The original lineup consisted of Stuart Smith on rhythm guitar and vocals, Tim Collis on lead guitar, Simon Thompson on Drums and Ian Lewis on Bass. Ian and Simon left the band in 2005, to be replaced by Dan Adams (replaced by Jamie Cooper during the recording of Animals in 2008) on bass and Chris Collis (brother of guitarist Tim) on drums in early 2006. In earlier careers, bassist Jamie Cooper had worked as a graphic designer, drummer Chris Collis had been a librarian at the University of Oxford, guitarist Tim Collis was a primary school teacher, and lead vocalist Stuart Smith worked building websites for a publisher. On May 11, 2011, it was announced on This Town Needs Guns' website that lead singer Stuart Smith would be leaving the band to start a family, and that he would be replaced by Pennines' singer and guitarist, Henry Tremain. Bassist Jamie Cooper also left the band in late 2011 to focus on a full-time career in graphic design. Tremain has since taken over on bass guitar duties, converting the band into a power trio.
The band's second and third studio albums, 13.0.0.0.0 and Disappointment Island, were released in January 2013 and July 2016, both via Sargent House.
Badger
This Town Needs Guns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts of wings open wide, cast in sunlight
In my hand your bones are brittle and you burst in to flame
Untie me and let me leave
So what if I should forget to breathe?
Will white light rescue me and secure my salvation?
I can all but hope
Blessed with hindsight, it was clear to me
Your reckless advancements came with no guarantees
My mind's made up
we were never in love
So what's lefts absolution for the weight of our sin
so if there's no sign of the morrow our souls remain clean
The opening line of "Badger" by This Town Needs Guns, "I read your call sign, Butterfly" sets a whimsical and airy tone for the song. The butterfly symbolizes transformation, beauty, and freedom, all of which are present throughout the lyrics of the song. The singer imagines the butterfly's wings "cast in sunlight," representing hope and positivity, and the possibility of flying away from the problems he is facing. However, in the next line, the imagery shifts as the singer holds the butterfly's brittle bones, causing it to burst into flame. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the fragility of relationships and the consequences of holding onto something too tight.
The chorus of the song, "So what if I should forget to breathe? Will white light rescue me and secure my salvation? I can all but hope," speaks to the singer's sense of hopelessness and uncertainty. He questions whether there is a higher power that can save him from his troubles and give him a sense of purpose. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is struggling with anxiety or depression, as forgetting to breathe is a common symptom of panic attacks.
The second verse explores the singer's feelings about a past relationship. He suggests that the other person rushed into things without thinking about the consequences, leading to the breakup. He ultimately concludes that they were never truly in love, and wonders if the weight of their past mistakes can be absolved. The final line, "so if there's no sign of the morrow our souls remain clean," implies that the only way to move on from past mistakes is to live in the present and focus on the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I read your call sign, Butterfly
I noticed your signal, a symbol of transformation and freedom
Thoughts of wings open wide, cast in sunlight
Your thoughts are focused on the vast possibilities ahead, unburdened by worries
In my hand your bones are brittle and you burst in to flame
You are fragile and vulnerable, and I fear that I may inadvertently cause you harm
Untie me and let me leave
Release me from the emotional burden of our relationship and let me move on
So what if I should forget to breathe?
I am preoccupied with the possibility of failure, even in the simplest of actions
Will white light rescue me and secure my salvation?
I wonder if there is an external force that can save me from my own shortcomings and grant me eternal peace
I can all but hope
I have only my faith to hold onto in this uncertain world
That time will tell that this was real enough for me
I hope that in the end, my experiences and emotions will be validated by their impact on my life
Blessed with hindsight, it was clear to me
Now that I have the benefit of hindsight, I can see the mistakes and missteps that led me to this point
Your reckless advancements came with no guarantees
Your impulsive and bold actions were not guaranteed to lead to a positive outcome, and in fact may have caused more harm than good
My mind's made up
I have come to a decision about our relationship and there is no going back
we were never in love
Our relationship was never built on the foundation of true love
So what's lefts absolution for the weight of our sin
Without forgiveness, how can we move on from the guilt and pain of our past actions?
so if there's no sign of the morrow our souls remain clean
Without the hope of a better tomorrow, at least we can take solace in the fact that our souls are pure and free of regret
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDY SMITH, DAVID HEARD, MICHAEL HEPPLE, RIX JORDAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind