The initial lineup of vocalist Mark Melicia, guitarists Dave Rosen and Paul Ritchie, bassist Nick Villapiano, and drummer Sam Bey arose out of the ashes of an earlier, short-lived band named What About Frank in 2004, and quickly attracted a small following in local clubs. Early on in their career, the Parlor Mob earned critical praise for their captivating translation of classic '70s rock devices (think Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Captain Beyond, Granicus, etc.) into modern indie rock aesthetics. Inspired live performances and songwriting sessions continued apace and, before long, the band had scored a development deal with Capitol Records. But, just as the band's eponymous, four-track EP was headed for release in early 2007, the Parlor Mob became embroiled in the messy merger between Capitol and Virgin Records, watched most of their on-staff supporters laid off, and thus decided to part company with the label rather than cope with any additional fallout. Finding a new home with Roadrunner Records later that summer, the band immediately set about preparing their debut full-length, And You Were a Crow, for an early 2008 release. After touring for the album, the band settled in to work on new material, but tensions within the band resulted in the departure of Nick Villapiano, who was replaced by Anthony Chick. The Parlor Mob eventually followed up in 2011 with their second album, Dogs. The album's lead single, "Into the Sun," found some wider exposure thanks to its use in both a Pittsburgh Penguins commercial and on Monday Night Football. Following a hiatus that effectively began at the end of 2012, the Parlor Mob returned in 2015 with the self-released Cry Wolf EP, a surprisingly lengthy five-song affair that at time dipped into progressive rock territory.
Another three years passed before the band emerged with new material, this time for BMG-affiliated Brittania Row Recordings. The departure of guitarist Dave Rosen and second bassist Anthony Chick made for a reshuffled quartet lineup that included Melicia, Ritchie, Bey, and incoming bassist Gianni Scalise. Beginning with "4th of July," the Parlor Mob issued three tracks throughout 2018. In 2019, they released their fifth album, Dark Hour, which featured production by Malay and found them experimenting with synth and electronic sounds.
Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia
Everything You're Breathing For
The Parlor Mob Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When there's nowhere left to run and nobody worth staying for
And though I hate to be the one to baer such news
Seems like you're set to be the only one to lose
Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself but do not see
And everything you're breathing for
I was bound to the bed post
I was doing everything I could to make a change
Caught a sigh of indifference
When a certain feeling struck so strange
While it was my wish to keep you from such pain
I regret to say my efforts were in vain
Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself but do not see
And everything you're breathing for
Will let you down and leave you sore
You're sad, sad
Can't go without
You do it to yourself
So you can save your doubt
Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself but do not see
And everything you're breathing for
Gonna let you down and leave you sore
Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself but do not see
Your friends will hang you out to dry
They'll scrape your knees
And baby make you cry
Everything you're breathing for
Will let you down and leave you sore
Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself But do not see
The Parlor Mob's "Everything You're Breathing For" is a song that delves into the theme of self-destruction and the consequences of one's actions. The song starts with a bleak depiction of the aftermath of someone's dreams and aspirations being paid for, and there's no one left to turn to. The singer tells the listener that everything they are living for will ultimately let them down and leave them in pain. The chorus is a plea for the listener to wake up to the harm they are causing themselves, and the harm that others might be causing them too. The repeated line "little one, how can it be" is a plea for the listener to understand the bigger picture.
The second verse is a personal account of the singer, who was bound to the bedpost and trying to make a change. But it seems like the effort was in vain, and the feeling of indifference crept in, leading to regret for not being able to prevent the listener's pain. The chorus repeats the warning that the listener's actions will only lead to pain, and their friends will eventually leave them high and dry. The song ends on a somber tone, highlighting the pain that self-destruction brings.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation, but the overall theme is one of the dangers of self-destructive behavior. The singer's personal account and plea to the listener to wake up is a warning against the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
After all your dreams are done and paid for
Once you've achieved your dreams and paid the price for them
When there's nowhere left to run and nobody worth staying for
When there is no escape from your situation and no one worth staying for
And though I hate to be the one to bear such news
Despite not wanting to be the bearer of bad news
Seems like you're set to be the only one to lose
It appears that you will be the only one to suffer the consequences
Little one, how can it be
Addressing someone who is small and vulnerable, questioning them about their perspective
You hurt yourself but do not see
You are causing harm to yourself but are unaware of it
And everything you're breathing for
All that you are living for
Will let you down and leave you sore
Will disappoint you and cause you pain
I was bound to the bed post
I was unable to move or make a change
I was doing everything I could to make a change
Despite being immobile, I was still trying to make a difference
Caught a sigh of indifference
Felt a sense of apathy
When a certain feeling struck so strange
When a peculiar emotion arose
While it was my wish to keep you from such pain
Although I wished to protect you from suffering
I regret to say my efforts were in vain
Unfortunately, my attempts were unsuccessful
You're sad, sad
You are feeling miserable
Can't go without
You cannot function without
You do it to yourself
You are responsible for your own misery
So you can save your doubt
So you can have doubts about anything else besides yourself
Your friends will hang you out to dry
Your friends will leave you to suffer alone
They'll scrape your knees
They will cause you pain
And baby make you cry
And make you cry like a baby
Gonna let you down and leave you sore
Will ultimately fail you and cause you pain
You hurt yourself But do not see
You are harming yourself but are oblivious to it
Contributed by Amelia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.