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.
Motorcycle
The Rumble Strips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wouldn't be moving so slow
If only this bike was a motorcycle
I'd be over half way home
As I move down the streets
I'd be looking so good
and I'd be gone in a blink of an eye
If only this bike was a motorcycle
Sometimes when I'm riding along I forget where I'm going
I start a dream that this little old bike I'm sitting on
is a big loud glistening speed machine,
I'm getting chased everywhere I go,
by hundreds of girls all fighting to show
how much they love me, so I pull over and give them a ride
on my fast moving, street cruising, geek losing motorbike!
But it's all just a dream..
I'm actually moving quite slowly
The airs nice and clean but my bicycle seat is so lonely
It's so lonely this bike
If only this bike....
Oh if only this bike was a motorcycle
I wouldn't be sad anymore
If only this bike was a motorcycle
I'd move down the street with a roar
We'll be wild, we'll be free
Just my motorcycle and me
With a glint in my eye
I'd show you that this little boy can really fly
The Rumble Strips's song Motorcycle is all about the longing for freedom and adventure that comes from riding a motorcycle. The singer wishes that his bike was a motorcycle, as he feels that he could go faster and further on two wheels that roar. He imagines himself riding through the streets, looking good and feeling unstoppable, with the wind blowing in his hair. He wants to feel the rush of the ride, the power of the machine, and the admiration of others who see him on the road. He even dreams of being chased by adoring fans, pulled over to give them rides, and living a life full of excitement and thrills. However, he knows that it's all just a fantasy, and that he's actually moving quite slowly on his bike. He's not really going anywhere fast, and he feels lonely and sad as a result. Nevertheless, he holds onto the hope that one day he'll have a real motorcycle, and that he'll be able to fly with it down the open road.
Line by Line Meaning
If only this bike was a motorcycle
The singer wishes their bike was a faster, more powerful motorcycle.
I wouldn't be moving so slow
The singer wishes they were moving faster on their bike.
I'd be over half way home
If the bike was a motorcycle, the singer would be closer to their destination.
As I move down the streets
The artist is currently riding through city streets.
I'd be looking so good
If the bike was a motorcycle, the artist would feel cool and stylish.
And I'd be gone in a blink of an eye
The singer would move quickly on the motorcycle, making it seem like they disappeared.
If only this bike could fly
The singer wishes their bike was so fast that it seemed like it could fly.
Sometimes when I'm riding along I forget where I'm going
The artist occasionally loses track of their destination while riding their bike.
I start a dream that this little old bike I'm sitting on is a big loud glistening speed machine
The artist imagines their bike as a powerful motorcycle in their daydreams.
I'm getting chased everywhere I go, by hundreds of girls all fighting to show how much they love me
In the daydream, the artist is pursued by many women who desire to be with them.
So I pull over and give them a ride on my fast moving, street cruising, geek losing motorbike!
In the daydream, the singer offers the women a ride on their impressive motorcycle.
But it's all just a dream
None of the artist's imagined scenarios are real.
I'm actually moving quite slowly
The singer is disappointed that their current bike is not as fast as their daydreams.
The airs nice and clean but my bicycle seat is so lonely
The singer enjoys the fresh air while they ride, but feels lonely on their bike.
It's so lonely this bike
The singer feels isolated and wishes they had a better bike.
If only this bike was a motorcycle
The artist repeats the desire for a faster, more impressive bike.
I wouldn't be sad anymore
The artist believes that having a better bike would improve their mood.
I'd move down the street with a roar
On a motorcycle, the singer imagines being able to ride loudly and powerfully.
We'll be wild, we'll be free. Just my motorcycle and me
In the singer's imagination, they ride their motorcycle in a carefree way.
With a glint in my eye. I'd show you that this little boy can really fly
The artist imagines impressing others with their skilled riding on a motorcycle.
Contributed by Adalyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Harry Dwyer
See the high quality version of this video here: https://vimeo.com/17506316
fastasfox
A young Charlie....destined to become your sidekick on your trip around the UK...bless him...this is a fantastic song btw and of course the video is full of Dwyer style....great stuff.
Marnus v
Harry, your channel has been such a rollercoaster ride for me. You sucked me in with foam mining years ago and now I keep stumbling upon more in your back catalog.
Big love my dude. Happy boating!
Casey Malan
God I love it! It's just simple, no bullshit, fun music!
matleeena
oh I love this song, I just keep watching it over and over again and every time it almost makes me laugh out loud :D
MadRadMike
I literally have had the exact same thoughts run through my mind haha. there's a huge number of bikers in my area in the summer and when they pass me on my bike... its just depressing. good song.
William Bishop
Guys this blew me away wtf when did you make music? I want to see more this,where do I go? EDIT: been blasting this out my Austin 👌🏼
Joe Cooper
I really like this. It's lovely.
Fred Green
i'm portuguese and i love the song and the band ;-)
Kron Editor
Just excellent!