"We've spent our whole lives in Las Vegas and we're the only people from Las Vegas who didn't turn into smack dealers," says vocalist/guitarist Chris Babbitt, showcasing his signature humor. Babbitt and guitarist Mikey Cross were born at the same hospital and brought into this world by the same doctor. It's as though the stars were aligned and the duo were destined to be in a band. Babbitt recalls the band's coming together, saying, "Alan and I met sophomore year in high school when I started playing guitar. I met Mike senior year, after I had been trying to put a band together for many years and it finally happened when we were 21." Babbitt fell into the frontman role, in what turns out to have been a happy accident. "No one could sing so I was going to have to step it up. Everyone sucked and I happened to suck less," he says, tongue planted firmly in cheek. Babbitt admits the band started "screwing around" at a local haunt – Roberto's Taco Shop— and everything spiraled from there.
Babbitt and Cross also worked security at the Hard Rock Hotel, which helped them remain surrounded by and immersed in rock 'n roll. This rough 'n tumble day job led the duo to appear as the star security guards on True TV's Rehab show. Babbitt laughs about his role on the reality show, saying, "I save a lot of lives, kick a lot of ass!"
One other way Taking Dawn kicks a lot of ass is in their band. "All the glitz and being immersed by constant vice has steered us in the other direction," Babbitt admits. "We don't drink a lot, smoke or do drugs. We're just about the music and the girls that come with it!" While most of the members were just born when Guns N' Roses was tearing up the Sunset Strip in L.A., Taking Dawn got up to speed and on the quick, with their steadfast rock 'n roll dedication and education. Chris' dad was a rocker and a hippie, and his son was predisposed to a life of loving Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. "He played Sabbath while he vacuumed around my crib. When I got picked up from kindergarten, he'd ask me what track was playing," he remembers. Babbitt also learned to love the rock early and that's something he's taken with him into his '20s and within his local scene. He says, "Las Vegas is represented by The Killers and Panic At The Disco. There is no real rock 'face' here anymore. Slaughter was the last rock band, so I feel like we have a lot to carry on that end, as a rock band, to bring attention to the scene."
While Taking Dawn are by no means a throwback to 80s glam metal, the band is certainly inspired by the era gone by and have chosen to take the foundation of that sound and scene and update it in a thoroughly modern way: by shredding, soloing and creating melody in their music. "I don’t get people who don't like Bon Jovi and Skid Row and other classic bands," he says. "We want to bring it to the kids, for them to understand it in a modern context. We don't want to imitate. We want to do our own thing. We want the balls and the attitude."
Time To Burn has the desired cojones and a whole lotta attitude. The title track was the one that attracted the attention of Roadrunner, due to the fact that it's fast, oozes energy and makes a big statement. "It goes, 'Homicidal, kill your idols / Your heroes are whores and your only God is you.' It's a big statement about what we want to say. We don't want to look like "some" part or image and we're saying you don't have to do drugs and be complete fuck up to still rock harder than the rest of them." Amen to that! The band is particularly proud of the song, saying, "We can write an aggressive, catchy song that shreds." The song even has a part where the band sings, 'Halle-Fucking-lujah.' Of that moment, Babbitt offers further explanation, saying, "It builds differently, instead of being the same formulaic, pseudo-anti-establishment and anti-organized religion song. It has religious innuendo. You know, it's the one word Ozzy never said! I needed one word he didn't already use. It's liberating and fun as fuck to sing. We almost didn't keep that part but it's the hook of the song."
"Take Me Away" is a playful romp about a lady of the night, so to speak, and sonically, it lives at the other end of the spectrum of the band's style: it has a metallic edge dosed with the catchy pop the band cops to liking. "We like songs that are classics and that have hooks. We want to connect with people," Babbitt says. "Everyone agrees on the same top 50 songs that make up the musical canon. We want to slide into that 50. This song is rock 'n roll with the baddest guitars around and it's catchier than herpes." While it's a bold statement for the band to make, it's hard to argue with confidence and bravado when there is talent and skill to back it up.
The band also shows off its non-standard side by covering Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain." They originally planned to do their own rendition of WASP's "Fuck Like a Beast," but decided to switch gears. Babbitt says, "We wanted to do something more ambitious, even though that song summed up the band and we want to give that song limelight. Then we started thinking of alternatives and we didn't want to be pigeonholed by the 80s scene even though we love bands from that era. Mike was rolling through songs and that is our favorite Fleetwood Mac song. We have the opportunity to do what Metallica did for 'Turn the Page' and make it our own while retaining the original audience."
The band demoed with Jason Suecof (Trivium, All That Remains) and eventually recorded with Elvis Baskette (Chevelle, Incubus). In the end, Babbitt wants to write songs that sound like Randy Rhoads meets Marty Friedman, merging the classic rock and modern metal sounds into their own unique blend. He admits, "We're not trying to write other people's songs. We're trying to write songs that kick your fucking ass but have a vintage feel." He also eschews genre classification, saying, "Our music is about attitude and being open to rocking out to a song. That goes far for us. The genre barrier bullshit is not for us. You can do both. You don't have to be a savior or a martyr. That kills music."
Genres, compartmentalization and safe rock 'n roll be damned.
V
Taking Dawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot
Mother Mary would you whisper words to wither me?
Fast and faithless, armed and aimless,
Row the rivers three.
V! The call for men of five
The V is for Vendetta
V! Shake the houses upon high
In the hills no more to hide
And our wills no more divide
Shattered shards of justice
Writhing in the rust
It's too long my song stayed the same
Godless glutton glower
Decency devour
Dealing out dogma and shame
A city sinner sing a psalm of six and so despise
Fear the picture's persevere, a curse covered guile
V! The call for men of five
Left for dead and yet alive
The V is for Vendetta
V! Shake the houses upon high
In the hills no more to hide
And our wills no more divide
V! The call for men of five
Left for dead and yet alive
V is for Vendetta
V! Shake the houses upon high
Blood to spill and floods to rise
Where there's still no justice better
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill
Kill, kill, kill, for your kingdom
Kill, kill, kill, for your kind
Kill, kill, kill, killing your freedom
Kill, kill, kill, killing your mind
[solo]
What is ment a meaning
Millions achieving
Amendments amending imposed
Ratifying treason
Eradicating reason
Despot endowed to dispose
Faceless smile
Fixed and wild
As foxes free in stow
The verdict is vengeance
To rally remembrance
The fifth of November explode
V! The call for men of five
Left for dead and yet alive
The V is for Vendetta
V! Shake the houses upon high
In the hills no more to hide
And our wills no more divide
V! The call for men of five
Left for dead and yet alive
V is for Vendetta
V! Shake the houses upon high
Blood to spill and floods to rise
Where there's still no justice better
V
The lyrics of Taking Dawn's song V are inspired by the historical event known as the Gunpowder Plot, which took place in England on November 5th, 1605. The plot involved a group of conspirators who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate King James I, in order to protest against the persecution of Catholics by the Protestant government. The plot was unsuccessful, and the conspirators were captured, tortured, and executed. However, the event has become a symbol of resistance against oppressive governments and has been celebrated ever since as Bonfire Night, a holiday during which effigies of Guy Fawkes, the most famous conspirator, are burnt.
The song starts with the line "Remember, remember, the fifth of November", which is a reference to the popular rhyme that is often associated with the Gunpowder Plot. The lyrics then move onto an invocation of Mother Mary, asking for her guidance and protection. The next section of the song talks about the state of the world, which is described as "fast and faithless, armed and aimless". The river metaphor is used to convey a sense of movement and determination. The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, is a call to action: "V! The call for men of five, left for dead and yet alive. The V is for Vendetta. Shake the houses upon high, in the hills no more to hide. And our wills no more divide."
