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
Never Knowing How or Why
The Boxer Rebellion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One by one
Wrapped up into your arms
One by one
Never knowing how or why we could disappear
With white lights from the sky
When all I want is here
You say so many things
That I want to hear
And I want you and you want me
One by one
Never knowing how or why we could disappear
With white lights from the sky
When all I want is here
We go
We don't seem to try
You die you die
We don't seem to try
You die you die
Never knowing how or why we could disappear
With white lights from the sky
When all I want is here
We don't seem to try
You die you die
We don't seem to try
You die you die
In this song, The Boxer Rebellion sings about the uncertainty and impermanence of life. The singer asks to be pulled out of a situation, possibly a difficult emotional state, and brought into the safety of someone's loving arms. They talk about the desire to hear kind words and be loved in return. However, despite this desire for love and safety, the lyrics touch on the fragility of life and the realization that things can disappear in an instant. The white lights from the sky may symbolize death or the unknown forces that can suddenly take away someone or something.
The repeated line "We don't seem to try, you die you die" could be interpreted in different ways. It may refer to a lack of effort in a relationship or in life in general, leading to the feeling of being stagnant or stuck. The repeated line could also represent the inevitability of death, regardless of how much effort one puts in.
Overall, the song seems to reflect on the fleeting nature of love and life, and the fear and uncertainty that can come along with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull us out of this
Requesting help to get out of a situation
One by one
Indicating that each person needs individual attention
Wrapped up into your arms
Desiring comfort and security
Never knowing how or why we could disappear
Feeling uncertain and vulnerable about the future
With white lights from the sky
Suggesting an unknown, mystical force at play
When all I want is here
Expressing the desire for the present moment to continue
You say so many things
Acknowledging the amount of words spoken
That I want to hear
Implying a personal need for specific affirmations
And I want you and you want me
Establishing mutual attraction
We go
Moving forward without much thought
We don't seem to try
Lack of effort or intentionality
You die you die
Acknowledging the finality of death
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Felipe Lip
One of the best songs.
Michael Moon - Dreamtime Poet
WILDNICE
Murtaza
How are there only 5000 views?!
Richard Frizzell
Don't understand