In the sleepy town of Beth Page, New Jersey, THE XCERTS may as well have been The Beatles – British AND in a band?! It's true what they say: Americans LOVE that kind of thing.
Staying in a dorm-like hotel room with a cosy kitchenette for two weeks and recording in a basement studio, The Xcerts' second album had been coming together for around nine months. But a mere four weeks had passed since the band found out they'd be recording it with the mighty Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy).
Their debut, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile', was recorded with Dave Eringa (Idlewild – '100 Broken Windows') in Wales, and secured the band supports with Funeral For A Friend, My Vitriol, Fightstar, Feeder and Idlewild, and was greeted as warmly by indie-pop fans as fans of heavy rock. Labeling themselves 'distorted pop', they had a combination of sweetness and angst akin to a colder, darker, cosier Jimmy Eat World. This time around, though, The Xcerts are a much more ferocious beast – and they're happy to admit that not everyone's going to like it.
“If we didn't sound different, I'd be worried,” frontman Murray Macleod explains. The first album was – as for most new bands – something of a 'greatest hits' from the band's early years, when they were still finding their feet. This time, the album was almost entirely written in a six-week break between tours and as a result paints a much more vibrant picture; a single body of work that makes sense; a proper album that it would seem blasphemous to shuffle.
The influences have changed too. “There are certain records that we're all really in to that have a similar sound – a balance of raw emotion and good production. ‘In Utero’ by Nirvana, ‘Pinkerton’ by Weezer, 'Either/Or' by Elliot Smith, ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me’ by Brand New, ‘Nebraska’ by Bruce Springsteen and ‘For Emma Forever Ago’ by Bon Iver. That's pretty much exactly how we wanted this record to sound.”
The result is something certainly more akin to the louder of the aforementioned bands. In fact, The Xcerts had to cancel shows scheduled for the week of their return from NY on account of Murray having screamed his throat to pieces in the studio. There are quieter, more tender moments – which 'Aberdeen 1987' from the first album showed they can do brilliantly – but this record is no soft touch. And the Springsteen curveball comes in to play on the big sing-along chorus of 'Belane' – a song that miraculously makes sense on an otherwise unconventional record.
“There's a lot of experimentation on this album,” says Macleod, who credits Sapone for encouraging and cultivating the creative process. “He came up with crazy ideas, and watching him come out with them, I didn't feel worried about throwing an idea into the hat. It was almost like Mike was the fourth member of the band – there's parts that would never happened, had we not worked with Mike.”
Lead single, 'Slackerpop' is a prime example. The original demo was a mere ninety seconds long until Sapone insisted The Xcerts “find the middle eight”. What they found was an intense and unforgiving middle eight that makes the song.
“We'll be more suited for a slightly heavier bill now,” Murray says, unsure of where exactly 'Scatterbrain' fits in the current musical landscape. “It's really 90s influenced, but Mike's made it a really forward thinking album, which is something we definitely needed.”
Murray sums up the record as “the sweet sound of a young man losing his mind”. It's a bit bewildering, overwhelming and even a little unsettling, becoming more clear and clearly troubled with every listen.
“This is an album lover’s album for the fans of the band. It’s not about a particular track or single and should be listened too as an entire body of work with an open mind. We hope everyone falls in love with it like we have.”
The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5
Shaking In The Water
The Xcerts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake shaking in the water
Screaming "Emily, please!"
Well I've got your heart
It's in a box, I keep it underneath my bed
And the dark eats at me
Change!
Change!
Yourself
You've only got yourself to blame
Shame!
Shame!
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I thought I saw you crawl away
Well I was shake shake shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake shaking in the water
Screaming "Emily, please!"
Now my words
How they burn
Because I doused them all in alcohol and hurt
And those scars that you displayed
Were nothing more than careless whispers and mistakes
Change!
Change!
Yourself
Nobody else is left to blame
Shame!
Shame!
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I heard your voice say
"Whatever happened to you?"
And as we crawl away again
Well I was shake shake shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake shaking in the water
Screaming "Emily, please!"
Shake shake shaking in the water
Shake shake shaking
I heard your voice say
"Whatever happened to you?"
And as we crawl away again
Well I was shake shake shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake shaking in the water
Screaming "Emily, please!"
Shake shake shaking in the water
Shake shake shaking in the water
The Xcerts’ song “Shaking in the Water” is a raw representation of the pain and frustration that comes with trying to let go of a painful past. The song is about being haunted by memories and feeling trapped in an emotional state that is difficult to escape from. The lyrics “Well I was shake shake shaking in the water, held out your hand but I couldn't reach, so I was left shake shaking in the water, screaming Emily please!” creates a sense of desperation and helplessness. The singer is shaken and fearful, clamoring for someone, anyone to help them out of this difficult situation. However, despite the help being offered, they still can’t seem to overcome their past, and so they keep shaking in the water.
The lyrics “Change, change yourself, you've only got yourself to blame, shame, shame on you for letting your past lead you astray” can be seen as both self-affirmation and self-flagellation. The singer is aware that they are the only one who has control over their life, and yet they are also aware of their own limitations. They know that they could have done better, that they should have been stronger, and that they shouldn't have let their past control them. Despite all of this, they are still unable to let go and so they continue to shake in the water.
Overall, “Shaking in the Water” is a powerful and emotional song about the struggle to overcome one’s past. It speaks to the universality of pain, grief, and the human desire to find a way out of difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I was shake shake shaking in the water
I was feeling very anxious and lost in a difficult situation
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
Someone offered help, but I couldn't accept it
So I was left shake shaking in the water
I was left alone and struggling with my problems
Screaming "Emily, please!"
I was calling out for someone to save me from my troubles
Well I've got your heart
I have your love and affection
It's in a box, I keep it underneath my bed
I keep your love close to me, but hidden away
And the dark eats at me
My fears and anxieties are consuming me
Grinding his teeth against the memories in my head
I am tormented by regrettable memories and experiences
Change!
I need to change my behavior or attitude in some way
Change!
I need to change something about myself to improve my situation
Yourself
I am responsible for my own problems and must take action to solve them
You've only got yourself to blame
I am the only one responsible for my own mistakes and shortcomings
Shame!
I feel guilty and embarrassed about my past behavior
Shame!
I regret my past mistakes and wish I could undo them
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I blame myself for making poor choices in the past that have led to my current problems
I thought I saw you crawl away
I mistakenly thought someone was abandoning me or giving up on me
Now my words
What I am saying or communicating
How they burn
My words are causing pain or discomfort for myself or others
Because I doused them all in alcohol and hurt
I spoke recklessly and carelessly, causing emotional pain because of my drinking and past traumas
And those scars that you displayed
Visible evidence of past emotional or physical injuries
Were nothing more than careless whispers and mistakes
The wounds of the past were caused by unimportant and thoughtless words or actions
Nobody else is left to blame
I am the only one responsible for my mistakes and their consequences
I heard your voice say "Whatever happened to you?"
Someone asked me what was wrong and how I ended up in this situation
And as we crawl away again
We are slowly moving away from each other and our problems, without a solution
Shake shake shaking in the water
I am still struggling and anxious in my difficult situation
Shake shake shaking
I feel overwhelmed and uncertain
Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
baeyza
lyrics;
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Well I've got your heart,
It's in a box I keep it underneath my bed
The dark eats in me
Grinding its teeth against the memories in my head
Change
Change
Yourself, you've only got yourself to blame
Shame
Shame
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I thought I saw you crawl away
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Now my words,
How they burn
Because I doused them all in alcohol and hurt
Those scars that you displayed
Were nothing more than careless whispers and mistakes
Change
Change
Yourself nobody else is left to blame
Shame
Shame
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I heard your voice say - "whatever happened to you?"
As we crawl away
Again
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please!
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
I heard your voice say - "whatever happened to you?"
As we crawl away
Again
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Will Godfrey
I've got your heart, it's in a box
I keep it underneath my bed
The dark eats in me
Grinding its teeth against the memories in my head
Change! Change yourself
You've only got yourself to blame
Shame! Shame on you
For letting your past lead you astray
I thought I saw you crawl away
I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please!
My words, they burn
Because I doused them all in alcohol and hurt
Those scars that you displayed
Were nothing more than careless whispers and mistakes
Change! Change yourself
You've only got yourself to blame
Shame! Shame on you
For letting your past lead you astray
I heard your voice say - "whatever happened to you?"
I saw you crawl away...
baeyza
lyrics;
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Well I've got your heart,
It's in a box I keep it underneath my bed
The dark eats in me
Grinding its teeth against the memories in my head
Change
Change
Yourself, you've only got yourself to blame
Shame
Shame
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I thought I saw you crawl away
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Now my words,
How they burn
Because I doused them all in alcohol and hurt
Those scars that you displayed
Were nothing more than careless whispers and mistakes
Change
Change
Yourself nobody else is left to blame
Shame
Shame
On you for letting your past lead you astray
I heard your voice say - "whatever happened to you?"
As we crawl away
Again
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please!
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
I heard your voice say - "whatever happened to you?"
As we crawl away
Again
Well I was shake, shake, shaking in the water
Held out your hand but I couldn't reach
So I was left shake, shaking in the water
Screaming Emily please
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Shake, shake, shaking in the water
Lamarque Rock
Very catchy and powerful song!
Jon Edwards
Great stuff - you guys just keep getting better!
musiccandles
''change yourself no one else is to blame'' love this
MJ Boshers
Good lyrics, guys! Oh, and awesome voices too! Will be listening again.
Darcy Gray
Put north east kid on YouTube it needs to be heard it's so amazing!! Please put it up!!😍😍 everyone that likes this band needs to hear it it's honestly my favorite song on the planet!!! They just kill it it's so damn good!!!!!
Emma Plews
Amazing =) good work, keep it up!
Aurelia S.
This band is so underrated
Evie Nicol
Bloody amazing! Can't wait for the Tunnels tomorrow night!
Elena
I love the song! Could someone post the lyrics, please?