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.
The Morning
The Ryan O'Reilly Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The children dance on the promenade
You′re drowning in Vodka and Lemonade
You hold to me when you are afraid
I met you in the dinner hall
I was dressed like a soldier, smart and tall
You in your dress against the wall
So goodnight I'll see you in the morning
The lights went off without any warning
It was dark on the stairs
I started falling
Goodnight my love I will see you in the morning
The road home's blocked for miles each way
The money I owe is more than I can pay
I didn′t talk to nobody today
Now I′ve forgot what I wanted to say
She's scared of the angels that fly overhead
She′s hiding from them under my bed
She hasn't understood a word I′ve said
Her lips now they quiver, her eyes they turn red
So goodnight I'll see you in the morning
The lights went off without any warning
It was dark on the stairs
I started falling
Goodnight my love I will see you in the morning
The Ryan O'Reilly Band's "The Morning" opens with the image of life-boats of sunshine in oceans of shade, which paints a contrast between light and darkness. The children dance on the promenade and the person being addressed is drowning in vodka and lemonade, indicating a level of escapism. They hold on to the singer when they are afraid, which suggests a relationship or connection. The second verse then reveals the circumstances under which the singer met the person being addressed in the dinner hall. The singer was dressed smartly like a soldier while the person being addressed was dressed in a dress against the wall. The person being addressed then tells the singer that 'this is not what I wanted at all′, which is ambiguous as it is unclear what they were referring to.
The chorus is repeated twice, and the second time is slightly different, saying that the person will be seen in the morning. The lights suddenly went off without any warning, causing the singer to fall in the darkness on the stairs. The bridge then includes the image of a blocked road home and the singer's debt, causing them to feel trapped and unable to communicate with anyone. The final verse then shifts back to the person being addressed, who is scared of the angels flying overhead and hiding under the singer's bed. They haven't understood anything that the singer has said, and their eyes turn red and their lips quiver.
Overall, "The Morning" by The Ryan O'Reilly Band explores themes of escapism, connection, and communication in a relationship against a backdrop of light and darkness. The lyrics are open to interpretation, leaving the listener to fill in the gaps and make sense of the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Life-boats of sunshine in oceans of shade
There are bright spots in dark times
The children dance on the promenade
Despite the difficulties, there are still moments of joy
You're drowning in Vodka and Lemonade
You're relying on alcohol to cope with your problems
You hold to me when you are afraid
You seek comfort and support from me when you're scared
I met you in the dinner hall
We first encountered each other in a communal setting
I was dressed like a soldier, smart and tall
I presented myself as put-together and confident
You in your dress against the wall
You seemed uncomfortable and out of place
Said 'this is not what I wanted at all′
You expressed disappointment or regret
So goodnight I'll see you in the morning
We part ways for the night, but expect to see each other again soon
The lights went off without any warning
An unexpected event occurred, leaving us in the dark
It was dark on the stairs
The lack of light made it difficult to navigate the staircase
I started falling
I lost my footing and began to stumble or trip
Goodnight my love I will see you in the morning
We say goodnight and plan to reunite once more
The road home's blocked for miles each way
There are obstacles preventing us from reaching our destination
The money I owe is more than I can pay
I am experiencing financial difficulties and cannot fulfill my obligations
I didn't talk to nobody today
I didn't have any conversations with others
Now I've forgot what I wanted to say
I can't remember what I originally intended to communicate
She's scared of the angels that fly overhead
She is frightened by the things she cannot control
She's hiding from them under my bed
She feels safer seeking refuge with me
She hasn't understood a word I've said
She is struggling to comprehend my message or perspective
Her lips now they quiver, her eyes they turn red
She is on the verge of tears and visibly upset
Contributed by Caleb O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LadyNuman
With Tyler Kyte, of course!!!!
@Twangdoodle
One of my Desert Island Discs
@MsCathydom
Magnifique j'aime beaucoup ...Dom ♫
@TroutFarmer-
5'3"