While touring in support of their full-length album Albatross, the band created the Acoustic EP: Seattle Sessions, which was simply a compilation of songs they created while on the road.
Their next album, 'The Silver Cord', was released on July 22, 2008. With the album being based on the realities of life and death, it signals a move into an alternative genre for TCC. Exactly 5805 copies of 'The Silver Cord' were sold in the first week. 5805 is a significant number because it is a song title on the album and it is the address of the house where the band formed and began to break out.
In 2010, 'Vagabonds' was released.
The Way That You Are
The Classic Crime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He doesn't ask questions, doesn't learns many lessons
And he keeps his mouth shut until it boils over and he blows up
And then he can't form his words right, and they don't fit together so tight
And I hope to God that he will find his name,
And not listen to his so-called friends when they boldly say,
[Chorus]
"This is the way that you are."
She doesn't have much to say about yesterday, or what happened to her when she was eight
So she drinks a lot and it makes her feel OK for the moment, but it's gone when she awakes
So don't give yourself away,
And don't listen to them when they say
[Chorus: x2]
The Classic Crime's song "The Way That You Are" talks about two different characters who struggle to be themselves in the face of societal pressure to conform. The first character is someone who gets their information from overhearing conversations and doesn't ask questions or learn many lessons. They bottle up their thoughts until they eventually explode with the wrong words that don't fit together. The singer hopes that this person will find their identity and not listen to their so-called friends who tell them "This is the way that you are." This line is meant to be a caustic remark to conform to the status quo, implying that there's only one way to live, and it's their way.
The second character is a girl who doesn't have much to say about her past and struggles with drinking to cope with her emotions. She drinks to feel okay at the moment, but the pain comes back when she awakes. The singer advises her not to listen to people who say "This is the way that you are" and to guard herself against giving in to peer pressure.
Overall, the song reflects on the importance of embracing your identity, no matter how different it may be perceived by others. It is a call to action to be more appreciative of the different perspectives and sensibilities people bring to the table.
Line by Line Meaning
He gets his information from overhearing conversations
He eavesdrops on others to gather information.
He doesn't ask questions, doesn't learn many lessons
He doesn't seek knowledge or learn from his mistakes.
And he keeps his mouth shut until it boils over and he blows up
He suppresses his feelings until he can't take it anymore and explodes.
And then he can't form his words right, and they don't fit together so tight
He becomes incoherent and can't express himself clearly.
And I hope to God that he will find his name,
I hope he discovers his true identity and purpose.
And not listen to his so-called friends when they boldly say,
And ignore his so-called friends when they criticize him.
"This is the way that you are," don't let them say,
Don't let them define who you are.
"This is the way that you are."
"This is who you are," but it's not the whole truth.
She doesn't have much to say about yesterday, or what happened to her when she was eight
She avoids discussing her past traumas and experiences.
So she drinks a lot and it makes her feel OK for the moment, but it's gone when she awakes
She uses alcohol to numb the pain temporarily, but it doesn't solve anything in the long run.
So don't give yourself away,
Don't reveal your vulnerabilities to others who may use them against you.
And don't listen to them when they say
And don't believe them when they try to define you.
"This is the way that you are," don't let them say
Don't let them put you in a box and limit your potential.
"This is the way that you are."
"This is who you are," but you have the power to define yourself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARON BELL, NATASHA HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind