Together, they recorded a 5 track demo in Enders' basement and sent it, along with a poorly edited videotape to only one label: Drive-Thru Records.
A couple of months passed while both Sacco and Anello had to budge for more skilled replacements, Steve Nakovich (guitar) and Mike Klemash (bass), until the band got in touch with Richard Reines of Drive-Thru, who luckily was visiting their hometown and agreed to meet with the band to give advice.
Stunned by what he had heard, Reines returned to California to discuss a possible signing with Drive-Thru co-owner Stefanie Reines. A few weeks and yet another line-up change later (Joe Marro joined for Nakovich), Drive-Thru signed The Early November and put them, despite their practically non-existent on stage experience, on 2002's Skate and Surf Fest and on selected dates of the Warped Tour.
Klemash and Marro left the band before the recording of their debut EP For All of This. Anello re-joined on bass, while a temporary second guitarist was found in John Dubitsky. The CD came out on Drive-Thru Records in early November 2002. Enders recorded The Acoustic EP on his own, featuring acoustic versions of most songs off their debut EP, which was released a mere two months later. Simultaneously, guitarist Marro had re-joined the band in exchange for Dubitsky.
Throughout 2003, the band continued to tour and write songs in preparation for their first full-length CD The Room's Too Cold, which was released in fall of that year. Soon afterwards, Enders recorded a solo record under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The CD was almost scrapped due to Enders wanting to focus on The Early November after Kummer left the band in summer 2004 and re-joined two weeks later.
While in the long and grueling process of recording their second full-length, the band had their guitar tech Bill Lugg aka UltraBill join, and the triple disc entitled The Mother, the Mechanic and the Path was released on July 11, 2006.
On March 13th, 2007, TEN announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus after they complete their current tour. They announced this both online and at their show at the Meridian in Houston that night. They played their last show at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 6th, 2007, and left open the possibility of one day returning to the stage but were grateful for everyone who supported them throughout the past 6 years.
An official statement from the band:
We would like to announce that at end of our upcoming headlining tour, The Early November will be taking an indefinite hiatus.
Throughout the past six years we have released two LP’s, two EP’s, played over one thousand shows, seen six wonderful countries, have met thousands of great people, made life-long friends, and have broken countless amounts of instruments. We have done more than we have ever thought possible for a small rock band out of southern New Jersey. We are very proud and very grateful of every moment we have spent as The Early November.
In case any of you are wondering, this is not a result of anything one can consider negative. No fighting, no one hates each other, no one has a substance abuse problem… none of the typical baggage that is usually carried along with rock bands taking a hiatus. The situation is actually much the opposite. We all love and care for on another tremendously. We’re as close of friends as we have ever been and, as long as the five of us exist, we will continue to be so. This “hiatus” or “break” is just a result of time and life. As we grow older, priorities change. We’ve decided we need to take some time and see that life isn’t all dirty rock clubs, rest stops at 2 am, and long distance phone calls. We have to be where we haven’t been in the past six years; with our friends, family, and loved ones.
We hope this isn’t completely somber news to anyone of you. We want to view it almost in the same way many cultures view the passing of a friend or loved one. Not to mourn but to celebrate their life and memory. In our small way, we’d like to do the same. We invite you to come and send off something that has meant so much to the five of us for so long. We may or may not be coming back. Who knows. But for now, all we can say is “Thank You.” “Thank You,” to everyone who was or has been a part of making our dreams a reality. Most importantly, “Thank You” to every single TEN fan. We hope you guys understand. We truly love all of you.
- Ace, Joe, Jeff, Serg, Bill
The Early November
Ace carried on writing his solo project and released The World We Know in 2010.
Since then, the band have announced their reunion 2011, and have done a full US tour in 2012. Their first album since the break is set to be released Summer 2012.
Figure It Out
The Early November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought you should know because it came together nice.
When I say 'when' cut the strings.
They're just twisted threads in a series of flings.
I figured it out it was a dream in my head.
I thought you should know because your back was so good to it.
So when I say when cut the strings.
You should know.
You should know.
You should know, know. No.
You should know, know. No, no.
You should know, know. No.
You should know, know. No, no.
You should know, know. No.
You should know, know. No, no.
You should know, know. No.
You should know, know. No. no.
You should know, know. No.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No, no.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No, no.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No, no.
(When I say when...)
You should know, know. No, no.
The lyrics to The Early November's song Figure It Out are both cryptic and introspective. The repeated phrase "I figured it out" suggests that the singer has had some sort of revelation or realization. The first stanza seems to be about a relationship that the singer had been struggling to understand. They have finally "drawn the lines" and come to a conclusion. They realize that the relationship was made up of "twisted threads in a series of flings." The second stanza adds a sort of melancholic regret to the song. The singer recognizes that the realization came too late and the relationship was just a "dream in [their] head." They acknowledge that they must let go, but they are not "giving up." Instead, they are "just losing this."
One interpretation of the song is that it is about a fleeting romance that the singer had become attached to. They had been trying to make sense of it but have finally realized that it was not serious and that they must move on. The idea of "cutting the strings" suggests that the singer has been holding onto something that they now realize was not real. The repeated "You should know" can be taken as a warning or a plea to the other person in the relationship. It could be that the singer wants the other person to be aware of what they have just realized. It could also be a way for the singer to validate their own realization.
Line by Line Meaning
I figured it out when I drew the lines.
I finally understood the situation when I clearly defined and delineated all the factors involved.
I thought you should know because it came together nice.
I wanted to inform you because everything seemed to fall into place very well.
When I say 'when' cut the strings.
When I give the signal, let go of all the entanglements that are holding us back.
They're just twisted threads in a series of flings.
These ties were just fleeting, transitory relationships that never had any real substance.
I figured it out it was a dream in my head.
I now realize that what I wanted was just a figment of my imagination.
I thought you should know because your back was so good to it.
I wanted to share this with you because you were so supportive of my aspirations.
So when I say when cut the strings.
So, when I give the signal, let go of all the attachments that are holding us back.
I'm not giving up, I'm just losing this.
I'm not quitting entirely, but I realize this is a losing battle that I need to let go of.
You should know.
I need you to be aware of what's going on.
You should know, know. No.
It's essential for you to have this knowledge, absolutely.
(When I say when...)
(When I give the signal...)
You should know, know. No, no.
It's really important for you to be aware of this information, truly.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ARTHUR CARL ENDERS, JEFFREY MATTHEW KUMMER, JOSEPH RYAN MARRO, SERGIO ANELLO, WILLIAM J LUGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind