Since they formed the band in 2006, they've played festivals such as CMJ Music Festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Austin City Limits Music Festival, MIDEM, Wireless Festival. The band’s song, “Power to Change,” has received a fair amount of national attention via modern rock and college stations. The band is currently finishing the follow up to their Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads and Modern Lovers) produced debut. It is planned for release in late 2010.
Scott Butler - vocals, guitars, keys, words
Landon Thompson - guitars, keys, vocals
John Aldridge - bass, brass
Billy Potts - drum
Albums and EPs
Patterns LP (CD, 2010)
Nursery Myths EP (CD, 2009)
The Black And White Years LP (CD, 2008) Brando
Real! In Color! EP (CD-R, 2006) self-released
Singles
"Up!" (2010
"Power to Change" (2008)Brando - #7 on Austin's KROX-FM, #1 on Albany's WEQX
Perfect
The Black and White Years Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be a star
No, please
Not that
Be as broken as you are
My heart is open
Just for you
You are you and that's rad
It's okay to
Guess your way through
Just don't be perfect
The Black and White Years' song "Perfect" features lyrics that address the issue of bullying and violence in a confrontational, yet empowering way. The opening lines, "Awake at night you focus, on everyone whose hurt you," convey the sense of an obsessive, vengeful individual stewing over past grievances. The following line, "And write a list of targets, your violent lack of virtue," then reveals the dangerous extent to which this anger has taken hold.
The chorus of the song, "Leave us alone! You're on your own!" provides a resounding message to the bully that their actions are unacceptable and that they must face the consequences of their behavior. The lines "Here's to your perfect weapon, crack bones with blind aggression," further underscore the destructive potential of the bully's actions, while the imagery of "birds whose wings are broken" speaks to the sense of helplessness that can come with being a victim of bullying.
Ultimately, the song's message is one of empowerment and resistance. The repeated refrain of "We are breathing, while you're sleeping, go! And leave us alone!" emphasizes the strength and resilience of those who refuse to be cowed and stand up to their oppressors. The song is a call to action for anyone who has ever been a victim of bullying or violence to take back control of their lives and stand up for their own rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake at night you focus
You spend sleepless nights thinking deeply about others who have hurt you
On everyone whose hurt you
Your thoughts are focused on people who have caused you pain in the past
And write a list of targets
You create a mental list of people who you feel have wronged you
Your violent lack of virtue
You have an inclination towards violent behavior despite knowing that it is wrong
Here's to your perfect weapon
You see your capacity to hurt others as your most valuable asset
Crack bones with blind aggression
You hurt others recklessly and without thought for the consequences
Like birds whose wings are broken
You feel trapped and limited in your own life
You live without direction
You lack a clear sense of purpose in your life
Leave us alone!
Stop bothering us with your violent tendencies
You're on your own!
You must deal with the consequences of your actions by yourself
We are breathing,
We are alive and present in this moment
While you're sleeping, go, (go!)
While you are unaware or in denial of your own problems, we are living our lives
And leave us alone,
Stop interfering in our lives with your negative energy
The liars cheating,
People who are dishonest and unethical
Our hearts beating, go, (go!)
We are living our lives and pursuing our dreams despite obstacles
And now you're on your own.
You must deal with the negative consequences of your own behavior
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Scott Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MarziStarz
I love this song, it's so much more down-to-Earth than some of these soppy modern love songs. It's also amazing in terms of music. :) <3
Pyromaniacizon
This deserves to be on TV .. :)
Felix Asteria
oh my god this is stunning
Margarete MMS
Yesssssssss ❤
Ali Patience
Best song my ears ever did hear.
Ali Patience
Best song I ever did hear!!!!!
We Are Reyes
Love black and white years
Margarete MMS
<3
AndHisNameWasYeti
Thank you, Pandora.
Sasha White
i found this song in a skating vid