The West Exit began in the spring of 2003 as the studio project of Kevin Jenkins, a vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist residing in Seattle, Washington. His previous musical affiliations include the bands Greg, Dim at Asia, Otis P & the Jivefunk, La Push, and Emblematic.
The West Exit's first album, Nocturne, was released in February 2004. In addition to steady local and online sales, the album has received extensive podcast exposure. The West Exit's music has also appeared in independent films and on several commercial websites and promotional media.
In the spring of 2004, a group was formed to take the music to the stage. Jenkins recruited his perpetual band mate Timothy Harper along with Nocturne contributors Shane Smith and Dave Billin for the task. Harper, a drummer and percussionist, had worked with Jenkins in live bands and studio projects since 1995. Smith provided his bass guitar talents to the album as well as the live band. Billin lent his sound design and engineering skills to the studio sessions and added his keyboard and vocal abilities to the stage show.
After a year and a half of performing in Northwest clubs and bars, Jenkins put the live show on hiatus and headed back into the studio to begin work on a new album. He retained the services of bassist Shane Smith for the recording sessions and in November 2006, The West Exit's second album, Modern Interiors, was completed. It became available for download in early 2007.
Jenkins and Smith reunited in the fall of 2008 to record The West Exit's third album, Extra Century Perception. Seattle guitarist RL Heyer lent his talents to the album as well. The new record continues in their vein of smooth, soulful electro-pop. But the stylistic elements have become more magnified and mature, with bigger beats, soaring melodies, thick harmonies, and more addictive hooks that will get your body moving. Extra Century Perception was released in November 2009.
Calico
The West Exit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Messing up my good times
There's nowhere to hide
Just floating through my whole life
No matter what I do
I come undone
She could be the first one
A falling out
Isn't this what love is all about
Where you at?
Girl I want you back
In my life, in my bed all night
And everyday
Got no words to say
This is all because of you
And I wanted more from you
'Cause my world is falling through
And I'm all alone inside
When I try to survive without you
Such a waste of time
Drown myself in red wine
When the sun won't shine
I fall apart
Only she can save my broken heart
Where you at?
Girl I want you back
In my life, in my bed all night
And everyday
Got no words to say
This is all because of you
And I wanted more from you
'Cause my world is falling through
And I'm all alone inside
When I try to survive without you
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
And I wanted more from you
(Baby you know it's all right)
'Cause my world is falling through
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
And I'm all alone inside
(Baby you know when I try to survive without you)
When I try to survive without you
She's on my mind
Messing up my good times
Just floating through my whole life
No matter what I do
This is all because of you
And I wanted more from you
'Cause my world is falling through
And I'm all alone inside
When I try to survive without you
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
And I wanted more from you
(Baby you know it's all right)
'Cause my world is falling through
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
And I'm all alone inside
(Baby you know when I try to survive without you)
When I try to survive without you
The West Exit's song "Calico" is a melancholic tune about heartache and missing someone you love. The singer sings of someone who is constantly on their mind, messing up their good times and causing them to feel lost and adrift. Despite trying to move on, they cannot escape their feelings for this person, believing that they could be the first one to make them believe in love.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses their pain and loneliness, reaching for the one who has broken their heart. They feel a sense of desperation and urgency, wanting this person back in their life and their bed. The lyrics speak to the universal experience of heartbreak and the pain that comes with trying to move on.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's desperation to have this person back in their life. They feel that their world is falling apart without them and that they are all alone when they try to survive without them. This person has become an integral part of their life and their absence has left a void that cannot be filled by anyone else.
Overall, "Calico" is a heartfelt and emotional song about the pain of heartbreak and the longing for love. The lyrics capture the raw emotions of love and loss, making it a relatable and cathartic experience for anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
She's on my mind
The person the singer is addressing is constantly on his mind, occupying his thoughts and disrupting his peace.
Messing up my good times
The person he's addressing is interfering with his ability to enjoy himself and have fun.
There's nowhere to hide
There's no escaping the person he's addressing; they're always on his mind and affecting his life in some way.
Just floating through my whole life
The person he's addressing seems to be a constant presence in the singer's life, even though they may not necessarily be physically present.
No matter what I do
The singer has tried various strategies to get the person off his mind, but nothing seems to work.
I come undone
The person he's addressing makes the singer feel like he's losing control and falling apart emotionally.
She could be the first one
Although the singer claims he doesn't believe in love, he's open to the idea that this person could be the first person he falls in love with.
But I don't believe in love
The singer doesn't want to admit to himself or to the person he's addressing that he has feelings for her.
A falling out
The singer implies that he and the person he's addressing might have had a previous disagreement or fight.
Isn't this what love is all about
Despite the disagreement, the singer thinks that conflict is an inherent part of love and that they might belong together.
Where you at?
The singer is wondering where the person he's addressing is physically located at the moment.
Girl I want you back
The singer misses the person he's addressing and wants to be with her again.
In my life, in my bed all night
The singer wants the person he's addressing to be a permanent part of his life, including sleeping in his bed every night.
And everyday
The singer wants the person he's addressing to be present in his life every day.
Got no words to say
The singer doesn't have words to adequately express how much he wants this person in his life.
This is all because of you
The singer attributes his feelings of love and longing to the person he's addressing.
And I wanted more from you
The singer wanted a deeper connection with the person he's addressing than what they currently have.
'Cause my world is falling through
The singer's life feels like it's crumbling apart without the person he's addressing in it.
And I'm all alone inside
The singer feels emotionally isolated and empty without the person he's addressing.
When I try to survive without you
The singer feels like he's struggling to get through life when the person he's addressing isn't there to support him.
Such a waste of time
The singer feels like he's wasting his life without the person he's addressing.
Drown myself in red wine
The singer sometimes tries to numb his emotions with alcohol when he's missing the person he's addressing too much.
When the sun won't shine
The singer turns to alcohol when he's feeling particularly low and the world doesn't seem to offer him any light.
I fall apart
The singer feels like he's losing his grip on himself when he can't be with the person he's addressing.
Only she can save my broken heart
The singer believes that his heart is broken and that only the person he's addressing can mend it.
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
The singer lets the person he's addressing know that he's leaving for the night, but will still be thinking about her.
(Baby you know it's all right)
The singer reassures the person he's addressing that their separation is only temporary and that everything will be okay.
(Baby you know I'm gone tonight)
The singer reminds the person he's addressing that even though he's physically gone, he's still emotionally invested in their relationship.
(Baby you know when I try to survive without you)
The singer struggles to function without the person he's addressing by his side.
Contributed by Aaron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@grimstar3270
Such an underrated group...
@evol4674
well I'm pretty sure they aren't together anymore haha
@Coraspect
John, I have tried to reach you by every means I can think of. If you ever check this, I was hoping I could talk to you about these albums. I've always thought these albums, with the right engineer, would shine on vinyl. I found your music while checking the then-existing Ubuntu music store. I'm pretty easy to locate, especially if you have Twitter. These albums have meant a lot to me and have gotten me through some tough times. They feel like old friends.
@jwf3148
oooooooooooooooooooo.................
@Ezio360472
A random comment too.
@XxZwiego89xX
Each 2 month a comment ;)
@familymoney805
2nd comment. And this video is low commentated