1) a well known Thai funk/pop band active in the 1970s.
2) an indie band active in the UK in the early 90s.
3) an alternative/ska band from Austin, Texas
1) The Impossibles (Thailand) composed their own hits but were also known for their covers of Western rock songs. They were among the first Thai pop bands to cover English language songs and were the first Thai rock band to record an English language album overseas during a tour of Europe. The band broke up in 1977, but they have frequently performed at reunions over the years, and its members remain active in music in Thailand.
2) The Impossibles (UK) were short-lived UK band consisting of Lucy Dallas and Mags Grundy. They had three releases on Fontana, with their first single "How do you do it?" produced by Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine and giving them some success after featuring in the NME.
3) The Impossibles (US) sprang from the ashes of the tragically named Austin, Texas band 'thefatgirls' in April of 1994 when fatgirls members Rory Phillips (vocals, guitar), Craig Tweedy (bass), and Pat Elliott (drums) found themselves looking for a new singer and a less embarrassing name. Within weeks they were practicing with Gabe Hascall, at that point also a bass player for the Austin hardcore band loophole. Gabe sang one song in Loophole's set, a cover of the Avail anthem 'March', and it was this shining moment that caught Rory’s eye and convinced the future Impossibles they had found their singer.
Acting as a stand-alone singer for the Impossibles first official show, Gabe soon also took on second guitar playing duties, a move that would prove critical to the future direction of the band. Writing songs with dual vocals and dueling walls of guitar sound, the Impossibles began to forge a sound reminiscent of their main influences at the time bringing together the alternative rock pop of bands like Weezer and The Pixies with the punk pop sound of bay area bands Green Day and Operation Ivy. After a short run of demo tapes the band recorded a full length self titled album, which they initially released on local label Red 5 Records and was soon picked up by Florida label Fueled by Ramen.
After a summer of touring on their first full length the Impossibles once again headed into the studio to record a follow up EP, ’Back 4 the Attack’. By this point the four members of the Impossibles were unsure of their futures, with several members wishing to pursue scholastic goals. The band decided to call it quits shortly after the release of their new EP, and would play their final show early the next year never to be heard from again...
Cut to winter, 1999. The first two Impossibles records on Fueled by Ramen along with the first demo recordings were collected into one CD, the Impossibles Anthology 94-97. After two years of playing in Imbroco and The Stereo, Rory found himself back in Austin and looking for a place to live. Although their contact was sporadic, Gabe and Rory somehow kept in contact enough to end up living together in a one-bedroom apartment in Austin’s Hyde Park district. Although the idea had come up from time to time, an Impossibles reunion wasn’t really feasible at any point until then, and somehow to everyone involved, it made perfect sense. Craig had been playing with Austin band Cruiserweight, but after much coaxing and convincing came back to the band solidifying the original lineup once again.
The following springs the Impossibles wrote and recorded 'Return’, their second full length and a noticeable departure from the original formula of ska meets pop rock. With two years apart and a lot of changes in musical influence, the Impossibles were now also incorporating influences from bands like Elliott Smith, Spiritualized, and Fugazi. At its core, however, the sound could still be found in the lyrical hooks and signature big rock guitars that had powered the bands earlier efforts.
The Impossibles hit the road and hit it hard in 2000, supporting acts like Less Than Jake and new found glory and headlining tours with Ultimate Fakebook and Cadillac Blindside, busting their chops and learning how to give their audience the same energy they received, pushing themselves every night to the point of breaking (sometimes literally) only to do it all over again the next night.
In spring of 2001 a new EP was recorded with hardcore super producer Brian McTernan entitled ’Brick Bomb’. The bands fourth effort broke even more new ground (much to the dismay of the third wave ska set, sorry kids) and honed their pop rock skills to a razor point. The songs are at times their most aggressive and their most subdued, but the sound is unmistakable.
After a 6 week US tour with the likes of grade and the movie life, the band found themselves at another impasse with the departure of their original drummer Pat Elliott and gearing up for 6 more months of touring, with their scheduled first tour of Europe in November 2001. Afterwards, being talked into a mini tour of Florida, the Impossibles retired to Austin, where they broke up shortly after.
On June, 2nd 2001 the Impossibles played their farewell concert at home in Austin to a packed house. A copy of their final moments were avalible on a DVD from Fueled By Ramen, and are sold out indeffinitly as no future pressings are planned.
The Impossibles will live on in the hearts and minds of the countless souls they touched with their music.
Back for the Attack!
The Impossibles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but I think about nothing but you as time passes.
I'm no home run hitter, but I'll still step up to bat,
and now you know that's why I'm back, back for the attack.
now bear witness, I return defenseless,
to set the pavement made with my intentions here.
holding it together, thought out every letter
of every word in every sentence so carefully.
it's not enough, it's too late.
problems surfaced and they capsized our relationship,
I now propose this expedition to salvage it,
the weather may start getting rough,
our tiny ship may be tossed,
but I'll not be stopped by acts of god,
I'll get you back at any cost.
it's not getting what you want, it's wanting what you got,
and I havent got much left,
so I dig my fingers deep into the few things that I keep
and I find myself constantly fighting, screaming, biting,
trying to get you back.
In the first verse, the singer admits that he can't stop thinking about the person he loves. Though he may not be perfect at expressing his feelings or winning her over, he's determined to keep trying. He's back for the attack, meaning he's not giving up on their relationship. In the second verse, he explains that he's defenseless but committed to making things work. He's carefully thought out everything he wants to say to her and is willing to put in the work to salvage their relationship.
The final verse reveals his desperation to keep their relationship afloat. He reminds himself that it's not about getting what he wants, but wanting what he already has, which is her. He's willing to fight tooth and nail to win her back, even if it means facing challenges and obstacles along the way.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt plea to salvage a relationship that has hit rough waters. It's a testament to the power of love and determination to make things work.
Line by Line Meaning
maybe it's just my randomly firing synapses,
Perhaps it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but all I can think about is you as time goes by.
but I think about nothing but you as time passes.
My thoughts are consumed by you as time goes by.
I'm no home run hitter, but I'll still step up to bat,
I may not be the best, but I will try my hardest to succeed.
and now you know that's why I'm back, back for the attack.
I have returned with the intention of making things right, no matter what it takes.
now bear witness, I return defenseless,
I come to you with an open heart, willing to take whatever comes my way.
to set the pavement made with my intentions here.
I am here to pave the way for a better future with my honest intentions.
holding it together, thought out every letter
Despite the difficulties, I have carefully crafted my words and actions to keep things together.
of every word in every sentence so carefully.
I have put great thought and care into every word and sentence I say.
it's not enough, it's too late.
Although I have done my best, it may be too late to salvage what we had.
problems surfaced and they capsized our relationship,
Issues have arisen that have caused our relationship to fall apart.
I now propose this expedition to salvage it,
I suggest that we embark on a journey to try and save our relationship.
the weather may start getting rough,
Difficulties may arise in our journey to save our relationship.
our tiny ship may be tossed,
Our relationship may be shaky and unstable.
but I'll not be stopped by acts of god,
I will not let external factors prevent me from trying to save our relationship.
I'll get you back at any cost.
I am willing to do whatever it takes to win you back.
it's not getting what you want, it's wanting what you got,
True contentment comes from appreciating what you have, not simply obtaining what you think you want.
and I havent got much left,
I don't have much left in terms of our relationship.
so I dig my fingers deep into the few things that I keep
I hold onto the little remaining hope and love that I have for you.
and I find myself constantly fighting, screaming, biting,
Despite the challenges, I am willing to fight for our relationship with all my might.
trying to get you back.
My sole focus and goal is to win you back.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.