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.
The Course Of Human Life
The Early November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it always waits until the timing is right
until we're sure enough we can be safe
well here's a surprise for my fate
you know I'm going to give up.
We've come so far
on useless space, on useless space
At least we can say we found our own way
So you like to say surprise.
I know you always wait
Sure you find a way to buy some time
But plans always kept you away
So now you're finally here
And I was just going to go on my own
I didn't even catch your name
Take a seat, make yourself at home
We've come so far
on useless space, on useless space
Out of everyone, everywhere
At least we can say we found our own way
The song “The Course of Human Life” by The Early November is a reflection on the journey of life and the unexpected twists and turns that we encounter along the way. The first verse speaks of how life often throws us a curveball just when we think we have everything figured out. The line “It always waits until the timing is right” suggests that these surprises often come when we least expect them, and we are caught off guard. The second verse expresses a sense of resignation and acceptance of one’s fate, with the singer saying “You know I’m gonna give up” and “And you know who I date.” This suggests that despite the unexpected nature of life, there is a certain inevitability to our path.
The chorus speaks to the idea that despite the unpredictability of life, we are all on our own journey and have found our own path. The line “We’ve come so far on useless space” could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges we face in life that may seem pointless or difficult to overcome, but ultimately help shape us into who we are. The final line, “We can say we’ve found our own way,” emphasizes the idea that every individual’s life journey is unique and personal.
Overall, “The Course of Human Life” encourages listeners to embrace the unexpected twists and turns of life, and to take comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone in our journey.
Line by Line Meaning
It caught us by surprise
Unexpected events happen without warning
It always waits until the timing is right
Fate has a way of manifesting at the perfect moment
Till we're sure enough we can be safe
We have a natural tendency to seek security in our decisions
Well here's a surprise for my fate
The events unfolding are beyond my control and unpredictable
You know I'm gonna give up
I am willing to surrender to destiny's course
And you know who I date
My actions are predetermined and beyond my power to change
And we've come so far on useless space
Despite feeling lost, we have made significant progress in our lives
Out of everyone everywhere,
In a world full of people with unique experiences
We can say we've found our own way
We have our own individual paths in life
So you like to say surprise
You seem to take pleasure in the unexpected nature of life
I know you always wait
It seems that fate waits for the right moment to reveal itself
Till you find a way to buy some time
Destiny may be delayed, but it will eventually happen
But plans always kept you away
Even with a set plan, fate can intervene
But now you're finally here
The moment that was once delayed has now materialized
And I was just gonna go on my own
I was resigned to my own fate before the unexpected turn of events
I didn't even catch your name
I had no way of predicting this turn of events or its implications
Take a seat, make yourself at home
Now that you're here, let us see how things unfold
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind