Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. In 1996, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis, prior to which performance, so the legend goes, Third Eye Blind was warned that the crowd might throw food at them. As it turned out, however, they were invited out for an encore, even after Oasis had already played, bringing Liam Gallagher to tears and sparking the friendly rivalry that would form between the two bands. The band was paid double what they were promised for the gig. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, in which they settled on Elektra because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom. Stephan Jenkins' outspoken behavior after signing the deal earned him the title of "the biggest mouth in music" by many critics. Jenkins has spoken out many times against several different artists, including a heated feud with Rob Thomas of the band Matchbox Twenty.
A fourth album, tentatively titled Ursa Major, was released August 2009. Shortly after the band has slated the release of a follow-up album, Ursa Minor. Only Jenkins' lyrics and vocals are left to be finished; all instrumental work is reportedly complete. Recent live performances have revealed a majority of the new tracks being worked on, including "Don't Believe a Word," "Lay Back (and the Water Will Hold You)," "In the Skin," "Summer Town," "Second Born," "(You Really) Don't Like Me Now" aka "Campfire," "Monotov's Private Opera," "Break Me," "Stevie Ray Vaughan," "Red Star," and "Standing Up For You." Other tracks mentioned for the album by Fredianelli are "Away," "A Sharp Knife," "Captain of Emo," "Swimming," and "Jesse 2k." He also confirmed that "Lay Back" was scrapped. A number of previously unreleased recordings were made available, including "Persephone," "Carnival Barker" (an instrumental), and numerous instrumental sessions declined by Jenkins for inclusion on the fourth album.
Motorcycle Drive By
Third Eye Blind Lyrics
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In lower Chelsea and I don't know
What I'm doing in this city
The sun is always in my eyes
It crashes through the windows
And I'm sleeping on the couch
When I came to visit you
That's when I knew I could never have you
Still I'm the one who's stupid
And there's this burning
Like there's always been
I've never been so alone
And I've never been so alive
Visions of you on a motorcycle drive by
The cigarette ash flies in your eyes
And you don't mind, you smile
And say the world it doesn't fit with you
I don't believe you, you're so serene
Careening through the universe
Your axis on a tilt, you're guiltless and free
I hope you take a piece of me with you
And there's things I would like to do
That you don't believe in
I would like to build something
But you never see it happen
And there's this burning
Like there's always been
I've never been so alone
And I've, I've never been so alive
And there's this burning
There was this burning
Where's the soul I want to know
New York City is evil
The surface is everything but I could never do that
Someone would see through that
And this is our last time
We'll be friends again
I'll get over you, you'll wonder who I am
And there's this burning
Just like there's always been
I've never been so alone, alone
And I, and I've, I've never been so alive, so alive
I go home to the coast
It starts to rain I paddle out on the water alone
Taste the salt and taste the pain
I'm not thinking of you again
Summer dies and swells rise
The sun goes down in my eyes
See this rolling wave
Darkly coming to take me home
And I've never been so alone
And I've never been so alive
The song "Motorcycle Drive By" by Third Eye Blind talks about a love story that ended in heartbreak. The lyrics describe a journey, both physical and internal, of the singer as he tries to move on from his past love. The song starts with him contemplating his purpose in the city as the summer wind blows outside. He remembers a time when he visited his lover, and he realized that he could never have her, indicating an unrequited love. The singer then admits that he always knew that he could never have her, but he was too stupid to admit it. The burning sensation inside him never goes away, even when he is contemplating other worldly things like the universe.
The singer talks about his unfulfilled desires, his wish to build something, and how his love interest never saw it happen. He admits that his love interest is serene, carefree, guiltless, and free as she careens through the universe. While he hopes to remain friends, he knows that this is the last time they will be. As he tries to move on and forget, he reminiscences about his summer love as he goes back home to the coast. In the end, the song describes the waves taking him home, as the sun goes down in his eyes. He has never been so alone and yet so alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer time and the wind is blowing outside
It's a hot day with a lot of breezes and the wind is knocking around objects outside.
In lower Chelsea and I don't know What I'm doing in this city
The singer is located in Lower Chelsea but doesn't know what they're doing in the city.
The sun is always in my eyes It crashes through the windows And I'm sleeping on the couch
The sun is very bright and is shining through the windows while the singer naps on the couch.
When I came to visit you That's when I knew I could never Have you
The artist knew they could never have a relationship with the person they visited.
I knew that before you did Still I'm the one who's stupid
The artist was aware that they couldn't have that relationship before the other person but still felt foolish.
And there's this burning Like there's always been
The singer has been dealing with an intense feeling for some time now.
I never been so alone And I've never been so alive Visions of you on a motorcycle drive by The cigarette ash flies in your eyes And you don't mind, you smile And say the world d oesn't fit with you
The singer has never felt so alone and alive while thinking about the other person on a motorcycle drive. The cigarette ash flies in their eyes but they don't seem to be bothered by it. They also mention that the other person felt like they didn't fit in with the world.
I don't believe you, you're so serene Careening through the universe Your axis on a tilt, you're guiltless and free I hope you take a piece of me with you And there's things I'd like to do That you don't believe in I would like to build something But you never see it happen And there's this burning Like there's always been I've never been so alone And I've, I've never been so alive And there's this burning There is this burning
The artist doesn't believe the other person, who seems very serene and untouchable. The other person is free and doesn't feel guilty about anything, which the artist admires. They mention that there are things the other person doesn't believe in, such as building something, but the artist has a strong desire to create. There's that burning feeling again and the artist has never been so alone and alive at the same time.
Where's the soul I want to know New York City is evil The surface is everything but I could never do that Someone would see through that
The artist wants to know where the other person's soul is located. They also say that New York City is wicked and that the city's polished exterior is all that matters. However, the artist could never go along with that mentality because someone would see through them.
And this is our last time We'll be friends again I'll get over you, you'll wonder who I am And there's this burning Just like there's always been I've never been so alone alone And I've, and I've never been so alive So alive
The artist and the other person won't stay friends for long since it will be their last time seeing each other. The artist will eventually get over the other person, making them question who they are. Once again, that burning sensation returns, making the artist feel alone and lively.
I go home to the coast It starts to rain I paddle out on the water Alone Taste the salt and taste the pain I'm not thinking of you again Summer dies and swells rise The sun goes down in my eyes See this rolling wave Darkly coming to take me Home And I've never been so alone And I've never been so alive
The singer arrives at their home on the coast and it starts to rain. They go out on the water alone, tasting the salt of the ocean and feeling the pain of their past relationship. The summer is dying and swells rise while the sun sets in the singers' eyes. They see a wave coming towards them and it seems like it's coming to take them home. Once again, the singer is alone and alive at the same time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Stephan Jenkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind