The Rods' third album, released 1983, was entitled In the Raw. In 1984 Canedy and Bordonaro played on Jack Starr's album Out of the Darkness with Rhett Forrester of Riot and Gary Driscoll of Rainbow. Then in 1984 the Rods released their fourth studio album Let Them Eat Metal and recorded the album The Rods Live. Their album Heavier Than Thou was originally released in 1986. An album was also released the same year, entitled Hollywood under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle (all of the band members). Rick Caudle handled lead vocals on that album, with Feinstein only playing guitar. Following poor sales of their final two albums the group split up.
Canedy is also a producer of heavy metal bands, and his credits include Anthrax's Armed and Dangerous and Spreading the Disease, Exciter's Violence & Force, Overkill's Feel the Fire, Possessed's Beyond the Gates and Roxx Gang's Love 'Em and Leave 'Em.
In 2008 the Rods announced that they were reuniting with the line-up of Feinstein, Bordonaro and Canedy, and in August 2008 they played at the Metal Rock Fest in Lillehammer, Norway. The album Vengeance was released in 2011 to positive reviews, and The Brotherhood of Metal was released in 2019.
Discography
Rock Hard (1980), reissued as The Rods (1981)
Full Throttle (EP) (1981)
Wild Dogs (1982)
In the Raw (1983)
The Rods Live (1983)
Let Them Eat Metal (1984)
Hollywood (1986) – released under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle
Heavier Than Thou (1986)
Vengeance (2011)
Brotherhood of Metal (2019)
Rattle The Cage (2024)
Chains Of Love
The Rods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me love that I can't control
Take my hand, hold me tight
Feel my love in the morning light
Oh I know it's hard to deny
These feelings inside
Of me wonder why do I stay
Chains of love, I can't cut loose from these chains
Chains of love, I'll never break away
Like a sun on fire
When we touch flames get higher
Take my hand, hold me tight
Feel my love in the morning light
Oh I know it's wrong to deny
These feelings inside
Of me wonder why you must stay
But you never try
Chains of love, I can't cut loose from these chains
Chains of love, I'll never break away
Chains of love, I can't cut loose from these chains
Chains of love, I'll never break away
Chains of love, I can't cut loose from these chains
Chains of love, I'll never break away
The Rods's song Chains Of Love is a rock ballad about the compulsion of love that is both liberating and imprisoning. The song begins with the singer willingly giving in to their lover's hold, asking them to take their heart and soul and give them love that they can't control. Despite their surrender, the singer wonders why they stay in a relationship that is not reciprocal, where their love is unrequited. They describe this love as chains that they can't cut loose from, even though they know they should. The second verse describes the intensity of their love, like a "sun on fire," and how it only gets stronger when they touch.
The chorus repeats the metaphor of chains of love that the singer is trapped in, unable to break away despite their desire to do so. It is not clear whether the singer is truly unhappy in the relationship or if they have resigned themselves to this fate. Nevertheless, the song ends on a melancholic note with the singer acknowledging that they will never break away from these chains.
In summary, Chains Of Love is a poignant song of unrequited love that is both painful and exhilarating. The singer is acutely aware of their predicament but is unable to let go, creating a sense of internal conflict and yearning.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my heart, take my soul
The singer is giving all of themselves to the person they love, entrusting them with their heart and soul.
Give me love that I can't control
The singer desires a love that is intense and all-consuming, and they do not want to be able to resist it.
Take my hand, hold me tight
The singer wants physical affection and reassurance from their lover through holding them.
Feel my love in the morning light
The artist wants their love to be present and apparent in the mornings, symbolizing the beginning of a new day.
Oh I know it's hard to deny
The artist realizes that their feelings are strong and cannot be ignored, even if it is difficult to confront them.
These feelings inside
The singer has strong emotions deep down which they cannot control or ignore.
Of me wonder why do I stay
The singer questions why they are still pursuing this love even though it may be painful or difficult.
When you never try
The artist is frustrated that their lover does not reciprocate or put effort into the relationship.
Chains of love, I can't cut loose from these chains
The artist feels trapped and unable to escape the all-consuming love they have for their partner, symbolizing the hold they have over them.
Chains of love, I'll never break away
The artist believes they will never be able to break the hold that their love has over them or escape its intensity.
Like a sun on fire
The love between the singer and their partner is passionate, intense, and burns strongly like the sun.
When we touch flames get higher
Physical intimacy between the artist and their lover causes their passion to intensify and become stronger.
Oh I know it's wrong to deny
The singer is aware that ignoring their feelings is not truthful or healthy for them and the relationship.
Of me wonder why you must stay
The singer is confused as to why their lover is still present in the relationship if there is a lack of effort or reciprocation.
But you never try
The singer is frustrated and hurt that their lover never puts effort into the relationship, causing them to feel unimportant or neglected.
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.