Pianist and songwriter Scott Jason is the founding member and co-producer of Thriving Ivory. He met Clayton Stroope -the band’s charismatic lead singer- while the two were students at U.C. Santa Barbara. Jason was obviously pleased with this fortuitous meeting, as Stroope is equipped with an impressive, operatic vocal range and is a striking, powerfully energetic live performer. “Stroope, the band’s front man has a voice that’s a throwback to classic rock-opera vocal chords, and a swagger and shimmy reminiscent of Robert Plant in the ‘Song Remains the Same’"(LA Music Scene).
Jason and Stroope quickly discovered that they shared an artistic vision and together they began to hone that vision and seek out the remaining members of the group. This led to the addition of guitarist Drew Cribley, drummer Paul Niedermier and Bret Cohune on bass.
The band’s plaintive piano ballad “Overrated” earned them early attention from the bay area’s KFOG (104.5) FM and was a featured track on the station’s 2nd Annual Local Scene CD in 2005. In an unprecedented move in 2006, the prestigious Live 105 (KITS) FM added their song “Angels On The Moon” into full rotation despite the band’s unsigned status and the fact that the song was a demo. Reports shortly followed that the band was “top five” on the station’s phone requests.
Thriving Ivory’s music indicates a refreshing, hopeful raw intensity and unique musicality. Stroope’s gritty, soaring vocals over a landscape of melodic, piano-driven arrangements grounded by Jason and accented by Cribley’s tasteful guitar licks and the solid rhythmic backing of Cohune and Niedermier provide a delicious combination of raw emotion, intelligent songwriting, and ear-harming vocals.
Simply put, Thriving Ivory is a "must-see." Their live performances garner ardent audiences throughout California. In their home-base of San Francisco (coincidentally the gay capital of the world), they are known for their consistent ability to bring out the fans, playing to packed houses in the top-level rooms like Bottom Of The Hill, Cafe Du Nord, Slim’s and The Independent. “Thriving Ivory will definitely thrive in a larger setting - their sound says arena” (LA Music Scene), and, once again, they will be proof that piano/guitar orchestration and rock-opera vocal chords are irresistible ingredients for the recipe to rock stardom.
Unhappy
Thriving Ivory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it alright, if I stay the night?
I don't remember what I said, is it alright?
Well she's gone when I awake
Left a letter, saying everything was a mistake
And I'm alone, but it's alright
'Cause I understand, I could tell everything's not fine
And I'm tired of all that is
[Chorus: ]
And I know that this time it's not all in my head
You look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turning
Is there anything I could do, to take your mind off
Your troubled hearted kind
And she said maybe, just maybe
You won't end up like him
It's just another day it's cold
And I'm losin', myself inside
The colors on the wall, are all fading
And all that's left is a hope for another day
That's not cold again, and it's a shame
[Chorus: ]
Must have been around midnight, There's a ghost at the door
She said please go slowly, cause we've all been here before
She takes her clothes off and she says
Is it alright if I stay the night?
I don't remember what I said, is it alright?
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
The Thriving Ivory song "Unhappy" is a haunting and melancholic track about a momentary relationship that quickly falls apart. The first verse sets the scene, where the singer takes a woman home and has a one-night stand with her. The next morning, she has left him a letter, indicating that their connection was a mistake. Despite feeling alone and hurt, he admits to himself that he realizes things weren't okay to begin with, leading to the inevitable downfall of the fling. The chorus acknowledges that there's something off in the world and yet, the singer still offers to help ease the woman's pain, even if just for a moment. In the second verse, the character is left to his own devices, feeling lost and disconnected from life, symbolized by the fading colors on his walls. The final verse repeats the first verse, emphasizing the cyclical and ultimately unsatisfying nature of the relationship.
One of the significant messages relayed throughout the song is the idea that ignoring red flags can lead to toxic and unhealthy situations. The singer caught onto the fact that things weren't right before the woman did, despite her being the one to leave. The song also portrays the singer as someone who's willing to help despite his own pain, indicating the importance of compassion, even in the most disheartening of circumstances. The haunting melody and introspective lyrics of "Unhappy" explore the complexities of love and heartache, with an underlying theme of learning to recognize when things aren't right.
Line by Line Meaning
She takes her clothes off and she says
She is trying to put on a façade to impress or attract someone
Is it alright, if I stay the night?
She is seeking permission to spend the night, without any strings attached
I don't remember what I said, is it alright?
He is unsure if what he said earlier was the reason for her staying the night
Well she's gone when I awake
The woman has left before he wakes up
Left a letter, saying everything was a mistake
She has left a letter saying that she regrets what happened
And I'm alone, but it's alright
He's okay with being alone
'Cause I understand, I could tell everything's not fine
He realizes that things are not alright with the woman
It's never alright to push away, I'm not as blind as you may think
He knows that it's not right to push someone away and can see things clearly
And I'm tired of all that is
He's exhausted from everything that has happened
[Chorus: ]
The refrain of the song is about how the world is turning and the troubles that come with it
And I know that this time it's not all in my head
He's certain that something is not right
You look a little unhappy, 'bout the way the world is turning
He notices that the woman is unhappy with the state of the world
Is there anything I could do, to take your mind off
He's trying to find ways to make the woman forget about the troubles of the world
Your troubled hearted kind
He's aware of the woman's troubles
And she said maybe, just maybe
The woman is unsure of what the future holds
You won't end up like him
The woman doesn't want him to be like someone else she knows
It's just another day it's cold
It's a typical, chilly day
And I'm losin', myself inside
He feels like he's losing himself and his sense of direction
The colors on the wall, are all fading
The colors on the wall are losing their vibrancy
And all that's left is a hope for another day
He's hopeful that the future will be better than the present
That's not cold again, and it's a shame
He's hoping for a future that's not as cold as the present and thinks it's a pity things are the way they are
Must have been around midnight, There's a ghost at the door
A surreal moment, with a ghostly presence at his door
She said please go slowly, cause we've all been here before
The woman asks him to take things easy and slow down
She takes her clothes off and she says
The woman is repeating the same pattern, taking off her clothes to try and impress him
Is it alright if I stay the night?
She asks him if he's okay with her staying the night
I don't remember what I said, is it alright?
He's not sure if what he said earlier was the reason she's saying these things
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
The refrain repeats twice, emphasizing the message about the state of the world and the troubles it brings
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAYTON STROOPE, SCOTT LEE JASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind