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.
The Road
Turin Brakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They go on for years
And the people there smile and wave
It's not like back home
In their doorways
Where the evening sky
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Times are fierce and times are fine
Yeah it goes that way
Down some highway
Down some lonely road
In that old fashioned way
In the garden
On the ceiling
Light up my room
Light up my room
Light up my room
Light up my room
But the darkness
Let's him see here all of the people they never knew
Float into space
Falling through red puddles and places they never seen
Will my soul be angry?
When you die do you feel alright?
In the garden
When the evening sky
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
There's a road with two yellow lines
They go on for years
And the people there smile and wave
It's not like back home
In their doorways
Where the evening sky
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Lights up my room
Lights up my
room
"The Road" by Turin Brakes is a reflective and nostalgic song about the journey of life, with all its ups and downs, and the people and places we encounter along the way. The road with two yellow lines represents the path that we take in life, with both smooth and rough patches, and the people who smile and wave represent the strangers and familiar faces we come across, and the different cultures and environments we encounter as we travel.
The first verse talks about the differences in the new place compared to home, and how the people and scenery are different, but still bring light into our lives, and how we are able to find solace in these new places. The second verse talks about the different stages of life, the good and the bad, and how they all contribute to our growth and journey. It also shows that sometimes we may feel lonely on our journey, but we have to keep going, and things will eventually get better.
The bridge of the song brings up the idea of death and the unknown afterlife, and how it is different for everyone, but also how we can find comfort in the memories of those we have lost. The final verse brings the song full circle, back to the road with two yellow lines, and how we continue on our journey despite the challenges we may face, and how the people and places we meet along the way continue to light up our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a road with two yellow lines
The road is a symbol of a journey through life.
They go on for years
The journey is long and winding, with no end in sight.
And the people there smile and wave
On this journey, one encounters many different people, some friendly and welcoming.
It's not like back home
The journey is different from what one is used to, with new experiences and challenges.
In their doorways
Each person has their own place and purpose on the journey.
Where the evening sky
The sky is a constant reminder of the vastness of the journey and the universe.
Lights up my room
The sky brings light into one's life and provides hope and inspiration.
Times are fierce and times are fine
The journey has its ups and downs, but it is all part of the experience.
Yeah it goes that way
Life is unpredictable and full of surprises.
Down some highway
The journey can take different paths and lead to unexpected destinations.
Down some lonely road
Sometimes the journey can be lonely and challenging.
In that old fashioned way
The journey is timeless and has been traveled by many throughout history.
In the garden
Nature is a source of peace and beauty on the journey.
On the ceiling
Looking up at the sky reminds one of the vastness of the universe and their place in it.
But the darkness
There are times of darkness and uncertainty on the journey.
Let's him see here all of the people they never knew
The darkness can bring clarity and new insights into oneself and others.
Float into space
One's mind can wander and imagine during the journey.
Falling through red puddles and places they never seen
The journey can take one to new and unexpected places, both physical and emotional.
Will my soul be angry?
Questions about the meaning of life and the journey arise.
When you die do you feel alright?
The journey through life leads to the ultimate unknown destination.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALE PARIDJANIAN, OLIVER KNIGHTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind