They started as an electronic dance music project in 2003 in Berlin, but have since slowly developed into a band with no programmed elements. Their German record label is Bubbles. Their debut album Dreams was released on June 21, 2006 in Germany. In July 2007, Modular Records signed them to their UK imprint and the band played their first UK performance with New Young Pony Club at the London Astoria in September 2007. The album was released in the UK with the single Burning in November 2007. The Band released their second album, Rules, in March 2009. It was recorded in a newly built studio located on Punta Burros, Nayarit, Mexico.
Their single "1517" was also featured in the soundtrack of the video-game FIFA 10.
The band started The Whitest Boy Alive + The New Wine tour in April, 2009, visiting Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. In 2011 the band travelled to China with promoters Split Works.
In June 2014, the band announced via their Facebook page that they "are no longer composing or playing together as The Whitest Boy Alive."
They reactivated in 2019.
1517
The Whitest Boy Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't end this now.
Hey, you, we just got started,
You can't end this now.
You've paid your dues, you're free,
Of what are you afraid?
You've paid your dues, you're free,
Of what are you afraid?
Taking on responsibility knowing it will weigh you down
Freedom is a possibility only if you're able to say no
People in northern Europe since medieval times,
We find it hard to deal with when our dreams come true
As if happiness exists in the world at a fixed amount,
And if you feel up, somebody somewhere else feels down
Taking on responsibility knowing it will weigh you down
Freedom is a possibility only if you're able to say no
Taking on responsibility knowing it will weigh you down
Freedom is a possibility only if you're able to say no
The Whitest Boy Alive's song "1517" tells a tale of responsibility, fear, and freedom. The repeated phrase "Hey, you, we just got started, you can't end this now" suggests that the singer is encouraging someone not to give up on something they've just begun. This is followed by the lines, "You've paid your dues, you're free, of what are you afraid?" which could be interpreted as a reassurance that the person has already worked hard and accomplished something, so there's no reason to be afraid of moving forward. However, the final verse shifts the focus to a larger societal issue. The lines "People in northern Europe since medieval times, we find it hard to deal with when our dreams come true. As if happiness exists in the world at a fixed amount, and if you feel up, somebody somewhere else feels down" allude to the idea that people in wealthy countries may struggle to fully appreciate their good fortune because they worry about taking away from someone else. This is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and the need to consider the impact of our actions on others.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, you, we just got started,
Don't give up now, we've barely begun.
You can't end this now.
You can't quit before we've even had a chance to succeed.
You've paid your dues, you're free,
You've fulfilled your obligations and now you're free to pursue your dreams.
Of what are you afraid?
Don't let fear hold you back from achieving your goals.
Taking on responsibility knowing it will weigh you down
Accepting responsibility comes with its own burden.
Freedom is a possibility only if you're able to say no
True freedom means being able to say 'no' to things that don't align with your goals.
People in northern Europe since medieval times,
Since medieval times, people in northern Europe have struggled with the concept of happiness.
We find it hard to deal with when our dreams come true
Sometimes it's difficult to accept when things go our way.
As if happiness exists in the world at a fixed amount,
We often view happiness as a scarce resource that can only be divvied up among a limited number of people.
And if you feel up, somebody somewhere else feels down
We might feel guilty or selfish for experiencing happiness when we know others are struggling.
Taking on responsibility knowing it will weigh you down
Again, accepting responsibility is not always easy, but it's necessary for growth.
Freedom is a possibility only if you're able to say no
Reiterating the idea that true freedom is the ability to choose your own path and say 'no' to things that don't align with that path.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL NENTWIG, ERLEND OTRE OEYE, MARCIN TADEUSZ OEZ, SEBASTIAN MASCHAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind