Billy Lunn (guitars/vocals), Charlotte Cooper (bass/vocals), Josh Morgan (drums)
They released their second album All Or Nothing on 30th June 2008 and this is preceded by the first single Alright on 16th June 2008. The first track from the album Girls & Boys was given away as a free download from the artist's site.
Beginnings
The Subways, formed in 2003, began at an early age, and currently have an average age of 21. The Subways began by playing Nirvana and punk songs in Billy and Josh's lounge, under the name of Mustardseed. They later changed their name to Platypus, and began to tour small, local venues, such as The Square in Harlow, Essex. An early CD of the band playing live was recorded at The Square which they sold at gigs.
As their reputation grew, Billy in particular became annoyed with all the different names the band were coming up with. He came up with The Subways, apparently from his days hanging out. "One of the few places where I felt I could refuge and find peace in my old town of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England was in a subway under the roads and pavements. I would haunt there in between breaks at work and college." Feeling the most free at that time underneath the rat-race of economic town life, he thought it only appropriate to divulge this "free essence" he felt in that subway to the band, where he felt he could truly escape from the drudgery of everyday life. It was during this time that Billy formed a closer relationship with Charlotte Cooper.
Home recordings
The band released endless demos and EPs in their early days when playing the London circuit in the UK. With every batch of new songs that The Subways would compose, Billy Lunn would insist that the band record them. However, at such a young age the group had no money with which to go into a studio to record consistently with, so they came upon the idea of buying their own cheap recording system at home. Eventually, the band had their own website, http://www.thesubways.net, which Billy Lunn himself constructed and maintained, where they would put all their new songs up on the internet. Also, through the use of their own home recording system they now had roughly 8 demo's worth of songs both on the internet and being sent out to local and London promotors at various venues. The Subways then began touring in the local and London area.
Having the home recording system also proved useful for production. The band felt that it would not only benefit themselves, but other local bands who could not afford the studio prices, even in the Welwyn Garden City area. It was here, that Billy and Charlotte both stumbled upon the opportunity that would eventually prove significant for the band. "I was producing a local Welwyn Garden City band in my front lounge one day and I noticed that it was quite good so I asked if they were going to send it to any London venues, because I knew a few that would like it. They said that they were going to send it off to Michael Eavis who runs Glastonbury, and I asked why..." Michael Eavis that year was running an unsigned bands competition to play on the Other Stage, and The Subways decided that would be a great idea. "It was really just another address to send one of our CD's off to. All we wanted was to play shows and this was another great opportunity. The CD we sent off to Michael Eavis was literally one among a bunch of 30 that were being sent out to London promoters for a load of gigs we wanted to book. "We never expected the phonecall saying that we'd won and were to play Glastonbury," said Cooper on radio.
Progression
After Glastonbury, The Subways went on to play The Carling Weekend 2004 in both Reading and Leeds, and then proceeded to play their very first (self funded) tour of the UK consisting of 35 dates.
The late John Peel was the first DJ to play single "1am" on National Radio.
The band signed to City Pavement & Infectious Records in late 2004. Their first album, Young For Eternity, which was released on the 4 July 2005, was produced by Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie, with their debut single "Oh Yeah" reaching number 25 in the UK Music Chart in its release week 21 March 2005.
They also appeared in the 7th episode of the third season of American drama The OC, performing "Rock & Roll Queen" and "Oh Yeah" at the show's fictional nightclub The Bait Shop. Also featured on this episode was the song "I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say".
Some of their tracks, such as "She Sun" and "Rock & Roll Queen", are now being used on television adverts for Rimmel cosmetics featuring British supermodel Kate Moss.
The band postponed touring in April 2006 because Billy had nodules on his vocal chords. They played a "secret" gig in The Green Room in their home town of Welwyn Garden City on Friday June 16, under the alias of The Audrey Hepburns and also as support for the Foo Fighters in Manchester at the Lancashire County Cricket Ground on Sunday June 18, and have recently returned to touring, with Billy expected to make a full recovery.
In the summer of 2006 the band were opening for the co-headlining tour across North America for Taking Back Sunday and Angels & Airwaves.
On June 22, the band performed on the late night talk show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
On August 4, they performed at Lollapalooza.
The next day, August 5, they performed at Street Scene in San Diego.
On August 7, they appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
On August 25, they returned to Reading and Leeds Festivals, this time on the main stage.
On the 10th of August 2007, they played at the Ripcurl Boardmasters Unleashed festival in Newquay with bands such as Funeral For A Friend and Ash
All Or Nothing
The Subways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To reach the end only to start again
My friends say get a clue
It's just something we all go though
Oh Lord!
Avoiding luck was something more to prove
I'd like an option but I hate to choose
Oh Allah!
So sad
The way we hold our heads in hands
Regrets
Are old excuses to be bad
These days its all or nothing now
And I can't go on thinking of how
Things change
And now there getting strange
Want to be good, want you to see me shine
I'd make you proud if you give me the time
But what's a boy to do?
When there's nothing left to loose
Genesha!
So sad
The way we hold our heads in hands
Regrets
Are old excuses to be bad
These days its all or nothing now
And I can't go on thinking of how
Things change
And now there getting strange
Climb down from your high horse
Worse happens in cold wars
Don't think that I don't see you
Watching me as I watch you
Mistaken for something
Much smarter then I am
Don't think I don't see you
Watching me as I watch you
Fall out of love only to fall back in
To reach the end only to start again
But what's a boy to do?
When there's nothing left to loose?
The Subways' song “All Or Nothing” is a track that reflects on the theme of lost love and moving on. The lyrics describe the experience of falling out of love only to find oneself back in the same situation again, a cycle that keeps repeating itself. The singer bemoans the fact that his friends tell him that this is something that everyone goes through, suggesting that it's a universal experience.
The lyricist speaks of the desire to avoid luck, trying to prove something more than the ordinary. The singer feels like he wants an option but hates making choices. The singer laments that those days are dead and gone, which suggests acceptance and perhaps even growth from the experience. The phrase 'All or Nothing' becomes meaningful as the singer describes how it's crucial to take a decisive approach to life instead of simply going with the flow, and that the time for making excuses and harboring regrets is over.
The chorus sees the singer accepting that it's essential to either go big or go home and how the present moment is a time for change, something that's getting strange around him. He wants to be better, someone who is seen to shine, and wants to make those around him proud. However, there's a sense of resignation that one feels when they have nothing left to lose.
Line by Line Meaning
Fall out of love only to fall back in
Experience the ups and downs of love, going from loving to not loving and then loving again
To reach the end only to start again
Reach the end of one experience and then start anew
My friends say get a clue
My friends advise me to gain insight or understanding
It's just something we all go though
It's a common experience that everyone goes through
Oh Lord!
Exclamation expressing frustration or disbelief
Avoiding luck was something more to prove
Avoiding taking chances was done to prove something
I'd like an option but I hate to choose
I want a choice but I find making choices difficult
But those days are dead and gone and it's time we all move on
The past is behind us and it's time to move forward
Oh Allah!
Exclamation expressing frustration or disbelief
So sad
Expressing sadness or disappointment
The way we hold our heads in hands
The physical manifestation of sadness or disappointment
Regrets
Feeling sorry for past actions or missed opportunities
Are old excuses to be bad
Using past regrets as an excuse to continue making bad choices
These days it's all or nothing now
In current times, taking risks and going all in is necessary
And I can't go on thinking of how
I cannot continue dwelling on the past
Things change
Everything is constantly changing
And now they're getting strange
The changes are becoming strange or unexpected
Want to be good, want you to see me shine
Desire to be a good person and impress someone
I'd make you proud if you give me the time
I would earn your respect if you give me a chance
But what's a boy to do?
What options does a person have?
When there's nothing left to lose
When there is no risk, as everything has already been lost
Genesha!
Exclamation invoking the Hindu goddess of success and enlightenment
Climb down from your high horse
Stop acting arrogantly or condescendingly
Worse happens in cold wars
There are worse things that can happen in situations where there is no open conflict
Don't think that I don't see you
I am aware of your actions, despite what you may think
Watching me as I watch you
We are both observing each other
Mistaken for something
Thought to be something that I am not
Much smarter than I am
Thought to be more intelligent than I actually am
Fall out of love only to fall back in
Experience the ups and downs of love, going from loving to not loving and then loving again
To reach the end only to start again
Reach the end of one experience and then start anew
But what's a boy to do?
What options does a person have?
When there's nothing left to lose?
When there is no risk, as everything has already been lost
Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donfierro777
So underated!!!!!
@mongmong208
I'm in love with this song!
@xxhardforcorexx1231
This reminds me vaguely of Jesus Of Suburbia.
@Drifterseries
Dont you forget your roots, boys and girls... All or nothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUuuHLaSLR0