In 2000, Nathan Nicholson left Tennessee, America after the death of his mother, and came to London. The band formed in 2001 through a chance meeting at London's 12 Bar Club between vocalist Nathan and guitarist Todd. This quickly cemented into a firm friendship which resulted in them living and writing together. College friends Adam and Piers, were soon intrigued, and completed the line-up. All shared common influences, and a passion for epic, escapist music - The Boxer Rebellion was born.
In June 2003, after funding and releasing their own limited edition self-titled EP, they bolstered their way onto Glastonbury's New Bands tent, and were soon snapped up by Alan McGee's Poptones label, who put out first single Watermelon in the same year. Before the enormity of what they were doing had even registered, the Boxers spent months in the studio rehearsing and writing, before disaster struck for Nicholson, and riders and roadies were swapped for a hospital bed and saline drips. A twelve hour operation to remove a life-threatening growth from his stomach was successful. He was lucky. The result was the cancellation of tours with Razorlight and The Killers, among others.
The band was signed by major label Universal Music following Exits, who promised worldwide distribution and a free hand in continuing to create records of longevity and substance. Instead, the deal proved more of a curse than a blessing, as Universal became reluctant to continue to finance the lengthy gestation of the next record. Financial difficulties led Poptones to drop the Boxer Rebellion in early 2007, with Universal following suit soon after; however, both continued to hold rights to the band's catalogue and digital distribution. With the record nearly complete and invitations to tour from Editors and others still open, the band began a lengthy fight to get control back over them, which they eventually won in 2008. In January, an unmixed version of future single Evacuate was released on limited vinyl, but it would be a full year before anything approaching a full release was possible, and some of the band moved to Berlin in 2009.
With the money nearly running out and so a physical self-release impossible, the band entered an exclusive worldwide deal with iTunes to put their new record Union out as well as a re-release of Exits. The album charted highly, reaching #2 on the Alternative chart and #4 on the iTunes UK Top 100, but was ineligible for the official UK Top 40 as it was released when a physical release was required. The CD and vinyl were eventually released in August.
The Cold Still was released in the U.S. on 1 February 2011 on iTunes and is available on CD worldwide through the Boxer Rebellion's own label Absentee Recordings. The album charted on iTunes at #24 with a peak position of #20, spending 9 days on the US iTunes album chart. The band made their network television debut on 2 February 2011 on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, where they performed the single "Step Out of the Car" live. The Boxer's new song "Both Sides are Even" was featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy on 3 February 2011. Since the release of The Cold Still, the band have had several music placements including two in the videogame industry. "Step Out Of The Car" from The Cold Still was used in 2011's Rocksmith game and original composition "Losing You" was written exclusively for the Batman: Arkham City game soundtrack. Additionally "Caught By The Light" was used in the serial drama Nikita.
Also in 2011 the band released their first full-length live record Live in Tennessee. It was recorded and mixed by Ben McAmis and featured 16 tracks from a single concert.
On 7 November 2012, the band announced the release of their two volume B-Sides & Rarities Collection, Vol. 1 & 2, which contains tracks that had been previously recorded, but not included on initial releases of any of the studio albums. Volume one focused on material before and around the band's debut, Exits, and volume two included tracks that were released around and after Union, as well as some rarities that didn't make the cut or were included as bonus tracks for The Cold Still.
The band finished recording their fourth studio album, Promises, in the late part of February 2013. The music video for the debut single from the album, "Diamonds," was released on March 26. The band have toured regularly and released further singles, "Keep Moving", and "Promises".
On April 29, 2014, Todd Howe announced he was leaving the band to concentrate on production and other interests, leaving the Boxers as a three-piece.
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Discography
2003 - The Boxer Rebellion EP, Watermelon
2004 - In Pursuit, Code Red
2005 - All You Do Is Talk, Exits LP, World Without End
2007 - Broken Glass, J F K F C
2008 - Evacuate, Don't Drag Your Dirty Feet
2009 - Union LP, Flashing Red Light Means Go, iTunes Live From London
2011 - The Cold Still LP, Step Out Of The Car, The Runner, No Harm, Live in Tennessee
2012 - B Sides & Rarities Vols. 1 & 2
2013 - Diamonds, Promises LP, Keep Moving
2014 - Promises
Flight
The Boxer Rebellion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eh why you looking at me
You got something to hide
I got something to see
Stay
Right where you stand
And then when I say go
Look at the things you've done
At the things you've done
At the things that you've done
We're on fire
Stand and fight
We could be in flight
You
You mean nothing to me
Can I feed you a lie
For a pledge to be free
Take
And then make what you can
Quit choosing a side
Stay right where you stand
Wait before you let it go on
Before you let it go on
Before you let it go on
We're on fire
Stand and fight
We could be in flight
We'll burn it down...
We're on fire
Stand and fight
We could be in flight
Lost and tired
Read our rights
We could be in flight
The lyrics of The Boxer Rebellion's song "Flight" speak to the human experience of feeling stuck, cornered, and isolated, and the desire to escape from that situation. The opening lines of the song suggest that someone is looking at the singer with suspicion or guilt, and that the singer senses there is something to uncover. The line "I got something to see" suggests that the singer is digging deeper into the situation, perhaps to find the truth. The repeated line "Stay right where you stand" sounds like an instruction from the singer to someone else, and the line "when I say go, you gonna take what you can" suggests that there is some sort of plan in place to seize an opportunity to escape. The subsequent lyrics describe a sense of desperation and feeling trapped, with lines like "we're on fire" and "lost and tired," but also speak to the possibility of hope and liberation, with the repeated refrain "we could be in flight."
Overall, the lyrics of "Flight" seem to tap into a general feeling of wanting to break free from constraints, whether they be physical, emotional, or psychological. The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced the feeling of being stuck and searching for a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
You
Addressing someone who is looking suspiciously, asking what's going on
Eh why you looking at me
Asking for a reason for their suspicious behavior
You got something to hide
Accusing the person of potentially hiding something
I got something to see
Asserting the right to know the truth
Stay
Commanding the person to stay put
Right where you stand
Being specific about the location the person should stay in
And then when I say go
Giving instructions for when to move
You gonna take what you can
Encouraging the person to take advantage of the situation
Look at the things you've done
Reminding someone of their past actions
At the things you've done
Emphasizing the importance of self-reflection
We're on fire
Suggesting a heightened state of emotion or urgency
Stand and fight
Encouraging resistance against a perceived threat
We could be in flight
Recognizing that running away is also an option
You mean nothing to me
Dismissing someone's importance or relevance
Can I feed you a lie
Asking if it's possible to deceive someone
For a pledge to be free
Offering false promises in exchange for something
Take
Commanding someone to take action
And then make what you can
Encouraging creativity and resourcefulness
Quit choosing a side
Rejecting the idea of taking a stance
Wait before you let it go on
Urging someone to pause and reflect before continuing
We'll burn it down...
Threatening destruction or retaliation
Lost and tired
Describing an exhausting or hopeless situation
Read our rights
Demanding that one's basic rights be respected
We could be in flight
Recognizing the possibility of escape
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dave Embury
Love it, still like their music now but back then they had more attitude which is great
Paulo Martins
Thats an amazing GREAT song!
Mikey
wish they still sounded like this !
Zora Z
Love older stuff so much - love the new too :)
Bastion NCIS
Good Song!