Anderson also had this to say about the renewed partnership with Bernard Butler: “For years and years after Bernard left Suede it was me running the show, but now the stakes are raised. I feel like we are duelling with each other, in some kind of friendly competition. When we were at our best it was always like that, each trying to better each other.”
The band played their first ever live show on December 14, 2004 at the Oxford Zodiac. Things went as expected for the "new" band, and most new songs were received well by those attending the first set of shows. When asked during a concert by a fan to play the famous Suede song, The Drowners, Anderson replied saying, "Did somebody say they want us to play The Drowners? They came to the wrong gig".
Apart from relatively minor reviews of the first clutch of live shows, The Tears first press, a review of Refugees, interview with Anderson and a poster(!)was in The Sun on 15 April. The next major article was by Alex Petridis in The Guardian, which ended on an extremely optimistic note: "the pair seem artistically reinvigorated by each other's company. Anderson talks excitedly of Tears songs like the ballad Asylum, inspired by his father's struggle with depression, as having moved away from "Suede cliches or Brett Anderson cliches ... it's not, you know, opiated fop territory". There's even a hint of the old provocative flash and arrogance when talk turns to the future: Here Comes the Tears feels like a debut. It will be massively bettered. On this at least there's no hint of disagreement. "This album's like rocking the boat a bit. There's been a few splashes," nods Butler. "Next time, I want to get rid of the sails and see what happens."
From the start, Anderson and Butler were very insistent that the band would not be playing any songs by Suede. Things would change over time, however, as the band ended up playing a b-side of Suede's titled The Living Dead to an enthusiastic reception, during an encore for their show at the Sheffield Leadmill in April. On April 25, 2005, the band's first single, Refugees, was released. The single was very much a success and jumped into the top ten singles chart at number nine.
The band's debut album, Here Come The Tears followed on June 6, 2005. It was released to stellar reviews that helped solidify the duo's comeback, yet it failed to crack the top 10. In late June, the band played a set at the John Peel stage at the Glastonbury Festival. The second single from the debut album, entitled Lovers, was released on June 27. Though a significantly lower charting than the previous single, it still managed a decent spot in the top 25.
More than a month later, singer Anderson announced that he would release his long awaited solo album in between the touring and the release of the band's follow up album. After playing a few festivals and international gigs, the band announced a European tour with dates in October and November. However, to the disappointment of many fans, they later cancelled the tour in favour of beginning work on their second album. Shortly after, the band were dropped from their label most likely due to insufficient touring or low sales.
In late April of 2006, Anderson posted a message on the band's message board announcing the band were on temporary hiatus because "no one ever wanted this thing to get caught up within the drudgery of the whole tour/record/tour cycle anyway". In addition, he announced that he had completed his debut solo album and that it would see light in early 2007, hinting that the second Tears record would most likely come after that, if at all.
By the end of August 2006, their website and forum are officially closed, leaving dimmer hope for the future of the band.
In September of 2006 Butler posted on his website: ".....actually tears are the same as ever....i guess coming from the suede trajectory it would look odd to make a record and not stick to the brand name plugging away endlessly at one thing....but if you take my shocking career line over 12 years its just par for the course....im on top of the world working constantly on terrific records from 1990's the mescalitas on offs, and soon we will be making the Duffy record ....
yes i always loved more than i thought"
Branded
The Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you know I was a threat
I might even be a killer
But they ain't pushed me that far yet
I've been branded, branded
I wear the mark of the slave on my head
Branded, branded
Branded, branded
I bear the scars of the lash on my back
Branded, branded
I've had enough and now I'm gonna fight back
Gonna fight back
Did you know I was a rebel
Yes I've always been one out
And though they tried so hard to kill me
You will always hear me shout
I've been branded, branded
I wear the mark of the slave on my head
Branded, branded
I know the feeling of the yoke on my neck
Branded, branded
I bear the scars of the lash on my back
Branded, branded
I've had enough and now I'm gonna fight back
Because I need to fight back
Yes fight back
Did you know I was a danger
Did you know I was a threat
I might even be a killer
But they ain't pushed me that far yet
Did you know I was a rebel
Yes I've always been one out
And though they tried so hard to kill me
You will always hear me shout
'Cause I've been branded, branded
I wear the mark of the slave on my head
Branded, branded
I know the feeling of the yoke on my neck
Branded, branded
I bear the scars of the lash on my back
Branded, branded
I've had enough, I'm gonna fight back
I'm gonna fight back
Yes, 'cause they branded me
They hunted me like an animal
They branded me a slave
They invaded my home
They put a yoke around my neck
They made me work they beat me
Like an animal
They made me, they made me want to kill
Just to be free
They beat me, they took away my freedom
They took away my dignity
They tried to destroy my soul by breakin' my heart
They tried to change what I believed
By breakin' my very will to live
Drove me, they hounded me
I was beaten, I was driven
I was thrown in jail for the things that I said
I got a million thoughts runnin' in my head
I got a million words, that my mouth has just got to say
I gotta speak out, I gotta speak out
I'm gonna reach out and touch your heart
Before they tear us, tear us apart
I gotta tell you about the lies
I think I know why you cry
The Tears' song Branded is a powerful message about oppression, struggle, and the human spirit of resistance. The song speaks directly to the experience of being subjugated, enslaved, and beaten down by a system or authority, with lyrics that describe the feeling of being marked and branded like cattle. The chorus of the song repeats the word "branded" four times, emphasizing the weight and permanence of the mark that the singer carries on their body and in their heart.
The lyrics of the song alternate between two themes: the first is a defiant proclamation of identity, where the singer asserts their rebel spirit and their determination to fight back against their oppressors. This is reflected in lines like "Did you know I was a rebel / Yes I’ve always been one out." The second theme is more despairing and describes the pain and trauma of being abused, violated, and mistreated: "They made me work, they beat me / Like an animal." Despite the depiction of intense suffering, the song never loses its focus on the resilience of the human spirit, and the possibility of hope and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Overall, Branded is a song that speaks truth to power and highlights the experience of those who have been oppressed or marginalized. It acknowledges the reality of trauma and pain, but also encourages listeners to resist and fight back against those who try to dominate and control them.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you know I was a danger
I am a potential threat to society
Did you know I was a threat
I pose a risk to those around me
I might even be a killer
I have the potential to take someone's life
But they ain't pushed me that far yet
No one has caused me to act out on my dangerous tendencies
I've been branded, branded
I have been marked as a slave
I wear the mark of the slave on my head
The mark of oppression is visible on me
Branded, branded
I cannot escape this mark
I know the feeling of the yoke on my neck
I have experienced the weight of oppression holding me down
I bear the scars of the lash on my back
The physical and emotional wounds of slavery are still visible on me
I've had enough and now I'm gonna fight back
I am ready to take action against my oppressors
Gonna fight back
I will not stand for this treatment any longer
Did you know I was a rebel
I have always gone against the norm
Yes I've always been one out
I am different from those around me
And though they tried so hard to kill me
The system has attempted to silence me
You will always hear me shout
I will not be silenced
'Cause I've been branded, branded
The mark of oppression has been burned into my identity
Because I need to fight back
I must take action for my own liberation
They hunted me like an animal
I have been treated no better than a beast
They branded me a slave
My identity has been stripped and replaced with one of subservience
They invaded my home
My space and autonomy have been disregarded
They put a yoke around my neck
The weight of oppression has held me back
They made me work they beat me
The system has forced me into labor and used physical violence against me
Like an animal
I have been treated with as little regard as a creature
They made me, they made me want to kill
The effects of oppression have caused me to feel violent urges against my oppressors
Just to be free
My fight for liberation is worth risking my own life
They beat me, they took away my freedom
I have been physically and mentally restricted by my oppressors
They took away my dignity
The act of oppression has stripped me of my inherent worthiness
They tried to destroy my soul by breakin' my heart
The system has attempted to dismantle my very being through emotional manipulation
They tried to change what I believed
The oppressors have attempted to alter my fundamental values and beliefs
By breakin' my very will to live
They have tried to crush my spirit and motivation to continue fighting
I gotta speak out, I gotta speak out
I must use my voice to fight against oppression
I'm gonna reach out and touch your heart
I will use my message to connect with others on an emotional level
Before they tear us, tear us apart
We must unite against oppression before it destroys us completely
I gotta tell you about the lies
I must expose the falsehoods perpetuated by the system
I think I know why you cry
I understand the pain caused by oppression and seek to offer a solution
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH BUTLER, BRETT ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind