(2) The Maccabees (2002-2016) were an indie rock band from London, UK. The line-up consisted of Orlando Weeks (vocals), Hugo White (guitar), Felix White (guitar, vocals), Rupert Jarvis (bass) and Sam Doyle (drums), who replaced Robert Dylan Thomas. Weeks stated once that the band came up with the name by flicking through the Bible and picking out a random word. Despite adopting a name with religious connotations, he affirmed that none of the band are religious.
Debuting in 2004 with the You Make Noise I Make Sandwiches EP (released on Haircut Records), they released their first single X-Ray on Promise Records on November 28, 2005. Receiving just little significant exposure - some evening play on XFM London radio station - the band however scored a minor indie hit with their second post-punk influenced single Latchmere released in April 2006 on Fierce Panda Records.
Then inking a deal with the Polydor imprint (and former home of The Cure) Fiction Records the bands first studio album, Colour It In, was released on May 4, 2007 .
To date (late September 2007) they have released three (widely available) singles from the album (First Love, About Your Dress and Precious Time) with a fourth and final single Toothpaste Kisses released on October 8, 2007.
On May 4, 2009 the band released Wall of Arms, their second album. Preceded by the single Love You Better on April 27th. Markus Dravs, who collaborated in the past with artists such as Björk, Arcade Fire and Coldplay, produced the album. The album has been recorded in various cities including Liverpool and Paris, unlike their first long-player which was recorded in "dribs and drabs" like frontman Orlando Weeks said.
On January 9, 2012 the Maccabees released Given To The Wild, their third album. The band worked on the album at both Rockfield Studios in Wales and their rehearsal space in London's Elephant and Castle district, before decamping to Suffolk to finish the record.
Marks to Prove It, their last album, was released in 2015.
Official Website
Guitarist Felix White was initially in a band called Jack's Basement with fellow friend Jack Peñate. Felix and Hugo White are brothers, along with Will White, who is the frontman of another band called Talk Taxis. Former drummer Robert Dylan Thomas left the band in 2008.
Dawn Chorus
The Maccabees Lyrics
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You make perfect days
Swing a bottle and send him on his way
He still thinks about
How his ship has sailed
Swigs a bottle to send him on his way down
Break it up to make it better
Now the boat has flown
He still thinks about
How that ship has sailed
Swigs a bottle to send him on his way
And break it up to make it better
It's not for us to say
It's not for us to say
The Maccabees's song "Dawn Chorus" has a melancholic and reflective tone with lyrics that focus on loss and missed opportunities. The opening lines "You run rings around, you make perfect days" can be interpreted as someone who is admirable in their ability to achieve success and happiness. However, this person is still haunted by the past as indicated by "He still thinks about how his ship has sailed/ Swigs a bottle to send him on his way down." The ship symbolizes missed opportunities and regret. The chorus repeats the phrase "Break it up to make it better" which can be interpreted as breaking up the routine or patterns to try to improve and find a way forward.
The repetition of the line "He still thinks about how his ship has sailed/ Swigs a bottle to send him on his way" underscores the sadness and longing for something that is now out of reach. The final lines "It's not for us to say" suggest that the future and ultimate outcome is unknown and ultimately beyond one's control.
Line by Line Meaning
You run rings around
You are in control and able to manipulate or outsmart others
You make perfect days
You have the ability to create ideal situations and experiences
Swing a bottle and send him on his way
Dismiss someone with a gesture or action, often through the use of alcohol
He still thinks about
How his ship has sailed
Swigs a bottle to send him on his way down
He is still dwelling on missed opportunities or lost love and turns to alcohol to numb the pain
Break it up to make it better
Disrupt the current situation or routine in order to improve it
Now the boat has flown
The opportunity or chance is gone
It's not for us to say
We cannot determine or control the outcome of a situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FELIX WHITE, HUGO WHITE, ORLANDO THOMAS WEEKS, RUPERT ALEXANDER JARVIS SHEPHERD, SAM DOYLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind