Born of a series of sleepless nights and countless songs in late 2001, Andrew Paley, Adam Meilleur, and other members began playing local shows under the name The Static Age in Burlington, Vermont in 2002. Not even a band for a full six months, the band self-released the full-length demo The Cost Of Living which quickly sold out of its first pressing and was picked up by a Boston-based indie, who ended up selling over 2,000 more copies in 2003. A buzz had started in New England and The Static Age soon found themselves playing with such artists as Hot Hot Heat and Interpol. From the strength of their first recording, they were chosen by AFI to open their Canadian tour. Also around this time, the band took time out to record The Past and Now single with Kurt Ballou of Converge.
The result of all this momentum was the band's proper debut full-length Neon Nights Electric Lives, produced by Matt Squire, which saw a tour-only release in late 2004, but a fully-distributed release on the art-centric Tarantulas Records in 2005. The critically-acclaimed album also boasted bonus remixes by Jade Puget of AFI and Daz of The Explosion. The Static Age's momentum could not be stopped even when their drummer bowed out of the band's rigorous touring schedule in the last half of 2005 -- Coby Linder of Say Anything filled in for the band on multiple tours into the fall.
Following up on Neon Nights Electric Lives and a year in the van, the band spent a good deal of early 2006 working on a new record (in between a few shorter tours). The result was Blank Screens, out on ReIgnition Recordings. After the album's release, Carlson joined up with the band for the subsequent tours on guitar. Blank Screens garnered high praise from critics and fans alike, and the band hit the road again, spending over half of 2007 on tour with the likes of Tiger Army, Street Dogs, Theo and the Skyscrapers, and others.
Currently, The Static Age is writing and demoing towards its next release, while releasing a series of videos built around the themes explored on the "Blank Screens" record. The trilogy of videos complement the "Cherry Red" video (released to MTV/Fuse, etc in 2006) and are being released only online. A new episode debuts every month at SeventeenScratches.com.
*Bio taken directly from thestaticage.com. For more information visit thestaticage.com or
myspace.com/thestaticage.
It Never Seems To Last
The Static Age Lyrics
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as they start to fall
it's in these seconds
that she swears you can't hear much at all
it never seems to last
in this warm wet rain
and with this sense of rapture
i would only lose my head
it never seems to last
so put on sunday shoes
dance the breakdown
so put on sunday shoes
come on dance the breakdown
and here we find ourselves in motion
on and off again
so lose the dead weight darling
it's everything you've never been
it never seems to last
if i could get this close to open hands
like open flames
then i might find myself in
different faces, different names
it never seems to last
so put on sunday shoes
dance the breakdown
so put on sunday shoes
come on dance the breakdown
madeline
in pictures by the sea
it's always there
it's always wrong
laugh
but it'll get you
wait and see
The lyrics to the song "It Never Seems To Last" by The Static Age play with the idea of transience and the fleeting nature of experiences. The opening lines suggest the impermanence of everything and how things can rise and fall in just a matter of seconds. The singer then introduces the image of warm, wet rain and a sense of rapture, but claims that it never seems to last. The feeling of loss is palpable throughout the song, and the lyrics describe a sense of being in motion, constantly on and off again, with the invitation to lose the dead weight and everything you've never been.
The chorus tells us to put on Sunday shoes and dance the breakdown, which might be interpreted as a way of coping with life's fragility and the fact that nothing ever seems to last. The last stanza introduces the character of Madeline, and suggests that she is always there and always wrong. The final line, "laugh but it'll get you, wait and see," is cryptic but suggests that humor and levity might be the antidote to the melancholy and loss that permeates the song.
Overall, "It Never Seems To Last" is a beautiful meditation on the human experience of impermanence, loss, and the ephemeral nature of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In a moment buildings rise up
The world can change very quickly and unexpectedly, just like how buildings can appear and disappear in an instant.
as they start to fall
Things that seem stable and strong can crumble and collapse just as quickly.
it's in these seconds
The smallest amount of time can have a huge impact on our lives.
that she swears you can't hear much at all
During times of chaos and turmoil, it can be hard to make sense of the world around you.
it never seems to last
The good times are fleeting and don't stick around for long.
in this warm wet rain
The singer is experiencing a moment of emotional intensity, perhaps sadness or joy.
i come around again
The singer is going through a cycle of emotions or experiences that keep repeating.
and with this sense of rapture
The artist is overcome with intense feelings of excitement or joy.
i would only lose my head
The artist recognizes that their emotions are so strong that they could lose control or do something irrational.
so put on Sunday shoes
The artist is urging the listener to embrace the moment and do something special, like dancing in their best clothes.
dance the breakdown
The singer is encouraging the listener to let loose and embrace the chaos and uncertainty of life.
and here we find ourselves in motion
We are always moving forward, even when it feels like life is at a standstill or going backwards.
on and off again
Life is full of ups and downs, where things are going well one moment and then falling apart the next.
so lose the dead weight darling
The singer is urging the listener to let go of whatever is holding them back, whether it's a person, a habit, or a fear.
it's everything you've never been
By shedding their old life and habits, the listener can become a new and better version of themselves.
if i could get this close to open hands
The artist is yearning for something they feel is just out of reach, like an opportunity or a new experience.
like open flames
The artist is drawn to something that is dangerous or uncertain, like a flame that could easily burn them.
then i might find myself in
The singer believes that if they take a risk and reach for what they want, they might have a chance at finding fulfillment.
different faces, different names
The singer imagines a future where they have new experiences and meet new people.
in pictures by the sea
The artist is remembering something from the past, perhaps a happy memory or a person they miss.
it's always there
Even though the memory is in the past, it still feels vivid and present to the artist.
it's always wrong
Despite the happy memory, there is a sense of pain or sadness associated with it.
laugh
The singer acknowledges the absurdity of life and the things we go through.
but it'll get you
Despite the hardships, the artist believes that it's worth it to keep going and experience all that life has to offer.
wait and see
The singer is optimistic about the future and believes that good things are on the way.
Contributed by Liam C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.