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.
Marches And Maneuvers
Thursday Lyrics
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And the sides are drawn, sides are drawn
And we're all wrapped up in fatigues
And they wear us out, wear us out
There is a storm at sea
If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky
Will the red sun rise?
If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky
Will the red sun rise?
(The glare from your enemy sights make me go blind)
Blinds divide the sunlight into thin strips
The size of a blade
In this trench that we dig for ourselves
Fourscore and fade
Glare with the enemy heat of the bodies in bed
There's no retreat
This is a war we live in
We're up in arms, up in arms
With our heads pressed against the wall
And it's wearing thin, wearing thin
These are the screams
(We swallow)
If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky
Will the red sun rise?
(The taste of your kerosene lips burn me up)
If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky
Will the red sun rise?
(The glare from your enemy sights make me go blind)
This is a war
Administer the pill
(Keep fighting)
Before the cell divides
(Keep marching)
We'll both go down like toy soldiers
(This is a war)
Threats and picket line are formings around our beds
And the landmines in our chests will all go off in time
If we trip each other into this
Do you think we'll find a way out?
We've synthesized a compound to retreat this conscience,
It's,
One part loss
One part no sleep
One part the gun shot we heard
One part the screams mistaken for laughter
One part everything after
One part love
One part stepping out of the driving rain
One part parting way in the cold apartment
Don't look back
Just keep running down the stairs
Do you hear the footsteps?
Can you hear the voices in the traffic?
Communiques in the attic?
They say, after time, all this will heal
We will rebuild
And these broken arms will
(Mend themselves in our embrace)
The lyrics to Thursday's song Marches And Maneuvers depicts the reality of living in a world constantly at war. The song describes different elements of facing war, such as being constantly tired and exhausted, feeling trapped and helpless as well as the constant threat of danger, and the fear of losing oneself in the chaos. The lyrics suggest that war is not limited to just physical fighting; it also takes a toll on one's mental and emotional health. The lines "Threats and picket line are formings around our beds And the landmines in our chests will all go off in time" illustrate how war is not just external, but also internal - it affects the choices and decisions we make daily.
The chorus of the song revolves around the symbols of white flag, black and blue sky, and red sun, each symbolizing different aspects of war. The white flag is an expression of surrender, while the black and blue sky represents the chaos that war brings, and the red sun symbolizes the bloodshed that war inevitably leads to. The line "If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky will the red sun rise?" suggests a sense of hopelessness, questioning whether there can ever be a peaceful resolution to war.
Overall, the song captures the bleak and exhausting reality of living amidst constant conflict, emphasizing the emotional toll it takes on people on both sides of a war.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a war we live
Life is a continuous battle where people take sides and fight against each other
And the sides are drawn, sides are drawn
People have divided themselves into two opposing groups
And we're all wrapped up in fatigues
Everyone is dressed in military uniform
And they wear us out, wear us out
This endless war is exhausting and draining us physically and mentally
There is a storm at sea
The situation is alarming and rough
If we fly a white flag under a black and blue sky
If we surrender during the darkest hours
Will the red sun rise?
Can we find hope after we give up?
(The taste of your kerosene lips burn me up)
The memory of your passionate kiss still hurts me
(The glare from your enemy sights make me go blind)
The hatred and anger from the enemies are making me lose my sight
Blinds divide the sunlight into thin strips
The atmosphere is oppressive and gloomy
The size of a blade
It's narrow-minded and menacing
In this trench that we dig for ourselves
We are our worst enemy and trap ourselves
Fourscore and fade
The situation is turning into a disaster with no good outcome
Glare with the enemy heat of the bodies in bed
The passion from lovemaking can be like hostility in war
There's no retreat
There is no turning back now because it is too late
We're up in arms, up in arms
We are armed, ready for battle and defensive
With our heads pressed against the wall
We feel trapped, frustrated and confined
And it's wearing thin, wearing thin
Our patience is running out and we're becoming weaker
These are the screams
These are the terrifying sounds we never wanted to hear
(We swallow)
We can't express the fear and pain, but have to hold it in
Administer the pill
We need to take medicine or drugs to cope with the situation
(Keep fighting)
We must not give up the fight
Before the cell divides
Before everything around us falls apart
(Keep marching)
We should keep moving forward, even when it is difficult
We'll both go down like toy soldiers
We are disposable and easily replaced like toys
(This is a war)
The situation is an intense and brutal conflict
Threats and picket line are formings around our beds
We feel attacked in our most vulnerable places
And the landmines in our chests will all go off in time
Our emotional pain and trauma will eventually explode
If we trip each other into this
If we deliberately cause harm to each other
Do you think we'll find a way out?
Is there still hope for us to escape this?
We've synthesized a compound to retreat this conscience,
We have found a temporary solution to ease our feelings of guilt and shame
It's,
The compound consists of:
One part loss
Our grief and sorrow
One part no sleep
Our restless nights
One part the gun shot we heard
The terrifying sound of violence
One part the screams mistaken for laughter
The confusion and distortion of our emotions
One part everything after
Our aftermath
One part love
Our desire for intimacy and connection
One part stepping out of the driving rain
Our hope for a brighter future
One part parting way in the cold apartment
Our lonely and cold separation
Don't look back
Don't dwell on the past
Just keep running down the stairs
Move forward as fast as you can
Do you hear the footsteps?
Do you sense the danger approaching?
Can you hear the voices in the traffic?
Can you hear the noise and chaos surrounding us?
Communiques in the attic?
Secret messages and hidden agendas may exist in plain sight
They say, after time, all this will heal
People say time will heal all the wounds and pain
We will rebuild
We will start anew and fix what's broken
And these broken arms will
Our damaged and helpless state will
(Mend themselves in our embrace)
Be healed and embraced if we hold ourselves together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: III, GEOFFREY RICKLY, ROBERT KEELEY, STEVEN PEDULLA, THOMAS RULE, TIMOTHY PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind