Bassist Scott Waldman was born on Long Island, New York. He picked up the guitar when he was thirteen and now plays bass. After graduating from the University of Michigan with an English degree in April 2003, Scott moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of rocking full-time.
Hailing from West Covina, California, drummer Marc Precilla took his first piano lesson at age seven and after branching off to many other instruments, he discovered a partiality for hitting things as hard as he could, leading him to the drums. He has played in several rock/punk bands in order to craft his penchant for high-energy percussion and melody.
The City Drive has recorded with producer Mike Green (Yellowcard, The Matches, Over It, Rufio) as well as producer Chris Fudurich (Jimmy Eat World, Finch, Nada Surf, Rx Bandits).
In March 2004, The City Drive performed on the opening night of the SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival in Austin, Texas, alongside such bands as The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, NOFX and Alkaline Trio. In June, they joined the Nokia Core Tour.
In December 2004, The City Drive signed a record deal with We The People/Sony Records. They recorded their debut, full-length in the summer of 2005 with Fudurich which features backing vocals by Rachel Haden of the now-defunct band That Dog (she also sang on Jimmy Eat World's "Bleed American" and has worked with Weezer and Beck). The album is set for release in Spring 2006.
In May 2007, Scott Waldman quit the band.
In January 2009 the band has appeared to have broken up. Danny is now solo and any mention of the band is pretty much wiped out. No official word came, it just happened.
Behind Closed Doors
The City Drive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody broke in and erased our minds
It was always us against the crowd
But we've traded in our emotions now
Everybody's livin' in a dream
Don't they know that nothin' is what it seems
Twisting every image televised
Stop pretendin' everything's alright
Open up your eyes, don't wait forever and
Don't you think about it all the time
Should we say goodbye or stay together and
Rusty little robots in a line
Sorting through the reckage of their wasted lives
Cut themselves, but nothing is inside
They're just another number set for counting when they die
Stop pretendin' everything's alright
Open up your eyes, don't wait forever and
Don't you think about it all the time
Should we say goodbye or stay together and
Hold on
Don't you wanna hold on
I'll be back in a heartbeat
I'll be right back with a broken heartbeat
One day
Stop pretendin' everything's alright
Open up your eyes, don't wait forever and
Don't you think about it all the time
Should we say goodbye or stay together and
Hold on
Don't you wanna hold on
Everybody's livin' in a dream
The City Drive's song "Behind Closed Doors" is a commentary on the state of society and the world we live in. The first verse talks about a sense of panic and feeling like our minds have been erased, highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty many people feel in the midst of a chaotic world. The second verse points out the falseness and manipulation within the media that twists the truth and creates a false image of reality, but the singers refuse to buy into it, choosing to remain true to their own beliefs and emotions. The chorus encourages the listener to confront reality, to open their eyes and see the truth, to stop pretending that everything is okay, and to decide whether to stay together or let go.
The line "rusty little robots in a line" in the bridge describes the conformity and loss of individuality in society. The image of robots highlights the sense of people being programmed and controlled, unable to think for themselves or truly live their lives. The final line "I'll be right back with a broken heartbeat" further emphasizes the fragility of life and the need to hold on and cherish every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Panic in the middle of the night
A feeling of fear and anxiety strikes during late hours when everything seems lonely and quiet.
Somebody broke in and erased our minds
An unidentified person might have invaded and disrupted our thought process, leaving us confused and vulnerable.
It was always us against the crowd
We have always been resistant to follow the mainstream mindset and went against the popular beliefs and opinions.
But we've traded in our emotions now
However, we have eventually succumbed to societal pressure and relinquished control of our feelings.
Everybody's livin' in a dream
People are living a superficial, fanciful life, disconnected from the harsh realities of the world.
Don't they know that nothin' is what it seems
These people seem to be unaware of the fact that things are not as simple as they appear to be.
Twisting every image televised
The media distorts every piece of information and spreads propaganda that sways public opinion.
But we will never be a part of that machine, you and I
Despite the pressure put by society, we have vowed to not become a part of this manipulative system.
Stop pretendin' everything's alright
It is high time we stop pretending that everything is fine on the surface and muster the courage to confront the harsh realities of life.
Open up your eyes, don't wait forever and
We need to acknowledge the truth and not keep ignoring it for an indefinite period, hoping that things will get better on their own.
Don't you think about it all the time
It is pointless to obsess and worry about things that are beyond our control.
Should we say goodbye or stay together and
We need to make a decision whether to give up or continue holding on to our beliefs and values.
Rusty little robots in a line
This is a metaphorical reference to people who are carrying out mundane activities like machines without any sense of purpose or individuality.
Sorting through the reckage of their wasted lives
People are spending their lives by doing things that have no significance, leading to a complete waste of time and energy.
Cut themselves, but nothing is inside
People may resort to means like self-harm to feel something inside them, but they still feel empty and hollow from within.
They're just another number set for counting when they die
Society has reduced people to mere statistics, and their individuality is overlooked. They are only remembered for their contributions towards making a collective number.
Hold on, don't you wanna hold on
This line may be interpreted as a symbol of hope signifying that we need to hold on to our beliefs and continue fighting for what we believe in.
I'll be back in a heartbeat
This is an assurance that the person making this statement will return very soon sooner than later.
I'll be right back with a broken heartbeat
However, this return may not be the same as the person departing as some part of them may be damaged after this return.
One day
This is a hopeful acknowledgement that one day, things will be better and that hope should be held on to, believed in and worked towards.
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.