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 DevoluciĂłn, 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.
Open Quotes
Thursday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But caught your eye on a Lilly-white lullaby of
Red and black collapse
You mix it up in the church and state dives
But cut it loose when it's time, it's time, it's time to let it go
Check your flag to see which way it blows
No
You got a taste for the candy contracts and that's why
You kiss your wife with a Saccharin sweet smile
It's red and white polite
To keep your cool in the hot seat spotlight
You turn it up: the heat
The heat is getting close
Check your flag to see which way it blows
No
Lick your finger then you'll really know
But you won't find out
Which way the wind really blows
Until your hand gets caught in the cookie jar
The song "Open Quotes" by Thursday tackles the issue of politics and the consequences it has on individuals. The lyrics describe a person who has grown up during the Cold War and has been influenced by the propaganda and ideologies associated with it. The person is then drawn to the contrast of a "Lilly-white lullaby of red and black collapse," which could be referring to the desire for peace and equality in the face of conflict and oppression.
The person is then shown mixing things up in "church and state dives," indicating that they are not bound by any one ideology or belief system. However, they are eventually forced to let go of these beliefs as it becomes too much to handle. The song then takes a turn, with the lyrics "Check your flag to see which way it blows, lick your finger then you'll really know." This seems to suggest that the individual is unsure of which political ideology to follow, and they are willing to go wherever the wind takes them.
The song ends with a warning- "But you won't find out which way the wind really blows until your hand gets caught in the cookie jar." This is a cautionary statement to the individual to be careful what they believe and who they trust, as their actions could have serious consequences.
Overall, "Open Quotes" is a commentary on the dangers of blindly following politics and ideologies. It warns against the allure of propaganda and false promises, urging individuals to think critically and be wary of the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You cut your teeth on the cold war costumes
You were brought up during the Cold War and thus, you are familiar with its tactics.
But caught your eye on a Lilly-white lullaby of
Despite what you learned about the Cold War, there is a contrasting and peaceful part of the world that appeals to you.
Red and black collapse
This peaceful world is fragile and can be easily disturbed by political upheaval or social injustice.
You mix it up in the church and state dives
You engage in controversial discussions in religious and political forums.
But cut it loose when it's time, it's time, it's time to let it go
You distance yourself from these discussions when it becomes emotionally taxing or ineffective.
Check your flag to see which way it blows
Look around you to see whose ideologies or opinions are winning popularity.
No
You don't necessarily accept the prevalent opinion of the public.
Lick your finger then you'll really know
You have to find out for yourself what is really going on by immersing yourself in the situation.
You got a taste for the candy contracts and that's why
You are enticed by sweet deals that don't have great substance.
You kiss your wife with a Saccharin sweet smile
You are used to putting up a superficial front in your personal life and relationships.
It's red and white polite
You are always very courteous and polite in dealing with people.
To keep your cool in the hot seat spotlight
You maintain a calm demeanor even in potentially embarrassing or stressful situations.
You turn it up: the heat
You are unafraid to provoke reactions and stir things up.
The heat is getting close
The situation is becoming more intense and potentially volatile.
But you won't find out
Despite all your efforts and analyses, you will not know for certain.
Which way the wind really blows
You cannot always predict how events and people will behave; things can change without notice.
Until your hand gets caught in the cookie jar
You will only know the truth when the consequences of your actions come to bear on you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind