Turin Brakes has been compared to many of the New Acoustic Movement's bands spawned in the late 90s such as Elbow, Starsailor, I Am Kloot (who were a support band for Turin Brakes on their Ether Song tour) and the Norwegian band the Kings of Convenience.
Their debut album "The Optimist LP" (2001) was nominated for the Mercury Prize that same year. In 2003 "Ether Song" got to #3 in the UK album charts and spawned a Top 5 single "Pain Killer". Further commercial success was not achieved. In 2005 "JackInABox" meant some sort of return to the first album, but this time with more production and a more diverse sound. Again the critics loved it, but the buying public seemed not to. It got to no. 9 in its first week (without a hit single - "Fishing For A Dream" got to #35), but had no further commercial success. This might have been the effect of the decision by the band and the record company to take the slow path (doing just a short UK tour and not doing as much promotion as they used to), so that Olly Knights (the singer) could also focus on his new family life.
In the summer of 2005 the boys toured the USA and Canada, followed by an acoustic tour taking the band to Germany, The Netherlands and Italy. 2005 ended with a longer acoustic UK tour, of which the closing night in the Palladium in London was recorded and released as a download only live album the day after. The album sold quite well on iTunes, riding the top of the download charts in several countries.
The band spent the first half of 2006 writing new songs, occasionally performing both new and old work at small gigs across the UK. The band did an intimate tour in November 2006 to try out new material. In January 2007 the band entered a small studio in London to record their 4th album with producer Ethan Johns. After three weeks the band took a break (on January 29th Gale's wife gave birth to a daughter), but the sessions were resumed several weeks later in a bigger studio (also in London). On the last day of March 2007 the band announced that they had finished the recording sessions, and recorded 17 songs.
Their 2007 album, "Dark on Fire", was preceded by a download-only single "Stalker".
The band released their 5th studio album in March 2010 titled "Outbursts".
Their sixth album, We Were Here, was released 30 September 2013, and their seventh album Lost Property (recorded at Rockfield Studios with producer Ali Staton) was released on 29 January 2016.
On 26 January 2018 the band released their eighth album Invisible Storm.
Above the Clouds
Turin Brakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
up above the clouds, it is always a blue sky
some will try a trick, but you just look them in the eyes
what will they do, when the money runs dry?
where will they go, when the jet planes can't fly?
when all is said and done i will love you
when all is said and done i'll still love you
starring out at the stars, you feel helpless and so small
nothing but closed down bars, no one helps you when you fall
one day this world will be returning to this prime
we'll all be gone, there'll be no more roads to find
when all is said and done i will love you
when all is said and done i'll still love you
the rain came again,
cleaning the dream and it always makes me cry, oh my
something about the rain, it sends memories through my vains
memories always stain, you can't wash them down the drain
where will i go when my broken body dies?
and what will i know when i look up to the skies?
when all is said and done will you love me? (x2)
the rain came again, cleaning the dream
and it always makes me cry, oh my
up above the clouds, it is always a blue sky
In "Above The Clouds," Turin Brakes deeply reflects on the inevitability of change and what it means for relationships. The opening lyrics set the scene with vivid imagery of a clear blue sky above the clouds, representing an idyllic state of being. However, even in this peaceful state, there are those who will try to deceive or harm others. Despite this, the singer remains resolute and grounded and questions what will happen when life's luxuries and safety nets are gone.
The chorus "when all is said and done I will love you" is a poignant reminder of the constancy of love, even amidst uncertainty and change. As the song progresses, Turin Brakes change the focus to the fleeting nature of life. The singer looks up at the stars and feels helpless and small, and yet believes that one day, the world will return to its prime. Even the rain that comes later in the song serves as a reminder of how memories can stay with you forever, staining your very being. The song ends with the singer asking the ultimate question, what will happen to them once their body dies and they look up to the skies.
Overall, "Above The Clouds" is a beautifully crafted song that explores the complexities of change and mortality, while offering a message of hope and love that is both grounding and transcendental.
Line by Line Meaning
one, two, three, four
Counting down to the start of the song
up above the clouds, it is always a blue sky
The sky is always blue above the clouds, regardless of what's happening below.
some will try a trick, but you just look them in the eyes
People may try to deceive you, but if you meet their gaze, you'll see the truth.
what will they do, when the money runs dry?
People who rely on money will be lost when they run out of it.
where will they go, when the jet planes can't fly?
People who depend on modern technology will be stranded when it fails.
when all is said and done i will love you
No matter what happens, my love for you will endure.
when all is said and done i'll still love you
Even after everything, nothing will change my love for you.
starring out at the stars, you feel helpless and so small
Gazing at the vastness of space can make us feel tiny and powerless.
nothing but closed down bars, no one helps you when you fall
Sometimes we feel alone and abandoned when things go wrong.
one day this world will be returning to this prime
Our planet will one day return to its original state of nature.
we'll all be gone, there'll be no more roads to find
When we're gone, there will be nothing left to discover or explore.
the rain came again, cleaning the dream and it always makes me cry, oh my
Rain has a cleansing effect on our soul, and can elicit strong emotions.
something about the rain, it sends memories through my vains
The rain can act as a trigger for nostalgic memories.
memories always stain, you can't wash them down the drain
Memories can leave a permanent impression on us that can't be erased.
where will i go when my broken body dies?
The afterlife is a mystery that we all wonder about.
and what will i know when i look up to the skies?
The vastness of the universe makes us question our place in it.
when all is said and done will you love me? (x2)
An appeal to the subject of the song to return the same everlasting love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OLIVER KNIGHTS, GALE PARIDJANIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind