Wanting to cut themselves off from their pasts, Mosshart and Hince considered their new project to be Year Zero in their careers, so they renamed themselves "VV" and "Hotel" respectively and began writing sparse, minimalist songs together with the aid of a drum machine. In 2001 they showcased their new songs on a well received demo tape. In true punk rock fashion, however, the pair shunned approaches from major record labels. Recording as VV and Hotel, they contributed the song "Restaurant Blouse" to the compilation If the Twenty-First Century Did Not Exist, It Would Be Necessary to Invent It. Shortly after this they recorded their debut release, the Black Rooster EP, which saw release on British indie label Domino Records and was picked up for distribution by Dim Mak Records in the United States.
Following international touring, they entered Toe Rag studios to record their debut album Keep on Your Mean Side, mostly on 8-track, in just 2 weeks.
Popular indie band, the xx, name The Kills as the major influence for having a male/female lead singer combo: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/05/xx.interview/index.html?iref=allsearch
Their second album, No Wow, was released by Domino records on February 21, 2005. Featuring an artier, less guitar rock sound, the record embraced New Wave and post punk influences and sounded even more stripped down than Keep on Your Mean Side. The first single, The Good Ones, was released on February 7, 2005 and reached number 23 in the UK singles charts.
VV sang the song Meds on Placebo's 2006 eponymous album.
Their third album Midnight Boom was released March 10, 2008. It was followed by 5 different singles since its release.
You Don't Own the Road
The Kills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better kick up a storm
You don't own the big city lights
Better cop out your own
You don't own the green pines,
The blue sky, or the smoke
You don't own the dust in your
Yeah, steal them back for me love
Oh yeah, steal them back for me love, oh yeah
You don't own the road boy
And neither do I
You don't own the big city lights
That make my eyes cry
You don't own the green pines
So be careful where you lean
And when you're lost under the blue sky
Look down and you'll find me
Yeah, steal it back for me love, back for me love
Oh yeah steal it back for me love, oh yeah
Come on over
If that's the way you feel
When you're lonesome steal it
Back when you're lonely
Back when you're lonely, back
When you're lonely, back
You don't own the sadness son
See the tide just comes in
Guilt is played on the violin
By those who never cared to sing
Yeah, steal it back for me love
Oh yeah, steal it back for me love, back for me love
Oh yeah, steal it back for me love, back for me love
Oh yeah, steal it back for me love, back for me love
Back for me love
Back for me love
The lyrics to "You Don't Own the Road" by The Kills speaks to the idea of ownership and entitlement in a world where everything is supposed to belong to someone. The song suggests that none of us truly owns anything, not the road or the city lights, not even the beauty of nature. It urges the listener to steal back what they believe is theirs and to challenge the notion of ownership. The line "You don't own the sadness son, see the tide just comes in" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that sadness is a natural force that everyone experiences, regardless of ownership or control.
The song has a sense of resilience and defiance. It encourages the listener to be strong and independent, to take what they want and to not be held back by other people's notions of property. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "steal it back for me love," reinforces the idea that the listener is capable of taking control, whether it be of their emotions, their environment, or their life.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't own the road boy
You do not have complete control over everything around you.
Better kick up a storm
You should make an effort to create a change or disruption.
You don't own the big city lights
You cannot claim ownership over the wonders of the city.
Better cop out your own
It is necessary to find your own place in the world.
You don't own the green pines,
One cannot possess the natural beauty that surrounds us.
The blue sky, or the smoke
We cannot own the elements or the pollution we create.
You don't own the dust in your
Even our own bodies and their parts cannot be wholly controlled or owned.
Big brown eyes when you keep them closed
One may be blinded by their own perspective or ignorance.
Yeah, steal them back for me love
Regain control or awareness of what is truly important in life.
Oh yeah, steal them back for me love, oh yeah
A repeated plea for one to regain control and perspective.
You don't own the road boy
A reminder that no one truly 'owns' their path in life.
And neither do I
Even the singer acknowledges the lack of total control in their own life.
That make my eyes cry
Certain aspects of the world may make us emotional, but we still cannot claim ownership over them.
So be careful where you lean
Be mindful of what you rely on or attach yourself to in life.
And when you're lost under the blue sky
During moments of confusion, look to the beauty that exists in nature for guidance.
Look down and you'll find me
Remember to hold onto love and the support of others when seeking direction.
Come on over
An invitation to connect and share experiences.
If that's the way you feel
Acknowledging and accepting others' emotions and desires.
When you're lonesome steal it
Take control of your own happiness and seek out the things that bring you joy.
Back when you're lonely
Returning to a state of loneliness should not mean giving up on the things that make us happy.
You don't own the sadness son
One cannot possess or control negative emotions.
See the tide just comes in
Life's ups and downs are a natural cycle that cannot be controlled.
Guilt is played on the violin
Feelings of guilt are often perpetuated by others and can contribute to our emotional distress.
By those who never cared to sing
Those who judge or instill guilt are not concerned with supporting or uplifting others.
Back for me love
Just as we should seek joy, we should also regain our sense of purpose and connect with others when we feel lost or isolated.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: ALISON MOSSHART, JAMES HINCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind