The band released debut album, Girls and Weather, in September of 2007. In the past, the band have been on tour with numerous popular artists (The Zutons, Good Shoes, Dirty Pretty Things and The Young Knives), and have also played various festivals (including Glastonbury 07 and Cardiff Calling 07). The band also had a successful album tour hitting many venues around the UK and Ireland, including a trip to home-town Tavistock. The album (created with Tony Hoffer - The Kooks, and The Fratellis), was released mid-September 2007. The band gained alot of recognition when single "Alarm Clock" was played on Radio 1, when lead singer of Snow Patrol took over Zane Lowe's evening slot as a one-off.
Band members include:
Charlie Waller – Lead Vocals and Guitar
Tom Gorbutt – Sax, Vocals and Bass
Henry Clark – Trumpet, Vocals and Piano
Sam Mansbridge - Bass / Vocals / "Rumble Drum"
Matthew Wheeler - Drums
Past releases include the single "Motorcycle" (December 2005 and re-released June 07), single "Hate Me (You Do)" (June 2006) EP "Cardboard Coloured Dreams" (November 2006), single "Alarm Clock" (March 2007), which has received numerous plays off of Virgin Radio and on MTV 2 programme "Spanking New Music", and single "Motorcycle" (June 2007) which also received plays off of "Spanking New Music".
"Girls and Boys In Love" is the most recent song to have been released as a single, and also features in the Simon Pegg film "Run Fat Boy Run" and "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging"
Lead singer, Charlie Waller, was also in the band Vincent Vincent and the Villains at the same time as playing with current band The Rumble Strips. An attack from his conscience lead him to leave both bands before The Rumble Strips were offered to release a single under record label Transgressive.
London
The Rumble Strips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're bored to the bone
Conversation
Some things are best left alone
Why can't I love you in London?
Why can't I love you in London?
Just outside my window
It's just a whisper
But it's you I know, I know
Oh no, Oh no
Why can't I love you in London?
Why can't I love you in London?
And when the morning comes
We won't mention a thing
It was only a cheap
Secondhand ring
Why can't I love you in London?
Oh-oh-oh
And we're bored
We're bored to the bone
And you wear it
Like a cheap leather coat
Oh
We're so pretty and we're so bold
Why can't I love you in London?
Why can't I love you in London?
Why can't I love you in London?
Oh-oh-oh (repeat)
The Rumble Strips's "London" is a melancholic song that speaks about how difficult it is to love and connect with someone while in the bustling city of London. It highlights these feelings of being bored and tired that come as a result of trying to engage with someone in the city. The opening lines "And we're bored, We're bored to the bone, Conversation, Some things are best left alone" set the tone of the song and introduce the listener to the emotional atmosphere of the song. The singer speaks about how some things are better left unsaid due to the weariness of trying to communicate in a highly populated and draining city.
The chorus of the song, "Why can't I love you in London?" is repeated throughout the song and highlights the struggles of trying to connect with someone while in the city. The verses talk about the distractions and noises that surround the singer as they attempt to connect with their loved one. They mention how they can hear people whispering outside their window but cannot seem to communicate with the one person they want to. The final lines of the song, "We're so pretty and we're so bold, Why can't I love you in London?" creates an image of two people, who could potentially be perfect for each other, struggling due to the environment they are living in.
Line by Line Meaning
And we're bored
We are extremely disinterested and unengaged.
We're bored to the bone
Our boredom is so deep and intense that it has permeated our very body structure.
Conversation
Interpersonal communication, discussion, or dialogue.
Some things are best left alone
It is more prudent and sensible to leave certain matters undisturbed and unaddressed.
Why can't I love you in London?
What is preventing me from expressing my love for you while in London?
And they're talkin'
An unspecified group of individuals is engaged in a conversation.
Just outside my window
In close proximity to my immediate location, but outside of my dwelling or vehicle.
It's just a whisper
The conversational exchanges are conducted in hushed and low tones.
But it's you I know, I know
Despite the limited amount of tangible information I possess, I am certain that it is indeed you who is being spoken of.
Oh no, Oh no
An expression of dismay, distress, or trepidation.
And when the morning comes
Upon the arrival of daylight hours.
We won't mention a thing
We have, and will continue to maintain, complete and total silence and discretion regarding the previous night's events.
It was only a cheap
Our shared experience was of little worth, value, or significance.
Secondhand ring
A used and worn object that had previously been in another person's possession.
And you wear it
You display or exhibit it proudly and confidently.
Like a cheap leather coat
Your attitude or demeanor suggests that you are pretending to be someone, or something, that you are not.
Oh
An expression of strong emotion, often of joy or excitement.
We're so pretty and we're so bold
Despite our lack of genuine interest or engagement, we possess an outward confidence and charm.
Oh-oh-oh
A repetition of the previous exclamation.
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.