People say things get better with age. The Cardinal Sin is no exception to this rule. Formerly of Cadillac Blindside (Fueled By Ramen), Song of Zarathustra (Troubleman Unlimited), and The Crush (Adeline Records), the members of The Cardinal Sin are experienced band members. After forming in 2003, The Cardinal Sin took off where their former bands left off: touring. Within months of the new band, The Cardinal Sin followed Motion City Soundtrack and Limbeck around the Midwest, then The Lawrence Arms out East, with only a demo in hand.
Later that year, The Lawrence Arms asked the band to accompany them again, this time out to the West coast. It was at the Los Angeles show that The Cardinal Sin got acquainted with Grey Flight Records and plans were set in motion for The Cardinal Sin's debut release. In December of 2004, The Cardinal Sin went into The Hideaway studio to work with Grant Cutler for the Grey Flight release. The following March, Grey Flight released the "Oil and Water" EP featuring five originals and a brilliant cover of The Replacements' "Bastards of Young."
The Cardinal Sin have a sharp, catchy sensibility accompanied by an energized live show that enables them to share bills and tours with a variety of bands. They have played with the likes of Against Me!, Motion City Soundtrack, Dillinger Four, The Lawrence Arms, Limbeck, The Supersuckers, A Wilhelm Scream, Hot Hot Heat, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Reputation, and Small Towns Burn A Little Slower.
Since the release of "Oil and Water," The Cardinal Sin has been busy. In support of "Oil and Water", they toured the West, the South, and have frequented the Midwestern cities surrounding them. The band also found themselves busy writing songs at a prolific speed. Meanwhile, "Oil and Water" was received well and left critics wanting more. In August of the same year, the band released a split 7"/CD EP with local friends, Small Towns Burn A Little Slower. This release features one original and one cover track from each band.
In January 2006, only a year after recording their debut EP, The Cardinal Sin found themselves armed with enough new material to record a full-length record. They entered Chicago's Atlas Studios with producer Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms) and Neil Hennessy (The Lawrence Arms, Colossal). Twelve tracks were recorded over a 3-week period as well as 3 acoustic tracks with Chris Carr at Blackbox Studios. The new recordings show how much the band has grown with a mix of arena-rock jabs offset by ballads that will make anyone contemplate their next birthday. "Hurry Up and Wait" was released on April 25, 2006.
The Cardinal Sin played their last show in Minneapolis on October 6, 2006.
Rough Road
The Cardinal Sin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I allowed to set things straight?
Can we patch it up and make this right?
What can I say, I never wanted to end up this way
Being here all alone
I hope you to know that I tried
To smooth it over again
And avoid rough road
Every word was all mine
Trade everything for a better year
Never said it in time
And is this out of line?
Trade everything for a better year
It's way too late
I have no cause to celebrate
We can't work it out and make this right
Is it OK that we've gone our separate ways?
Erased from your phone
How can I tell you that I tried?
To smooth it over again
And avoid rough road
The lyrics of The Cardinal Sin's song "Rough Road" describe the regret and sadness of someone who has lost a relationship and is struggling to come to terms with it. The lyrics are full of questions and doubts about whether things could have been different and whether there is any hope of reconciliation. The lyrics express a deep sense of longing and frustration that this person feels about not being able to make things right.
The opening lines, "Is it too late? Am I allowed to set things straight?" set the tone for the song – a tone of desperation and a sense that time is running out. The lyrics continue to explore the idea that the relationship has ended, and the person is unable to move on because they never wanted it to end. The chorus expresses the deep desire to avoid the rough road and to find a way to reconcile and make things right.
The lyrics use powerful imagery throughout, with phrases like "Being here all alone" and "Erased from your phone" suggesting a profound sense of loneliness and isolation. The chorus uses repetition to emphasize the desire for a better year and a smoother road ahead.
In summary, "Rough Road" is a song full of sorrow and longing, exploring the pain of a lost relationship and the desire to make things right. The lyrics are full of powerful imagery and repetition, emphasizing the deep emotions that the singer is feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it too late?
Asking if there is still a chance to fix things.
Am I allowed to set things straight?
Wondering if it is permissible to make things right.
Can we patch it up and make this right?
Asking if the relationship can be repaired.
What can I say, I never wanted to end up this way
Expressing regret for the current state of the relationship.
Being here all alone
Feeling isolated due to the breakup.
I hope you to know that I tried
Wanting the other person to acknowledge efforts to save the relationship.
To smooth it over again
Attempting to resolve conflicts and make things better.
And avoid rough road
Trying to prevent any further relationship problems.
Never fed you a line
Being honest and sincere in communication.
Every word was all mine
Taking responsibility for actions and words.
Trade everything for a better year
Willing to sacrifice anything for a chance at a better relationship in the future.
Never said it in time
Regretting not expressing feelings and desires earlier.
And is this out of line?
Asking if it is unreasonable to want reconciliation.
It's way too late
Realizing that the relationship is beyond repair.
I have no cause to celebrate
Feeling unhappy about the current situation.
We can't work it out and make this right
Coming to terms with the fact that the relationship cannot be saved.
Is it OK that we've gone our separate ways?
Asking if it is acceptable to move on from the relationship.
Erased from your phone
Feeling hurt or rejected by being deleted from the other person's contacts.
How can I tell you that I tried?
Wanting to communicate efforts to work on the relationship despite it not working out.
To smooth it over again
Continuing to try and reconcile even after it seems unlikely.
And avoid rough road
Desiring to prevent any further relationship issues.
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.