In 1997, Taproot sent their demo to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Impressed with their material, he offered to get them a recording contract through Interscope Records. However, after extended negotiations, Taproot looked elsewhere, where they finally landed a lucrative record deal with Atlantic Records. Durst heavily cursed the band on vocalist Stephen Richards' answering machine. He also put some blame on System of a Down, who assisted Taproot in securing the Atlantic deal. In retaliation, Durst also kicked System of a Down off the 1999 Family Values Tour, replacing them with Staind. Taproot later went on to independently release three albums: ...Something More Than Nothing (1998), Mentobe (1998) and Upon Us (1999).
The band released their debut album Gift on June 27, 2000. With the album's lead single "Again & Again" gaining heavy exposure through MTV2, the band's mainstream rise gained momentum. With the help of Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack, Taproot landed a spot on the second stage of the 2000 and 2001 Ozzfest tour.
After spending seven months in Los Angeles, the band released their second album Welcome on October 15, 2002. Considered to be a more melodic effort, the album debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200, selling over 51,000 copies in its first week of release. Much of this was due to the success of the album's first single, "Poem", which shot to #5 on the Mainstream Rock charts. The album's second single, "Mine", followed with more moderate success. Welcome is Taproot's most successful album to date, almost achieving gold status, with approximately 475,000 copies sold. After touring across the country on Disturbed's Music as a Weapon Tour, as well as a European tour, the band took a two-year break.
Returning from their break, the band released their third major album Blue-Sky Research on August 16, 2005. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins frontman) assisted in songwriting on the album, which was produced by Toby Wright. It debuted at #33 on the Billboard 200, with approximately 28,000 first week sales. The Bands single "Calling" was used by the WWE 2005 pay-per-view "Unforgiven."
The band headlined a major tour with Evans Blue and From Satellite to promote its release. Prior to the headline tour, Taproot acted as direct support to Chevelle on their tour alongside 30 Seconds to Mars. They also participated in the Fall Brawl Tour, which featured Staind and P.O.D. as headliners, and is notable for taking the then-unknown Flyleaf along as the opening act for the three bands.
On May 23, 2006, it was reported that Taproot had parted ways with Atlantic Records, after disappointing sales of Blue-Sky Research. At the time, the album had sold 112,000 copies since its release. On June 13, 2006, drummer Jarrod Montague, via Taproot's MySpace blog, confirmed the news.
On March 5, 2007, the band confirmed that they were in the process of recording their new album with producer Tim Patalan. According to Philip Lipscomb's MySpace blog, their new album Our Long Road Home is complete and will be released sometime in early 2008. On March 2, 2008, the band released a song from Our Long Road Home entitled "You're Not Home Tonight" on their website. This song has been played on XM Satellite Radio, Squizz 48 Indicent Exposure with Grant Random Sirius Satellite Radio on Octane. A teaser trailer for Our Long Road Home was added to the Taproot Youtube page on April 28, 2008. At the end of the video, it was stated that the album would be released on August 5, 2008.
According to the Taproot website, the band has decided to forgo signing to a major label. Their new album Our Long Road Home will be released independently through their management firm Velvet Hammer Music in a 50/50 partnership with the band themselves. Distribution was handled with Sony-owned RED Distribution.
Our Long Road Home was released on September 16, 2008. The disc was distributed in a cardboard sleeve and released to all major outlets. Just over a week after the album's release, it was announced that long-time drummer Jarrod Montague would be leaving the band and replaced by Nick Fredell. The band released a statement regarding the change in lineup:
""After 10 years of touring, our drummer and good friend Jarrod will be sitting out this cycle and we will be replacing him with our long time friend Nick Fredell. We'll miss Jarrod's presence out on the road, but Nick has fit in perfectly and we're excited for all of our fans to meet him. Jarrod's still very much a part of our family, so you'll be seeing him in press and the "Wherever I Stand" video which is out now on Youtube..."
In Spring 2009, Taproot went on the road with Dear Enemy and Adakain for the Take It! tour. Later that year, they co-headlined a U.S. tour with Cold, in addition to releasing the following statement: "Taproot has a few upcoming shows in November and December and will start writing their new record in January/ February of 2010. We hope to get into the studio sometime in February and March. We will be looking at a release date sometime in the late spring possibly early summer of 2010!"
After a brief period without a record label, Taproot signed with Victory Records. On April 1, 2010, at midnight, the band released the lead single for their upcoming album. The song was "Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)". A video for the song followed the release soon after debuting on the band's Youtube channel on April 16. Soon after, the band released their 7th studio album Plead The Fifth.
Current Members:
Vocals, Guitar: Stephen Richards
Bass: Phil Lipscomb
Guitar: Dave Lizzio
Drums: Dave Coughlin
Past Members:
Drums: Jarrod Montague
Guitar: Mike DeWolf
Drums: Nick Fredell
http://www.taprootmusic.com
When
Taproot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lesson of being bored and naive so I've been told
Its just my own problem
That I succumb from the bottom
Looking up at the reflection above of those below
Yea well I know, there's no point in rushing
I'll get my change when
I'll get mine
In no time
I want to shine
With you by my side
When is how
I hide away
I push myself on everyday
The lesson in time will be the mystery
Lost in this missing things
By doing things created
Looking up at the reflection above of those below
Yea well I know, there's no point in rushing
I'll get my change when
The time is right
I'll get mine
In no time
I want to shine
With you by my side
Now and then
Then is now
Now and then
Then is now
Now for when
When is now I know
The time is right
I'll get mine
In no time
I want to shine
With you by my side
The lyrics of Taproot's song "When" seem to be about the struggles of finding oneself and feeling lost in an overwhelming environment, possibly a party or a gathering where the air is thick with smoke. The singer admits to feeling bored and naive, but acknowledges that it is their own problem to deal with. Despite looking up at the people they consider to be above them, they recognize that rushing to change their circumstances won't necessarily bring success or happiness.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats the line "I'll get my change when the time is right," conveying a sense of patience and trust in the universe to guide them towards what they truly desire. They want to shine, and they long to have someone they care about by their side during the journey. The chorus is both uplifting and hopeful, reassuring the listener that they will eventually find the "change" they seek.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that time is a mystery, and that by embracing the act of creating and doing things, we can find a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Yet, there is an inherent tension between hiding away and pushing oneself every day, which suggests that the singer is struggling to find a balance between self-care and ambition. In the end, however, the song seems to come full circle, with the lines "Now and then / Then is now / Now for when / When is now I know" suggesting that time is not linear, and that the present moment is all we truly have.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't seem to find myself in the smoke filled room again
I feel lost in this crowded environment and disconnected from myself.
The lesson of being bored and naive so I've been told
I've been taught that boredom and naivety are my problems to overcome.
Its just my own problem
I acknowledge that it is my personal issue to address.
That I succumb from the bottom
I sometimes feel overwhelmed and powerless.
Looking up at the reflection above of those below
I compare myself to others who seem to be more successful or happier.
Yea well I know, there's no point in rushing
I understand that hurrying won't get me where I want to be.
I'll get my change when
I trust that good things will come at the right moment.
The time is right
I sense that the opportune moment is near.
I'll get mine
I will receive what I deserve through hard work and patience.
In no time
It won't take long for me to achieve my goals.
I want to shine
I aspire to excel and be recognized for my talents.
With you by my side
I desire to share my achievements with someone special.
When is how
Timing is a crucial factor in determining success.
I hide away
Sometimes I hold back and don't express myself to others.
I push myself on everyday
I motivate myself to work hard and pursue my dreams daily.
The lesson in time will be the mystery
The answer to my questions will be revealed over time.
Lost in this missing things
I feel incomplete, searching for something that I can't pinpoint.
By doing things created
I hope to create something worthwhile by taking action.
Now and then
Occasionally, I reflect on my past experiences.
Then is now
The lessons I learned before are still relevant today.
Now for when
I need to focus on the present to succeed in the future.
When is now I know
I am aware that I need to act now to achieve my goals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JARROD DOUGLAS MONTAGUE, MICHAEL FREDERICK DE WOLF, PHILIP M. LIPSCOMB, STEPHEN STEELE RICHARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
opethinchains
middle school, for me. :) LOVE THIS ALBUM!
Nocturnal Recluse
Now this was music.
Molon Labe
4 people loved this song so much they flipped their screens upside down and hit the thumbs up!
Jake Herington
Someone please make guitar tabs for this
A DeCou
Got me through high school
luckygrassroots
Upload the rest of the album Please!
andrew gillespie
Takes no time at all. Liking this song Yoda
Rene Groulx
Was happy when people posted lyrics in the comments.
MrShatteredhercunt
yessir!
opethinchains
2:24 <3 <3 :)