(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.
Heave
The Maccabees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're the last sons
Thought our heads had locked
Heads have parted ways
So headstrong we're the last sons
Are we so
Are we so Are we so different
We're night and day
Still the same
In the garland frame
Though we left a mark upon a cherub face
Signs of love waste it all on the young
Are we so
Are we so
Are we so different
The Maccabees's song "Heave" is a reflective piece that explores love, growing up and how we change as time goes by. The lyrics "heave another heave another sigh" speak to the weight of the emotions that the song's protagonist carries, perhaps the weight of nostalgia and the memories of past love. They are presented as the last sons, possibly the final members of a group of people who once shared close bonds but have now gone their separate ways. The chorus ("Are we so, are we so, are we so different") suggests that despite this separation, the singer still questions how different they have become.
The phrase "In the garland frame" in the second verse could be illustrative of the way that certain memories are framed and preserved, such as a garland. This creates an interesting juxtaposition with the line "Signs of love waste it all on the young" as it references how love can be squandered or not fully appreciated in youth. This further highlights the idea of growing up and changing, as the singer ponders if they themselves have stopped appreciating love in the way they once did.
Overall, "Heave" is a nostalgic and introspective song about change, love, and growing up. It highlights the loss of closeness between people as they grow older, but also the lingering connections and shared memories that last long after people have parted ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Heave another heave another sigh
Let out another deep breath, expressing our weariness
We're the last sons
We are the final remnants of something that has almost vanished
Thought our heads had locked
We once believed that we were unified in thought and purpose
Heads have parted ways
But now we have diverged in our beliefs and goals
So headstrong we're the last sons
We are stubborn and resistant to change, which makes us the few who remain
Are we so
Is there really such a big difference between us?
Are we so
Or are we more similar than we realize?
Are we so different
Do our differences truly define us?
We're night and day
We may seem completely opposite
Still the same
Yet there are fundamental similarities between us
In the garland frame
We are both part of the same larger picture or narrative
Though we left a mark upon a cherub face
We have made an impact on the world, specifically on those who are innocent or naïve
Signs of love waste it all on the young
Our attempts to show affection or care often go unnoticed or unappreciated by those who are too inexperienced to understand
Are we so
Once again, we question our differences
Are we so
Perhaps we are not as distinct as we originally thought
Are we so different
But regardless, we must still ask ourselves if our dissimilarities are truly what matter most
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OnlyOneMellie
Covert Affairs brought me here over a decade ago. I still come back because this is a MASTERPIECE!!!
@tenaciousd1347
Why it’s taken me so long to stumble upon this album I will never know. But now that I have - it will be played over and over and loved more and more. 💓🙏🏼
@sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017
In one's personal opinion, with all things considered , one simply must feel rather inclined to express the viewpoint that this is easily one of the most spirit-lifting songs on the planet at the time in which we find ourselves , trying to unlock our mind's eye and not give in to media-spawned thoughts of despair and inadequacy.
Splendid stuff!!😁👍
@joejackman6747
i’m actually so emotional listening to this
@WatcherKoops4677
the ending is what gets me!
@leoqu1nn
single best album ever
@sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017
Indeed, t'was rather splendid stuff!
@tenaciousd1347
I’ve only just discovered it and I am thinking you could be on to something. It’s stunning. 💓🙏🏼
@joejackman6747
remember my dad playing this too me when i was younger
@joejackman6747
100% gonna be the song at my funeral