(2) The Maccabees (2002-2016, 2024-present) are 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. The band announced that they decided to disband in August 2016, with farewell gigs in 2017.
On 25 October 2024, it was announced that the band were reuniting.
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.
Grew Up at Midnight
The Maccabees Lyrics
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I was sticking with you
We were only kids then
We’d get soaked right through
We used to tell them
I was staying at yours
Sheltered in our own worldsWe’d watch the rain right through
We grew up at midnight
We were only kids then
Loving woman loving man
Here for you doing the best we can
Hard to figure hard to bare
Hard to think knowing how much you care
It’s the strangest thing through thick and thin
All this time kept the promise you made
If you’re telling I’ll be told
I’ll come running and be there as soon as I can
Outside of the window
I was sticking with you
We were only kids then
I was staying at yours
Sheltered in our own worlds
We’d watch the rain right through
We grew up at midnight
We were only kids then
We grew up at midnight
We were only kids then
But that night we knew
The lyrics to The Maccabees's song Grew Up At Midnight are about growing up together with someone and always being there for each other through thick and thin, even when it's hard. The narrating persona looks back on their childhood, when they and someone else used to hang out at night and watch the rain. The two of them were just kids then, but they grew up together, learning from each other and going through all of life's ups and downs together.
The phrase "we grew up at midnight" is particularly poignant, as it indicates that their bond was so strong that they matured and learned about life in the dark, without the guidance of parents or any other adult figures. They were there for each other through the hard times, like when it was "hard to think knowing how much you care", and it seems like their understanding of each other and their shared experiences helped them both through.
In the end, the message of the song is one of being there for someone else, and the deep appreciation that comes from going through all of life's difficulties together. The narrating persona promises to always be there for the other person, no matter what: "If you’re telling I’ll be told / I’ll come running and be there as soon as I can". It's a beautiful, touching song that captures the essence of true friendship and the power of shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside of the window
Looking out the window
I was sticking with you
I was with you
We were only kids then
We were very young at that time
We’d get soaked right through
We would get drenched in the rain
We used to tell them
We used to inform others
I was staying at yours
I was staying at your place
Sheltered in our own worlds
Protected in our own little bubbles
We’d watch the rain right through
We would watch the rain for a long time
We grew up at midnight
We matured and grew up during the late hours of the night
Loving woman loving man
A love between a woman and a man
Here for you doing the best we can
We are here for you doing our best
Hard to figure hard to bare
Difficult to comprehend, difficult to endure
Hard to think knowing how much you care
It's difficult to think knowing how much you care
It’s the strangest thing through thick and thin
It's the weirdest thing to see how things have remained constant through tough times
All this time kept the promise you made
Throughout all this time, you kept your promise
If you’re telling I’ll be told
If someone is informing you, then I'll be informed too
I’ll come running and be there as soon as I can
I'll come quickly and be there as soon as possible
But that night we knew
On that night, we understood that important thing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Felix White, Hugo White, Orlando Weeks, Rupert Jarvis Shepherd, Sam Doyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind