1. While everyone else… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 3 artists called The Left.
1. While everyone else merges and follows the traffic jam on that nicely paved 4-lane highway to the right, you’ll always have those few who prefer to follow that narrow, unpaved road to The Left, curious to see where it leads. In this case, The Left leads you straight to Detroit.
The Left began as a simple phone conversation between two artists displaying mutual respect for each other’s craft. Detroit staples Apollo Brown (Producer) and Journalist 103 (Emcee) turned the prospect of a couple random songs into an album considered by many tastemakers to be the best underground hip hop LP of 2010. Shortly after starting the album in early 2009, the duo brought in DJ Soko to provide cuts for the album and act as the official DJ for The Left’s live performances.
Apollo’s hard drums and dirty, static-filled sample chops coupled with Journalist’s rugged, politically charged flow and DJ Soko’s raw, timeless cuts led to the creation of what is now The Left’s debut album, Gas Mask.
2. The Left burst out of Hagerstown, MD in 1983 like a supernova only to implode two years later after the release of their infamous 12” EPS, Hell, It’s the World! and Last Train to Hagerstown. Their Punk sound rooted in both 60s Garage and Hardcore Punk owed a lot to both the Sonics and Stooges as well as their out of the way Western Maryland locale. Outsiders and outcasts in their desolate hometown, they arose out of the ashes of the Embryonic Magnetos and first surfaced with a melodic, tuneful blast of hate, the great “You’re So” which appeared on Bona Fide’s Train to Disaster comp in 1983. The following year saw the release of the now classic debut LP—Hell It’s the World!—a 14 minute slab of unbridled energy, raw emotion, and lots of guitar! Soon they would follow with their second LP Last Train to Hagerstown—another hard rocking kick ass rock n roll record in the spirit of the Stooges. The band broke up before the LP was released.
3. Pop/Rock from Vancouver, British Columbia (www.theleft.ca)
Stop
The Left Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got some time to waste, but why wait
I haven't lost my bet, not today
You know in my heart, you have your place
Your words spring to my mind, I change my pace
Such a shame I'll never know your name
Second hand spinning, minutes you're winning
Days I'm abusing, weeks that I'm losing
Until I drop, tell me when's the next stop
It ain't a competition, but you're my goal
No one else's future but mine to mold
I refuse to leave my tale untold
I know the place to be, I've seen the signs
Driven since your old man's words to mine
I'm not yet satisfied, but I got time
Second hand spinning, minutes you're winning
Another hour wasted and lost
Days I'm abusing, weeks that I'm losing
Until I drop, tell me when's the next stop
Second hand spinning, minutes you're winning
Another hour wasted and lost
Days I'm abusing, weeks that I'm losing
Until I drop
Second hand spinning, minutes you're winning
Another hour wasted and lost
Days I'm abusing, weeks that I'm losing
Until I drop, tell me when's the next stop
In "Stop," The Left describes a sense of being perpetually behind schedule and continuously losing time. The singer has missed their train to Slane, a town in Ireland known for hosting large music festivals. However, instead of waiting for the next train, they choose to use their time in other ways. The singer shows an awareness of their own mortality, acknowledging that they only have limited time to accomplish what they want. Despite this, they remain focused on achieving their goals, refusing to leave their story untold.
The lyrics also hint at the presence of a particular person who has had a significant impact on the singer, but they have never had the chance to know their name. The singer seems to be motivated by the idea of this person and uses their influence to drive them forward. Although the song is written with a sense of urgency and pessimism, the final lines of the chorus provide a glimmer of hope. The singer asks when the next stop is, implying that they are still moving forward and that there is still more to come.
Overall, "Stop" is a reflective song that touches on themes of time, mortality, and the pursuit of personal goals. The Left delivers these themes through a driving beat and catchy, thought-provoking lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I missed my train to Slane, running three years late
I've been lagging behind on my goals for a while now
I got some time to waste, but why wait
I shouldn't procrastinate, even if I have extra time
I haven't lost my bet, not today
I haven't given up on my aspirations yet
You know in my heart, you have your place
I have a passion and desire for success
Your words spring to my mind, I change my pace
I am motivated by the inspiration of others
Such a shame I'll never know your name
I regret not knowing who has helped motivate me
Second hand spinning, minutes you're winning
Time is constantly moving forward, and I'm trying to keep up
Another hour wasted and lost
I feel like I'm not making any progress sometimes
Days I'm abusing, weeks that I'm losing
I'm not using my time effectively and it's weighing on me
Until I drop, tell me when's the next stop
I will keep pushing until I've reached my destination
It ain't a competition, but you're my goal
I am not envious of others, but I have my own targets to achieve
No one else's future but mine to mold
I am responsible for my own success
I refuse to leave my tale untold
I won't give up until I accomplish what I'm striving for
I know the place to be, I've seen the signs
I have a clear idea of where I want to go and what it takes to get there
Driven since your old man's words to mine
I've been motivated and inspired since I was young
I'm not yet satisfied, but I got time
I am not content with where I am, but I am determined to achieve more
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Conor Brennan, Jack Hickey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind