Named after a section of the book 'White Noise', written by postmodernist author Don DeLillo, the group incorporates string instruments and keyboards along with a standard rock lineup of guitar, drums, and bass guitar. Their style takes in a variety of influences from classic rock and roll to arcane-sounding art rock to tuneful indie pop and more. They have been signed to Majordomo Records for many years; on March 4, 2009, the band signed to Island Records.
Formed in the wake of a series of personal tragedies in the life of front-man Mikel Jollett, the band has gathered a reputation for one of the most exciting and energetic live shows in years. Stomping, screaming, wailing, crooning through bony rock songs and enormous dark anthems, the band embodies the desire to live life fully in the face of a world saturated with media and fear. The Cali five-piece's eponymous debut EP includes nods to rock music's most transcendent tidbits: subtle references to the sad-eyed melancholy of The Cure, the balled-fist intensity of The Fall, and the art school disaffection of the Velvet Underground.
The Airborne Toxic Event released their second album, All At Once on April 26, 2011. Songfacts reports the band explaining: "It's called 'All at Once' because the songs deal with the idea of sudden change—how life generally doesn't change incrementally. Your parents die, a child is born, the airplane shakes, a former love from a former life walks casually by you on the street, and suddenly everything is different. We live in the quiet passages between these extraordinary moments of change. It's exhilarating. It's terrifying. It can be monstrously disfiguring. It can be potentially redemptive."
Does This Mean You're Moving On?
The Airborne Toxic Event Lyrics
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I try to call you up, at 2am
In a crowded bar, your ringer tones
Grab my mind
I can see you through the phone,
The phone, the phone
And I'm wide awake at home
So think I'll seem like [unknown]
And hope you don't catch
The bourbon on my breath
My breath, my breath
Catch a cab outside on Seventh Street
And the cars fly through the Bowery
I come to your door and I hear a moan
Then another voice, so Christ, she's not alone
Alone, alone
And my heart sinks like a stone
A stone, a stone
And the tears won't even come
I feel so numb
So swept aside, so dumb
So dumb, so dumb
When the words are wrong
And my patience gone
Will you tell me
Does this mean you're moving on?
From the balcony, you call my name
I see you standing in the rain
Your words so dry, your face so wet
Said I broke your heart,
But it hasn't happened yet
I'll bet, your friends all hate me now
I get the strangest looks,
From that bitchy crowd
And though, they must think
They have every reason to
I guess I'm still not quite yet over you
When the words are wrong
And you're hanging on
Another guy's arm
Does this mean you're moving on?
In The Airborne Toxic Event’s song “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” the singer appears to be uncertain about the status of his relationship with his significant other. The lyrics are full of sadness, desperation, doubt, and remorse. The first verse starts with the singer trying to call his partner, but it seems she’s not picking up her phone. The singer is in a crowded bar, trying to drown out his sorrows, and the sound of the ringer tone grabs his attention. He can see his partner through the phone but she's not there with him. As the chorus begins, the singer is left wondering if his partner is moving on, and if so, why? He’s overcome with emotions and the feeling of desperation gets stronger as the lyrics progress.
Line by Line Meaning
And the funny thing is it has no end
This situation seems endless and I cannot escape it.
I try to call you up, at 2am
I cannot resist the urge to attempt to contact you late at night.
In a crowded bar, your ringer tones
Even in a noisy place, I am keenly aware of your ringtone.
Grab my mind
Your presence in my thoughts is strong and unwavering.
I can see you through the phone,
I can imagine you so vividly that it's as if I can see you through the phone.
And I'm wide awake at home
I am unable to sleep while my thoughts are consumed by you.
So think I'll seem like [unknown]
I am uncertain about how I will appear to you when I see you again.
And hope you don't catch
I am anxious that you will notice something is wrong with me.
The bourbon on my breath
I have been drinking and I don't want you to know.
Catch a cab outside on Seventh Street
I leave the bar and hail a taxi on the street outside.
And the cars fly through the Bowery
The cars speed by quickly through the neighborhood.
I come to your door and I hear a moan
I arrive at your door and hear a sound, which makes me uneasy.
Then another voice, so Christ, she's not alone
I realize that you are with someone else and it upsets me.
And my heart sinks like a stone
I feel an intense wave of despair and sadness.
And the tears won't even come
I am so overwhelmed with emotion that I cannot even cry.
I feel so numb
My emotions are deadened by this painful experience.
So swept aside, so dumb
I feel powerless and foolish in this situation.
When the words are wrong
When I say the wrong thing and our communication is broken.
And my patience gone
When my tolerance and endurance is depleted.
Will you tell me
I long for your honesty and openness.
Does this mean you're moving on?
I am questioning whether you have moved on from me and our relationship.
From the balcony, you call my name
You call out to me from the balcony above.
I see you standing in the rain
I see you getting wet from the rain while standing outside.
Your words so dry, your face so wet
Your words are lacking in emotion, while your face is wet from tears.
Said I broke your heart,
You accuse me of causing your heartache.
But it hasn't happened yet
I have not yet betrayed your trust or caused you pain to the extent you're describing.
I'll bet, your friends all hate me now
I imagine that your friends are angry with me because of what you've told them.
I get the strangest looks,
I notice that other people are giving me odd or disapproving glances.
From that bitchy crowd
I don't feel welcome among your less-than-friendly acquaintances.
And though, they must think
They probably have a negative opinion of me, but you never know for sure.
They have every reason to
Based on the way things have gone between us, they have every right to think poorly of me.
I guess I'm still not quite yet over you
I am still struggling to move on from you and our relationship.
And you're hanging on
I can tell that you're holding on to me and our relationship, even though things aren't going well.
Another guy's arm
You have started seeing someone else and it makes me jealous and upset.
Does this mean you're moving on?
Once again, I am questioning whether you have truly moved on from me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKEL FRANS JOLLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dreamernotsleeper
I have been listening to them since I was 14. I am 26 and it’s still not old.
@munippg2426
Hell yeah bro 😎 drink one for me 🤟
@CKsoundwave
Same here
@sliverfreak9
Sameeee
@BlueFan2007
Ten years ago I remember listening to this song and I'm still listening to them. Amazing band.
@agent0202
LOVE this song so much! Christ she's not alone Favorite line of the whole song :D
@benjaminmiller7937
I love how they timed it perfectly with Steven smashing the mirror
@matts1724
How's it already been twelve years? Oh, how this song carried me through my angsty teenage years.
@roseproductions3417
Listened to them ever since I was 6
@sliverfreak9
I discovered them in 8th grade. I finally got to see them in 2022. They've always been one of my favorites and I recently saw them with the San Diego symphony!