been a million things
But I don't know what she said
I still don't know what she said
Years passed since I've seen her face
14 years were just erased
If my life was your life, would you ever take it back?
And now I'm off to save the world once again
But i don't know how I'll pull it off this time
I think I'm going to drown
Now he's off to save the world once again
But he don't know how he'll pull it off this time
I just know I'm going to drown
Yeah you will try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins
And you can't think of anything that you would change
And now I'm off to save the world once again
But I don't know how I'll pull it off this time
I think I'm going to drown
Now he's off to save the world once again
But he don't know how he'll pull it off this time
I just know I'm going to drown
And it's the saddest song you'll ever hear
The most pain you will ever feel
But you grit your teeth because it don't get better than this (know this)
And you'll try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins
And you can't think of anything that you would change
Streetlight Manifesto’s “The Saddest Song” tells a powerful story of a person struggling to find their place in the chaotic world around them. The lyrics delve into themes of existentialism, social pressures, and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines, “It doesn’t really matter if you lead or follow, Everybody’s laughing like there’s no tomorrow,” reveal the singer’s sense of isolation and detachment from the world. They are surrounded by people who seem to be living carefree lives but they do not feel connected to anyone.
The chorus of “The Saddest Song” emphasizes the intense emotions that the singer is experiencing. They describe the song as the “saddest” and express the feeling of extreme pain. The lyrics reflect the idea that the singer is trying to express something but can’t find the words to do so. “And you’ll try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins, And you can’t think of anything that you would change” shows that the singer is struggling to articulate their feelings before it’s too late.
The bridge of the song introduces a mysterious character, who may represent hope or guidance. The repeated line “Look and you will see” offers a hint of a solution to the singer’s problems, but it’s unclear if they are able to find the answers they are looking for.
Overall, “The Saddest Song” is a poignant piece of music that conveys a sense of despair and confusion. It speaks to anyone who feels lost and disconnected from the world around them, but it also offers a glimmer of hope that things can get better.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't really matter if you lead or follow
Your position in society, your job, and your social circle don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. You can still find happiness regardless of whether you lead or follow.
Everybody's laughing like there's no tomorrow and even if there was
Would you still go following your friends?(following your friends)
People are enjoying life to the fullest and are living in the moment, but it's important to question whether the decisions you make in following your friends are actually good for yourself and align with your values.
I don't care where we went wrong
We're still singing those same sad songs
"It's my life, not your life, I'll end it when I want"
Even though things may have gone wrong somewhere down the line, we can't change the past, and we're left singing the same sad songs. We have the right to make our own decisions and control our own lives.
And now I'm off to save the world once again
But I don't know how I'll pull it off this time
I think I'm going to drown
Now he's off to save the world once again
But he don't know how he'll pull it off this time
I just know I'm going to drown
No matter how much we try to change the world, it can be overwhelming and seem like we're drowning in the chaos. We may not know how we'll pull it off this time, but we keep trying anyway.
Stop!
"Look and you will see" is what I think she said to me
I'm not too sure because it could have easily been a million things
But I don't know what she said
I still don't know what she said
Years passed since I've seen her face
14 years were just erased
If my life was your life, would you ever take it back?
Sometimes we miss the big picture because we're too focused on the details of our own problems. We may remember pieces of advice from loved ones, but we forget the context and true meaning. Time passes quickly and memories fade, but we question whether our own life is worth living when compared to others'.
Yeah you will try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins
And you can't think of anything that you would change
As life slips away, you try to make sense of it all and come to terms with your own mortality. Despite all the pain and regret, you can't think of anything that you would change.
And it's the saddest song you'll ever hear
The most pain you will ever feel
But you grit your teeth because it don't get better than this (know this)
And you'll try to explain as the blood leaves all your veins
And you can't think of anything that you would change
This is the epitome of sadness -- a song that will make you feel the most pain you've ever experienced. But at the same time, it's a reminder that life is worth living, and you continue to strive and live in the moment even in the face of death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STUART DRUMMOND MCMILLAN, ORDE MEIKLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind