(1) The Romans were one of … Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands called "The Romans":
(1) The Romans were one of Los Angeles' first super-groups with members of the budding art/punk scene sweeping Southern California in the early 80's. With members from Human Hands, Monitor, BPeople, The Deadbeats, 45 Grave, Consumers, Tikis, the LAFMS and Green On Red, The Romans added a unique voice to the "LA Punk" movement. While the explosive chemistry of The Romans was short lived, with only 2 full-length LPs ever recorded (their second LP produced by Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate), band members went on to make rock history with Mazzy Star and Opal. On the debut release, The Romans were Mikey Borens, Pat Delaney, Juan Gomez, Keith Mitchell, and Michael Uhlenkott, and was engineered by the legendary Paul Cutler. Their debut 1983 LP, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE was released on cd with 8 bonus tracks by Warning Label Records.
(2) Powerful and very talented band from Maaseik, Belgium, which make music in the best tradition of Hüsker Dü, the Lemonheads, the Posies and Therapy!.
The two brothers Laurens & Chris Leurs and their friend Frank Coonen become runners-up in the 1988 final of Belgians biggest talent contest, Humo's Rock Rally. After the mini-album Ball & Chain (Produced by Kloot Per W) and the full album Trigger Happy, they take a retreat. They perform as backing vocals for other Belgian Artists like De Mens, Ze Noiz and The Paranoiacs.
In 1993 they hit back real hard with "Major Panic". Not less than four singles are released from this album : "Down down underground", "Fire Brigade" (a Move cover), "Minneapolis" and "My friend Stan" (a Slade cover), all of which got raving critics and wide airplay. They tour the country extensively (e.g. as the opener for Iggy Pop).
Or as Knack put it in a review of the album "the Romans have plotted their revenge together with producer Paul Despiegelaere (see Machines). "Major Panic" plays in the first league of the best Belgians of all time and is miles ahead of almost everything that went through our hands in the last half year. That much praise is due to six songs of outstanding quality and their fine harmony in singing and living. They had it already and they found it again."
In an article in Humo, the band is introduced as follows : "After the very good album"Trigger Happy" The Romans have been without a record contract for two years , so with less gigs, so with less airplay, so with less screaming teenagers in skintight jeans, because that's how it goes. That is incomprehensible because (1) the new Major Panic is an excellent rock album and we wish the nitwit in the record company who caused the break a lot of itch and a short arm, and (2) in the meantime countless other groups in the world have had the opportunity to dump countless tons of shitty records on the world."
1996 sees the release of another good album "Be my star" with the brilliant single "Someday Cindy" and "How slow" and "I am the liar". Jacky Huys said about this record "We've always liked the chaps from the Romans, even though the guitar-rock on Be my Star isn't really up-to-date and it begins to appear they've definitively missed their train to Top-ville".
1998 has the next Romans album and a move to a new record company : Oyster Records. El Diablo was received well by the press, but apart from the curious single ""Space Girl", which faired very well in De Afrekening, the album didn't cause much of a stir. As the bio says : "But The Romans don't let it go to their heart, as their primary concern is not 'becoming famous' but writing songs with a capital 'S'."
Although their talent is well-appreciated by the alternative rock-audience and recognized by the critics, they haven't managed to produce a breakthrough to the general audience or markets abroad. But as Laurens Leurs said in 1993 "I am glad with our position as underdogs. It is the most comfortable position to be in as a musician. I don't want to have to prove myself constantly. ... The Romans will never be the next big thing.".
In april 2000 The Romans compiled the best of their material they have recorded in the period from 1989 until 2000 on acompilation album, called "So Far". There even is the release of a single, "Burn 2000", a new version of the song that appeared on the mini-album "Ball & Chain", got a lot of airplay but never got out on single-format.
In his latest newsletter to the fans, Laurens Leurs said "After 12 years of sweating, labouring, amusing us, rehearsing, manifesting us, we make a round-up of what the Romans have done to this day. This brings to an end an important period of the Romans. What now?! With this, the pages of the nineties' book is definitely turned over. New ambitions need to found, new goals to be set. "You gotta walk and don't look back".
Only a few weeks later, the decision was made : The Romans split. The reason are no "artistic differences", "ego-clashes" or solo-plans, but a feeling that everything has been done.
Members :
- Laurens Leurs (vocals, guitars)
- Chris Leurs (vocals, bass)
- Frank Coonen (drums)
I Will Call
The Romans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This mindless flesh that devours,
it keeps me bound at the bottom.
And to live in this flesh
will keep me bound by myself.
Hollowed out your heart to live this way.
Was it that hard to let love fade?
The mindless are easily lured
in pain and perverse.
Lured to this dream alluring to the skies
to live among them and to never die, never die.
The mindless are easily lured.
The mindless are easily lured.
Lured to this dream alluring to the skies
To live among them and to never die, never die, never die.
To be worth more, though we are made the same.
To attain love by rule rather than by choice.
Mindless.
This mindless flesh that devours,
it keeps me bound at the bottom.
And to live in this flesh
will keep me bound by myself.
So fill your heart to live in love,
lock arms with your brothers,
break the binds of this flesh.
This mindless flesh that devours.
This mindless flesh
Let us not become conceited.
I will not reap destruction
but life instead.
Lured to this dream alluring to the skies
To live among them and to never die, never die, never die
To be worth more, though we are made the same.
To attain love by rule rather than by choice.
The Romans's song "I Will Call" is a powerful analysis of the mindless nature of the human flesh and how it can keep us trapped in self-bound limitations. The first verse talks about how being attached to our flesh can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential. The lines "This mindless flesh that devours, it keeps me bound at the bottom," is a reference to how addictive habits and negative thoughts can consume us and keep us stuck in a never-ending cycle.
The second verse presents a more external perspective on this phenomenon. The lyrics "Hollowed out your heart to live this way. Was it that hard to let love fade?" refer to how we can become so consumed by the world's ideas of what is successful that we lose touch with our true selves and forget to prioritize love and compassion. The chorus talks about how these mindless tendencies are often so alluring that they can lead us astray from what truly matters. However, the bridge offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that by breaking free of our mental binds and approaching life with an open and loving heart, we can overcome these obstacles and find true fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Mindless.
The singer is acknowledging that they have been living in a mindless state where they have been allowing their fleshly desires to control their actions.
This mindless flesh that devours,
The singer is referring to their own body, which they feel is mindlessly consuming everything in its path, keeping them trapped and unable to move forward.
it keeps me bound at the bottom.
The singer is expressing that their flesh is keeping them from rising above their current situation and preventing them from achieving their goals.
And to live in this flesh
The artist is acknowledging that living solely for physical desires will keep them trapped in their own body and unable to move beyond its limitations.
will keep me bound by myself.
The artist recognizes that being trapped in their physical desires will keep them isolated from others and make it difficult to form meaningful connections.
Hollowed out your heart to live this way.
The singer is addressing someone who has chosen to live a life focused on physical desires, and is accusing them of neglecting their emotional life in the process.
Was it that hard to let love fade?
The singer is questioning why the person they are addressing would choose to let love fade away in favor of physical gratification.
Lashing out, yet reserved.
The artist is describing someone who acts out in anger or frustration, but is still holding back and keeping their real emotions hidden.
The mindless are easily lured
The artist is making a general statement that people who are trapped in mindless desires are easily tempted and swayed by their physical desires.
in pain and perverse.
The artist is suggesting that these mindless desires often lead to situations that are painful or twisted in some way.
Lured to this dream alluring to the skies
The singer is describing their own desire to rise above their current state, but acknowledging that this dream is tempting and almost impossible to resist.
to live among them and to never die, never die.
The artist is expressing their desire to be among those who have risen above the limitations of their physical bodies, and to do so in a way that is immortal.
To be worth more, though we are made the same.
The singer is expressing the desire to rise above physical desires and limitations in order to attain a greater sense of purpose and importance, even though everyone is made of the same physical materials.
To attain love by rule rather than by choice.
The singer is expressing the belief that true love should be earned through personal growth and development, rather than simply relying on physical attraction or chance encounters.
So fill your heart to live in love,
The singer is encouraging others to focus on developing their emotional lives in order to experience true love and fulfillment.
lock arms with your brothers,
The artist is urging others to form meaningful connections with those around them and to rely on the support of others to achieve their goals.
break the binds of this flesh.
The artist is urging others to rise above their physical limitations and to break free from the desires that are holding them back.
This mindless flesh that devours.
The singer is emphasizing how destructive it can be to allow one's physical desires to control their life.
Let us not become conceited.
The singer is cautioning against becoming too self-centered or arrogant in the pursuit of personal growth and development.
I will not reap destruction
The artist is expressing their commitment to pursuing personal growth in a way that is constructive and positive, rather than destructive or harmful.
but life instead.
The artist is expressing their desire to pursue a life that is fulfilling and meaningful, rather than one that is dominated by mindless desires and impulses.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW GLASS, DAVID STEPHENS, ERIC CHOI, JOSHUA MOORE, KYLE PAVONE, LOU COTTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mastr Yota
one amazing band.
Thank you for your music , it means alot.