The rest of the song deals with themes of justice, freedom, and resistance. The lines "Shattered shards of justice writhing in the rust" refer to the corrupt and broken system of law and order that the singer of the song is fighting against. The references to "godless glutton glower" and "dealing out dogma and shame" suggest that the enemy is a tyrannical regime that uses religion and ideology to justify its oppressive actions. The image of the "city sinner" singing a "psalm of six" could be interpreted as a rebellion against the dominant social and religious norms. The repeated refrain of "Kill, kill, kill" at the end of the song can be seen as a call to arms or a warning of the dire consequences of inaction.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Let us not forget the significance of the fifth day of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot
Remember the failed plan to blow up the House of Lords on this day.
I see no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot
We should always remember this day so as to not repeat history.
Mother Mary would you whisper words to wither me?
Asking for divine intervention to weaken inner strength and resistance.
Fast and faithless, armed and aimless, Row the rivers three.
Moving swiftly with no moral compass in a group of three, giving a sense of recklessness.
V! The call for men of five
The symbol V is calling for five brave individuals to act.
Left for dead and yet alive
Survivors of past atrocities find the strength to fight for what is right.
The V is for Vendetta
The symbol V represents the vendetta against injustice.
Shake the houses upon high
Symbolic suggestion to shake up the establishment and those in power.
In the hills no more to hide
There will be no refuge for those who have wronged the people.
And our wills no more divide
As a united front, we will not be easily defeated.
Shattered shards of justice
The broken remnants of a once fair system.
Writhing in the rust
The corruption and negligence of those in power has caused the system to rot away.
It's too long my song stayed the same
The time for silence and inaction is over.
Godless glutton glower
The greedy and power-hungry who act with no moral guidance.
Decency devour
The acts of the corrupt have consumed any sense of decency they may have once had.
Dealing out dogma and shame
Those in power control through the use of strict beliefs and fear tactics.
A city sinner sing a psalm of six and so despise
Even the sinful and broken can join in the fight for justice.
Fear the picture's persevere, a curse covered guile
Be wary of the false images presented by those in power and the manipulations they use to maintain control.
Blood to spill and floods to rise
There will be great sacrifice in the fight for justice, and consequences to those who have wronged the people.
Where there's still no justice better
Where there is still injustice, we are better off fighting for what is right.
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill
The anger towards the oppressors and desire for revenge.
Kill, kill, kill, for your kingdom
The oppressors act out of their own selfish interests and must be fought against.
Kill, kill, kill, for your kind
The fight for justice is for the greater good of all, not just a select few.
Kill, kill, kill, killing your freedom
The oppressors seek to take away the freedoms of the people and must be stopped.
Kill, kill, kill, killing your mind
The use of propaganda and manipulation has caused many to become brainwashed and must be undone.
[solo]
Musical interlude
What is meant a meaning
The true message or purpose behind past events has been lost or distorted.
Millions achieving
The power of the masses to create change when fighting for what is right.
Amendments amending imposed
The call to revise and fix the systems and laws that have been imposed upon the people.
Ratifying treason
The people standing up against the oppressive systems is deemed as treasonous by those in power.
Eradicating reason
Those in power use their influence to deny logic and reason in order to maintain control.
Despot endowed to dispose
The oppressive leaders have the power to dispose of those who threaten their control.
Faceless smile
The fake and superficial smiles used by those in power to hide their true intentions.
Fixed and wild
The oppression is established and unwavering, yet chaotic and uncontrollable in its nature.
As foxes free in stow
The oppressors move swiftly and with great cunning like foxes in a hunting party.
The verdict is vengeance
The people seek not just justice, but also revenge against those who have wronged them.
To rally remembrance
To gather and unite in order to remember the past and fight for a better future.
The fifth of November explode
A call to action on this significant day to fight for change.
Where there's still no justice better
Where there is still injustice, we are better off fighting for what is right.
Contributed by Mateo V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.