The City on Film's sound is generally lighter, slower, and more cerebral than that of either Braid or Hey Mercedes. There are several lyrical connections and similarities across all three acts (e.g. in Hey Mercedes' "Frowning of a Lifetime", the line the lady's a raven / new Elenora Fagan compares with our baby will be a raven / we'll name her Elenora Fagan from The City on Film's "How a Helicopter Sounds").
* n Formal Introduction (Grand Theft Autumn, 2005) - LP
* In Formal Introduction - Australian Edition (Hobbledehoy, 2007) - CD
[edit] Singles and EPs
* The City on Film / Kind of Like Spitting / Sterling Silver - Slowdance Tour (Slowdance, 1998) - EP
* Two Hour Anniversary (About Midnight, 1999) - 7"
* The City on Film / Kind Of Like Spitting - Split (Sport, 1999) - 7"
* I'd Rather Be Wine Drunk (Post 436, 2004) - EP
* The City on Film / Novi Split - The Sea Was Angry That Day My Friends (Eat The Fly, 2004) - EP
* The City on Film - Little Informal (Grand Theft Autumn, 2005) - EP
* The City on Film - American Diary (Redder, 2005) - EP
* The City on Film / Minus the Bear Split 7" (Polyvinyl)
* The City on Film / Owen Split 7" (Red Cars Go Faster)
Trials
The City On Film Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So let's breathe in deeply again and then the air we take in will keep us here and alive and long grounded in despair.
Trial after trial and repeat denial.
This all means nothing more than it did in your head when there was no release and everything seemed cold and dead.
Trial after trial and repeat denial.
Oh no no no I can't lose control. I can't lose control. I just can't lose.
The chorus of "Trials" by The City On Film acknowledges the harsh reality that there will be no masterpiece or perfect ending to life's struggles. However, once this is realized and accepted, there can be a sense of peace and security in knowing that there is no false hope or expectation to cling to. The idea of "breathing in deeply" implies a need to slow down and live in the present moment, taking in the air and surroundings that keep us alive.
The verses emphasize the notion of struggling through repeated trials and facing denial. The repetition of these hardships seems pointless and futile, as they do not bring any new meaning or understanding to the situation. The line "everything seemed cold and dead" further accentuates the feeling of hopelessness and isolation that can come with dealing with constant trials.
The final verse speaks to the need to let go of the past and move forward, shedding the "useless bruises" and typical responses to these difficulties. The idea of "good excuses" suggests that these hardships can be used as a crutch or justification for actions or behaviors that may not be healthy or beneficial in the long run.
Overall, "Trials" is a song that acknowledges the difficulty of facing repeated hardships and emphasizes the importance of accepting the lack of perfection in life, and finding a way to find peace and solace amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh admit to me there will be no masterpiece and now that we're clear, without fear, we can sleep in peace.
Let's be honest with each other and acknowledge that there's no perfect outcome. But now that we've accepted this, we can rest easy without worry.
So let's breathe in deeply again and then the air we take in will keep us here and alive and long grounded in despair.
By taking a deep breath, we'll feel more present in the moment and find strength to endure through difficult times.
Trial after trial and repeat denial.
We keep experiencing setbacks and refusing to face the truth, leading to recurring patterns of frustration and disappointment.
This all means nothing more than it did in your head when there was no release and everything seemed cold and dead.
All of our struggles and pain feel the same as they did before we recognized our situation and sought a solution. We felt hopeless and numb.
So let's lose our useless bruises and clean our faces of all the usual uses. We never thought we'd have such good excuses.
We need to let go of our past mistakes and routines that no longer serve us. We never expected to find ourselves with such reasonable justifications for our struggles.
Oh no no no I can't lose control. I can't lose control. I just can't lose.
We're determined to keep our composure and not let our circumstances overpower us. We refuse to give up or give in to despair.
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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