Thursday released their debut album, Waiting, in late 1999 with original guitarist Bill Henderson, who left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Steve Pedulla. The band gained popularity with the release of their second album, Full Collapse, in 2001, and released their third album and major label debut, War All the Time, in 2003, which reached number seven on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Thursday released their fourth album, A City by the Light Divided, in 2006, and two further albums, Common Existence and No Devolución, before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2011. In a January 2013 interview, Geoff Rickly confirmed that the band had actually disbanded. However, the band announced a reunion in 2016. Their reunion would conclude with a performance at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY in March 2019.
The band has been considered influential to the post-hardcore music scene in the 2000s, and is credited as one of the key bands to popularize the darker emo sound and screaming vocals which came to prominence at the time.
Division St
Thursday Lyrics
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And all the hate that rises
Through the cracks in the pavement,
As the temperature falls.
(this is where is hits the ground)
Lights out on division street
I'm repeating
(the fever that will not break)
The night is pouring down,
It's not enough to put this out,
I'll burn up before I wake up.
(on division street)
This is serious,
This is serious,
If this is serious
I'll hide my heart in dark parades.
Lights out on division street
I held you tight like an empty bottle...
But the glass broke
(and the poison spilled out of your mouth)
Hello? hello? is anybody there?
The house turned black and sat in silence
(while a mockingbird sang)
Listen to yourself
Go on and on, as if you spoke to someone else.
Lights out on division street
I'm repeating
Goodbye to the memories,
(the fever that will not break)
The night is pouring down,
Its not enough to put this out,
I'll burn up before I wake up.
(on division street)
This is serious,
This is serious,
If this is serious
I'll hide my heart in dark parades.
To dance between the scissors blades
Without getting cut.
I drew an x on your city's name
Lights out. black out. blow out the candle again.
Spin the room around
Fall down. pass out. get up. I can't keep repeating.
Between the footsteps I hear crickets in the trees
A silent army marching with me through a swarm of bees
A needle dragged across a record slowing down
Along division st. the lights were dying out
Endless rows of houses stretched on for miles and miles and miles...
Turn the windows black
Lights out on division street
Repeating (repeat it)
Lights out on division street
Repeating, (turn the windows black)
Lights out. lights out. lights out.
Turn the windows black
Listen to yourself.
The lyrics to Thursday's song Division St. are filled with imagery and metaphor as the lead singer reflects on memories and experiences on Division Street. The repetition of the phrase "Lights out on Division Street" suggests a closing chapter in the singer's life as he says goodbye to memories and struggles with the emotions that come with it. The imagery of hate rising through the cracks in the pavement, a mockingbird singing, and dancing between scissors blades allude to the difficulties and dangers he has faced. The chorus emphasizes the gravity of the situation, he knows this is serious, and he must protect himself, as he hides his heart in dark parades.
The song is powerful and emotional as it describes the singer's inner turmoil, and the memories that are haunting him. The line "I held you tight like an empty bottle..." portrays his sense of loss and emptiness. The metaphorical use of an empty bottle demonstrates how he's clinging onto something that's meaningless and also has the chance of breaking, like he did. The song ends with an introspective statement, "Listen to yourself," leaving the listener with the responsibility of diving deeper within themselves to truly understand their own experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Lights out on division street
The street is dark with no lights on, giving way to the rising hatred that seeps through the cracks on the pavement as the temperature falls.
And all the hate that rises
The darkness and silence of Division St. is replaced with a palpable sense of anger and hatred.
Through the cracks in the pavement,
The negativity and aggression seem to be coming from the very foundation of the street.
As the temperature falls.
The chill in the air seems to be fueling the negative emotions.
I'm repeating
The artist is saying goodbye to their memories repeatedly as they try to move on.
Goodbye to the memories,
The singer is trying to let go of the past and move forward.
The night is pouring down,
The darkness is closing in and engulfing the singer.
It's not enough to put this out,
The darkness and negativity are so overwhelming that even the darkness of the night cannot conceal it.
I'll burn up before I wake up.
The artist feels like they cannot escape the pain and will only succumb to it.
This is serious,
The artist is acknowledging the gravity of their situation.
If this is serious
The singer is questioning whether they are overreacting or if their emotions are justified.
I'll hide my heart in dark parades.
The artist will conceal their emotions and continue to move forward without revealing their true feelings.
I held you tight like an empty bottle...
The singer tried to hold onto someone who was no longer there for them and realized it was like holding onto an empty bottle.
But the glass broke
The illusion was shattered as the harsh reality set in.
Hello? hello? is anybody there?
The singer is reaching out for help but cannot find anyone.
The house turned black and sat in silence
The artist's environment suddenly became cold and heartless as if mocking them.
Listen to yourself
The artist is trying to find the source of their pain and make sense of their emotions.
Go on and on, as if you spoke to someone else.
The singer is talking to themselves, trying to sort out their feelings and thoughts.
To dance between the scissors blades
The singer is willing to take risks and live on the edge despite the danger.
Without getting cut.
The artist hopes to avoid being hurt along the way.
I drew an x on your city's name
The artist is trying to cut ties with their past completely
Spin the room around
The artist is feeling disoriented and unsteady.
Fall down. pass out.
The singer is struggling to stay afloat amid their struggles.
get up. I can't keep repeating.
The artist is trying to break the cycle of pain and move on.
Between the footsteps I hear crickets in the trees
The singer is hyper-aware of their surroundings and hears things that others might not.
A silent army marching with me through a swarm of bees
The singer feels like they have support from something greater than themselves, even in the midst of chaos.
A needle dragged across a record slowing down
The singer feels like time is moving slowly and everything is out of sync.
Along division st. the lights were dying out
The negativity and darkness are overpowering everything else in the environment.
Endless rows of houses stretched on for miles and miles and miles...
The artist feels trapped and confined by their surroundings.
Turn the windows black
The singer is blocking out the outside world and trying to create a sense of isolation and safety.
Turn the windows black
Repeating the previous line.
Repeating (repeat it)
The artist is stuck in a cycle of pain and repetition.
Lights out. lights out. lights out.
The darkness and negativity feel overwhelming and never-ending.
Listen to yourself.
The artist is trying to focus on their inner voice and make sense of their feelings and emotions.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind