The band joined up with Spencer Cullum jr and recorded a live show at The Half Moon in Putney on St Patrick's Day 2009. After this, they were invited to play a residency at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, the first non-jazz group to play there in the club's illustrious history. However, the band were faced with the dilemma of how to get the live album to people - without trawling the mire of the London music industry. During the summer of that year, the band stumbled across the idea of street performing in London's famous markets. Along with Patrick Kenneally and Mike Farmer the band played every week through all weathers and circumstances. The momentum the band gained through the unexpected success of their street performing meant that they could afford to record an EP in 2010 in a studio the band built in an old coach house in Brixton.
Like 'Live at The Half Moon', 'The Emily EP' was also distributed primarily on the street from the band's guitar cases. Despite a broken hand and being arrested while busking, the band built up a large enough fan-base across Europe to give them the confidence to set out on tour in January 2011. Throughout that year they travelled across 12 countries playing capital cities and fan's home towns along the way, with each show booked by the fans themselves. Their first studio album 'The Blighted Apple' was recorded at Toerag studios in London in 2011 and explores a more introspective side of Ryan's writing.
November
The Ryan O'Reilly Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bus in North-East London late last night
It was November and I had so far to go
I was awoken by the aircraft and this melancholic weather
And your distant cracking voice telling me to let this whole thing go
I hear the beating, pounding rhythm of the wristwatch that I wear
I′ve not out-grown adolescence, nor escaped my first grey hair
I asked her how she thinks I'm doing and she said at best just fine
But you′ll never change the world, with your songs or your guitar
There are people half your age, and they're going twice as far
Everybody wants me and I'm tied right down to you
When you finally go under, you know that I′ll drown too
Mid-November moon has been hoisted in the sky
It′s smiling at me crocked as the world goes drifting by
The glowing burning leaves dance to the tune the traffic plays
The wind it murmurs rhythms of what she always says
That you'll never change the world, with your songs or your guitar
There are people half your age, and they′re going twice as far
Everybody wants me and I'm tied right down to you.
When you finally go under, you know that I′ll drown too.
I'm afraid
I went down to the club and the ′buzz-band' were a bore
They were card-board cut-out
Mannequins, singing what I've heard before
It was all so self-aware and all so very now
But the crowd they were ecstatic,
Then they all turned around and screamed
That you′ll never change the world, with your songs or your guitar
There are people half your age, and they′re going twice as far
Everybody wants her but she's tied right down to you
When you finally go under, you know that she′ll drown too
I'm afraid
The Ryan O'Reilly Band's song November depicts the struggles of a musician and his relationship with a woman who seems to be holding him back. The song begins with a dream, where the musician is waiting for a bus in North-East London in November, a gloomy and melancholic time of the year. The aircraft noise and the dreary weather indicate the heaviness and burden the musician is carrying. As the dream ends, the woman's voice tells him to let go of this whole thing, probably referring to his music career.
Throughout the song, the musician's insecurities about his music and his age are evident. He still wears a wristwatch that he had as a teenager and has not outgrown adolescence or escaped his first grey hair. The woman he is with seems to know a band that just got signed and tours all the time, which makes him wonder how he is doing in comparison. However, she tells him that he is at best just fine, which shows that she is not very supportive or encouraging.
The chorus vocalizes the musician's fear that his music and guitar skills may not be enough to change the world or make him successful. He feels that younger people are going twice as far, and he is tied down to the woman. However, he also acknowledges that he is afraid to let go and move on from her.
Overall, the song delves deep into the anxiety and uncertainty that musicians face and how it can affect their relationships. The gloomy November setting and the melancholic melody add to the overall mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I dreamed that I was waiting for a
Bus in North-East London late last night
The singer had a dream where they were waiting for a bus in North-East London.
It was November and I had so far to go
The dream took place in November and the singer had a long journey ahead of them.
I was awoken by the aircraft and this melancholic weather
And your distant cracking voice telling me to let this whole thing go
The singer was awoken from their dream by the sound of airplanes and was reminded of someone who is telling them to let go of something that's been weighing them down.
I hear the beating, pounding rhythm of the wristwatch that I wear
I′ve not out-grown adolescence, nor escaped my first grey hair
The artist can hear the sound of their watch and feels like they haven't quite grown up yet despite having their first grey hair.
She knows this band that just got signed and tour all the time
I asked her how she thinks I'm doing and she said at best just fine
The artist's acquaintance knows a band that recently got signed and tours often. The artist asked for their opinion on their own performance and were told that they're only doing okay.
But you′ll never change the world, with your songs or your guitar
There are people half your age, and they're going twice as far
The singer is being told that they'll never make a significant impact with their music and that there are much younger people who are achieving much more.
Everybody wants me and I'm tied right down to you
When you finally go under, you know that I′ll drown too
The singer feels like they are in a relationship where their partner is holding them back. They believe that if their partner fails, they will fail too.
Mid-November moon has been hoisted in the sky
It′s smiling at me crocked as the world goes drifting by
The glowing burning leaves dance to the tune the traffic plays
The wind it murmurs rhythms of what she always says
The artist is describing the scenery of Mid-November where the moon is visible and looks crooked. The leaves are bright and dancing and the wind whispers words the artist associates with their partner.
I went down to the club and the ′buzz-band' were a bore
They were card-board cut-out
Mannequins, singing what I've heard before
It was all so self-aware and all so very now
But the crowd they were ecstatic,
Then they all turned around and screamed
The artist went to a club where there was a popular band performing. The artist found them to be unoriginal and fake but the rest of the crowd was excited about them.
That you′ll never change the world, with your songs or your guitar
There are people half your age, and they′re going twice as far
Everybody wants her but she's tied right down to you
When you finally go under, you know that she′ll drown too
The artist repeats what they had been told earlier about the insignificance of their music and influence, and the detrimental relationship they're in. They believe that their partner will suffer when they do.
I'm afraid
The singer ends with a simple statement of fear, perhaps indicating the weight of their anxieties and uncertainty expressed throughout the song.
Contributed by Juliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PEELEDLIKEAPIG
Dude your too good to be very popular. The masses are asses! The bright side is your music will be timeless and, everyone here that really enjoys it will still be listening for years to come!
@VoodooPuppet88
Your songs are beautiful, there is something in them making me (and hopefully, many other people) go throughout harsh times :) there is a rare opportunity finding such quality, heart written pieces
@gonzaloquiros8379
I heard this song for the first time in Portobello Road and I bought Live At The Half Moon. It was my favorite. Love this guy's music.
@TheAdidoenyas
Gonzalo Quirós same!
@victortxu8675
Meeee too but i prefer the other version it was more heavy
@Chiu_Baca
Me 2 m8!!! me and my sister became fans
@hovawartfreunde4599
this song brightens up my days. Thank you so much! What a treasure to find
@emilweinhaus6753
One of the best singer-songwriters I have ever heard.
@mattin57
Phantastischer Singer-Songwriter!!! Und ich konnte ihn gestern live erleben. Ganz, ganz großartig!
@mayochan1614
mate, your song changed my life! thanks