(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.
Good Old Bill
The Maccabees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When Gran was robbed of her own life honey
The driverless hornet last post on the trumpet
His blind, crippled crumpet don't like it but lump it
The engine, it won't start without him
The engine, it won't start without
All pork pies and drainpipes to wear in all weather
All of us shed a tear thinking of yesteryear
Raise whiskey, raise beer, the old boy is not here
The engine, it won't start without him
The engine, it won't start without
The engine, it won't start without him
The engine, it won't start without
So he's left us done up to the nines
With satin for lining and a coating of pine
And the engine is broke, I can't fix and I've lost
All the coals and we're running quite low
The engine is broke, I can't fix and I've lost
All the coals and we're running quite low
The Maccabees' "Good Old Bill" is a haunting yet beautiful tribute to a man who has passed on. The song is a reflection on Bill's life and his absence, especially with regards to the impact he had on those around him. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who was an integral part of a community, someone who was loved and admired by many.
The opening verse describes a bleak scene where the Spearmint Rhino, a strip club chain, is taking the group's money. However, the sadness is compounded by the fact that Bill's grandma was robbed of her life at the same time. This juxtaposition of the sleazy club and Bill's grandmother's death makes for a poignant and thought-provoking image, as it highlights the futility of life and how it can be taken away unexpectedly.
The following verse talks about the group's nostalgia for the past, as they reminisce about the days gone by. The reference to Sherry's mod suits and Paul Weller - a legendary British musician - is an allusion to the group's youth and their love for the mod subculture. But, as they think of the past, they also raise whiskey and beer to commemorate Bill's passing, a clear indication of how much they admired him.
The refrain of the song - "The engine, it won't start without him" - is a powerful symbol of Bill's importance in the group's lives. The engine could be interpreted as a metaphor for life, with Bill acting as the fuel that powered the group forward. With Bill gone, the group is at a loss, and the future seems bleak.
Overall, "Good Old Bill" is a moving tribute to a man who was an essential part of the group's life. It speaks to the idea that life is fleeting and that our loved ones can be taken away from us at any moment. However, the song also highlights the importance of community and how, even in the face of loss, we can come together to mourn and celebrate the lives of those who have passed on.
Line by Line Meaning
Spearmint Rhino was taking our money
We were spending a lot of money at the strip club named Spearmint Rhino
When Gran was robbed of her own life honey
At the same time, my grandmother was tragically killed
The driverless hornet last post on the trumpet
There was a final tribute for someone important who had just died
His blind, crippled crumpet don't like it but lump it
The deceased's partner may not be happy about the tribute, but has to accept it
The engine, it won't start without him
The engine being referred to is symbolic of an important aspect of life that can't function without the person who has passed away
So I went down to Sherry's mod suits and Paul Weller
In an attempt to cope with the loss, I went shopping for mod-style suits at a store called Sherry's along with items worn by music artist Paul Weller
All pork pies and drainpipes to wear in all weather
I purchased traditional British clothing, including pork pie hats and skinny drainpipe trousers, that could be worn in any climate
All of us shed a tear thinking of yesteryear
We mourned the loss of the old times and how things used to be
Raise whiskey, raise beer, the old boy is not here
We raised glasses of whiskey and beer in memory of the deceased man
So he's left us done up to the nines
The man who passed away left us to grieve and dress in our finest clothes
With satin for lining and a coating of pine
He was laid to rest in an elegant casket lined with soft satin and covered in pine
And the engine is broke, I can't fix and I've lost
Without the person who passed away, something important in life has broken and can't be fixed
All the coals and we're running quite low
The situation without the deceased is becoming more difficult and resources are dwindling
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.