1. The Bats are an in… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four bands called The Bats.
1. The Bats are an influential New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Christchurch by Paul Kean (bass), Malcolm Grant (drums), Robert Scott (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards) and Kaye Woodward (lead guitar, vocals). Though primarily a Christchurch band, The Bats have strong links to Dunedin and are usually grouped in with the Dunedin Sound musicians that emerged in the early 1980s. The band has retained the same four members from 1982 to the present day.
Approaching a quarter century of recording and performing, Christchurch, New Zealand's The Bats have survived seven albums and five world tours with the original line-up of Kaye Woodward, Malcolm Grant, Paul Kean and Robert Scott intact. With a sound at the jangle/indie end of the pop spectrum, the band made significant headway in the States in the 80s alongside Flying Nun label-mates The Chills and The Clean. The 90s saw tours of the US and Europe, supporting the likes of Radiohead, Belly, and R.E.M.. Paul, Kaye, and Malcolm form side-project Minisnap; Bob has released solo work and can also be found in The Clean and The Magick Heads.
2. The Bats was an American band, formed in the early 1980s and featured Jon Brion, Don Riff and Bill Murphy. They released the album How Pop Can You Get? on Gustav records in 1982. They disbanded after critical acclaim, but little commercial success.
3. Dubbed South Africa's answer to the Beatles, the pop group The Bats was formed in October 1964 and consisted of group members Eddie Eckstein (drums/vocals), Barry Jarman (guitar/trumpet/concertina), Jimmy Dunning (guitar) and Paul Ditchfield (keyboard/guitar/bass/vocals). Paul, Barry and Eddie knew each other well and had wanted to form a group for a long time, but had been prevented from doing so by their respective contracts with various bands.
Barry suggested they form a beat trio with the express purpose of making records. Jimmy Dunning, who had played with them before, was unanimously nominated to fill the gap of lead guitarist. After finally getting together, they arranged an audition with Matt Mann, then A & R Manager at G.R.C. (and later owner of RPM Record Company), who signed them to the CBS label and produced their first single, All I Got. The group were quibbling with each other about an appropriate name. In an attempt to restore order, Matt Mann yelled "You're All Bats!" and so "The Bats" was born.
4. The Bats were an Irish beat band of the 1960s. They were regulars at Belfast's Maritime Club. Only a few of the band's recordings were released, on a 1966 compilation LP called 'Ireland's Greatest Sounds: Five Groups from Belfast's Maritime Club' and one single of their own, 'Accept It', on Columbia Records (a cover version of a Burt Bacharach song).
North By North
The Bats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But they don't know they're in line
I don't know what to do with you
I don't know how to deal with you
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
North by north
I'm still wondering why
I find out what you're meaning now
Your term is darkness anyhow
I can't find out what it is with you
If there is one thing I can't get through
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
Absolve the waiting that you've done
Take away those moments of fun
There won't be much left there for you
I'm taught we've a choice in what we do
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why (why, why)
The lyrics of The Bats's song "North By North" seem to express a sense of confusion and uncertainty in a relationship. The singer acknowledges that some people are inherently happy, but they don't seem to understand the issues at hand. The singer then admits that they don't know what to do with the person they are speaking to or how to deal with them.
The repetition of the phrase "North by North" serves as a metaphor for the singer's journey of trying to understand the other person. It suggests that they are following a path or direction, but they are not entirely sure where it will lead them or how to navigate it. Despite this, they mention that they know the other person's name, which could indicate that they have been in this relationship for a while or have a deep connection with them.
The final lines of the song suggest that there may have been some waiting and moments of fun, but the relationship has come to a point where there isn't much left. The singer seems to suggest that they have a choice in what they do next and that the waiting and uncertainty must come to an end.
Overall, the song seems to explore the complexities of a relationship, the difficulties in understanding another person, and the idea that sometimes we must make tough choices to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people are happy most of the time
Many individuals tend to feel content most of the time
But they don't know they're in line
However, they are unaware of their place in a predestined order of events
I don't know what to do with you
I am uncertain about how to handle or interact with you
I don't know how to deal with you
I lack the knowledge or capability to effectively manage you
North by north
Continuing in a northerly direction
I'm still following home
I am still tracing my way back to my place of origin
I know your name
I have knowledge of your identity
I'm still wondering why
I am still perplexed about the reasoning behind certain circumstances
I find out what you're meaning now
I have come to understand your intentions or purpose
Your term is darkness anyhow
Your description or expectations are obscured and uncertain regardless
I can't find out what it is with you
I am unable to discern or comprehend certain qualities or characteristics about you
If there is one thing I can't get through
If there is one challenge I am unable to overcome
Absolve the waiting that you've done
Release yourself from the anticipation or expectation that you have experienced
Take away those moments of fun
Remove those periods of enjoyment or recreation
There won't be much left there for you
There will be very little remaining for you to hold onto
I'm taught we've a choice in what we do
I have been informed that we possess the freedom to select our actions and decisions
North by north
Continuing in a northerly direction
I'm still following home
I am still tracing my way back to my place of origin
I know your name
I have knowledge of your identity
I'm still wondering why (why, why)
I am still pondering the rationale behind certain occurrences
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paramo.alejandra
Lyrics :
Some people are happy most of the time
But they don't know they're in line
I don't know what to do with you
I don't know how to deal with you
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
I find out what you're meaning now
Your term is darkness anyhow
I can't find out what it is with you
If there is one thing I can't get through
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
Absolve the waiting that you've done
Take away those moments of fun
There won't be much left there for you
I'm taught we've a choice in what we do
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why (why, why)
@hectortamayodiez5321
Some people are happy most of the time
But they don't know they're in line
I don't know what to do with you
I don't know how to deal with you
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
I find out what you're meaning now
Your term is darkness anyhow
I can't find out what it is with you
If there is one thing I can't get through
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
Absolve the waiting that you've done
Take away those moments of fun
There won't be much left there for you
I'm taught we've a choice in what we do
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why (why, why)
@Rad-id4oo
Lyrics
Some people are happy most of the time
But they don't know they're in line
I don't know what to do with you
I don't know how to deal with you
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
I find out what you're meaning now
Your term is darkness anyhow
I can't find out what it is with you
If there is one thing I can't get through
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why
Absolve the waiting that you've done
Take away those moments of fun
There won't be much left there for you
I'm taught we've a choice in what we do
North by north
I'm still following home
North by north
I know your name
North by north
I'm still wondering why (why, why)
@jacktaylor7696
The Hollowmen brought me here! This song is the sound of Canberra - love it!
@superbrainbow
The couplet:
"I don't know what to do with you
I don't know how to deal with you"
has always felt haunting and evocative to me. I guess I can imagine a parent saying it to a child who won't or simply can't fall in line.
@the.bloodless.one1312
Can’t say I didn’t hear similar words spoken at me growing up 😅💀
@kellymichael9567
this song hooks you in from so many angles, musically, it has become one of the timeless songs from the bats.i first heard it live on tahuna beach in nelson nz one new years eve.i stumbled down a bank when i heard music on the beach walked down and almost immediately was dancing to a band i hardly knew, entranced by rhythm and melody. if i lived a thousand lives i would always remember this moment.
@hannahshafer
"if I lived a thousand lives I would always remember this moment" is such a beautiful sentence
@etamommy
@@hannahshafer and realization/sentiment.
@hannahshafer
@@etamommy of course
@etamommy
@@hannahshafer Yeah, figured that was encompassed in your comment but just pointing out that both the form and the content of that sentence are awesome!
@jonathangeddes9786
similar...bar in dunedin ...:) the ori...name didn't age well :/
@TimJackson-eq6iy
This is by far my favorite Song from Flying Nun Records. The first time I saw it on Radio With Pictures, I was blown away.