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.
Money In His Hand
The Early November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My voice it yells inside.
It tells me all the time that I could leave right now.
It tears me up to see this place green and a machine washed grey.
But all we know is this.
I've been trying for the past four years.
Broken a lie to get this here.
It's been a struggle for the past few nights.
I had to quit to realize that I can't waste no time on it, incase this is all I get.
One year, one month, and seven days to lose the love it takes,
And grow plastic from my hands so I can leave right now.
It tears me up to see this place green and a machine washed grey,
With all the shine and ritz.
I've been trying for the past four years.
Broken a lie to get this here.
It's not the heart that makes the man, its the money in his hand.
It's been a struggle for the past few nights.
I had to quit to realize that I can't waste no time on it, incase this is all I get.
I've been trying for the past four years.
Broken a lie to get this here.
It's not the heart that makes the man, its the money in his hand.
It's been a struggle for the past few nights.
I had to quit to realize that I can't waste no time on it, incase this is all I get.
I get.
The Early November's song "Money In His Hand" is a contemplative internal monologue about the struggles of pursuing success, while battling with the nagging thought that it may all come down to simply having money. At the beginning of the song, the singer is feeling trapped and stifled by their surroundings, lamenting the fact that everything seems to be the same dull shade of grey. They feel as if they could escape at any moment but are weighed down by the fear that this may be their only opportunity for success.
The song grapples with the anxiety of trying to make it in a world that values money over passion or talent. The line "it's not the heart that makes the man, it's the money in his hand" encapsulates this fear and suggests that even if someone has true talent and passion, it may not be enough to make it if they don't have the financial means to back it up. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the singer has been struggling for years, but it's unclear whether or not they have been successful in their pursuit. The final lines of the song seem to suggest that time is running out and they may never achieve their dreams, leaving them with nothing but regret.
Overall, "Money In His Hand" is a poignant and deeply relatable song that speaks to the struggles of chasing success in a world that can often feel like it's stacked against you.
Line by Line Meaning
I just can't get this off my mind.
This issue is constantly weighing on my thoughts and I can't shake it.
My voice it yells inside.
I have a strong inner voice urging me to take action.
It tells me all the time that I could leave right now.
My inner voice is encouraging me to leave my current situation.
It tears me up to see this place green and a machine washed grey.
The contrast between the natural beauty of this place and its artificial, industrial elements is distressing to me.
But all we know is this.
Despite everything, this is still our reality.
I've been trying for the past four years.
I have been working hard towards my goal for a long time.
Broken a lie to get this here.
I have had to deceive or act dishonestly to achieve my goal.
It's not the heart that makes the man, its the money in his hand.
In our society, wealth and financial success are seen as more valuable and defining than a person's character or morality.
It's been a struggle for the past few nights.
I have been struggling with this issue for several nights now.
I had to quit to realize that I can't waste no time on it, in case this is all I get.
I had to give up on something to realize that I can't waste any more time on it, in case that is all I achieve or obtain from it.
One year, one month, and seven days to lose the love it takes,
It took me only a year, a month, and seven days to lose the passion, love, or enthusiasm I once had for this situation.
And grow plastic from my hands so I can leave right now.
I feel trapped or unable to escape, as if my hands have turned into plastic and I cannot move them.
With all the shine and ritz.
Despite the superficial glamour and success of this situation, it is ultimately unfulfilling and unsatisfying.
I get.
This is my current reality and there is nothing I can do to change it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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