Volbeat was formed in 2001 after frontman Michael Poulsen split up his former band, Dominus. Volbeat plays a fusion of heavy metal and rockabilly. They are inspired by the rock n' roll legends Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. No other Danish heavy rock band Volbeat has been able to get to position 18 at the Danish Top 100 for CD sales in over 10 years. This milestone was reached after their concert at the Roskilde Festival 2006.
Critics have generally been positive towards The Strength / The Sound / The Songs. The German hard rock magazine RockHard gave it 10/10 in a review.
Volbeat is also praised for its live performances. Their concert at Roskilde Festival 2006 received a 6/6 stars review in the Danish newspaper BT.
In week 8 of 2007, the record Rock The Rebel / Metal The Devil debuted as #1 in the Danish Top 40 for CD-sales and at the same time The Strength / The Sound / The Songs re-entered the chart at #21. Recently, the album achieved gold status for sales in Denmark.
Volbeat opened the Roskilde Festival in 2007. Volbeat also supported Metallica together with Mnemic at their concert on Denmark July 13 of that year.
More recently, Volbeat was announced to do a seven-date European spring tour and to support legendary speed metal act Megadeth in Finland and in their home town, Copenhagen. They have also already announced a few festival appearances for the summer 2008.
Volbeat has a large range of influences, which can be clearly heard in their music. On their official MySpace site Volbeat lists their influences in their own recognizable way:
"Everything from Elvis Presley to Napalm Death .. hail: Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ramones, Social Distortion, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Dio, Megadeth, Metallica, Manic Street Preachers, Iron Maiden and bla bla bla bla..."
Volbeat's lyrics usually revolve around love, failed love or the power of a twisted mind. They thereby distance themselves from stereotypical heavy metal lyrics, although many of their most popular songs have very dark or sincere themes and plots.
Their first single was the cover version of Dusty Springfield's evergreen "I Only Wanna Be With You". The song doesn't differ much from the original with regard to the lyrics, but the accompanying music video is quite typical of Volbeat. In it, the band is seen with a classic microphone on top of a city roof.
Another popular feature of the band's lyrics are the returning "series" of songs. This is best represented with the songs "Danny & Lucy (11 pm)" and "Fire Song" from The Strength/The Sound/The Songs followed by "Mr. & Mrs. Ness" on Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil. The story is about the two desperate lovers, Danny and Lucy, who are killed in a car crash after Lucy runs away from her family.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ness, I'm so sorry to bring you this - We believe we found your girl in an old burning car way up the hill"
In the successor, "Mr. & Mrs. Ness", Lucy's mother commits suicide and the father is suspected for the murder:
"The old man is crying and he's lying - The blood on his hands' from his wife yeah"
The story is followed further by "Mary Ann's Place" from Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, and was concluded with "You Will Know" off 2016's Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie.
Lineup
Michael Poulsen - Vocals, guitar (ex-Dominus)
Rob Caggiano - Guitar (ex-Anthrax)
Kaspar Boye Larsen - Bass
Jon Larsen - Drums
Former members:
Teddy Vang - Guitar
Franz Gottschalk - Guitar
Thomas Bredahl - Guitar
Anders Kjølholm - Bass
Official homepage : www.volbeat.dk
Mary Ann's Place
Volbeat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh baby the rain is always pouring when I'm here
Saw the lightning caught your stone
Oh maybe the angels of tomorrow will let me go
Still the crying hurts in your head
Well you're still beneath my feet
Well oh God don't seems to follow
Side by side with Lucy's stone
You two are forever missing colors in my home
Do you think you can forgive
I know that your life has been a burden
A living hell
Still the crying hurts in your head
Well you're still beneath my feet
Have you looked into the sky
Well oh God don't seem to mind
Will the fire burn the flower
Or the angels sing tomorrow, when I'm near
In the song "Mary Ann's Place" by Volbeat, the singer reflects on his memories of a past relationship with Mary Ann, who has seemingly passed away. The rain is always pouring when he is in her place, perhaps a metaphor for the tears that come with memories of their love. The lightning has caught her stone or tombstone, and he hopes that the angels of tomorrow will let him go, perhaps indicating that he feels trapped in his grief and memories.
He acknowledges the pain that Mary Ann experienced in her life and the burden that it placed upon her. He asks for her forgiveness and wonders if the fire will burn the flower or if the angels will sing when he is near. The line "Well oh God don't seem to mind" suggests a sense of hopelessness and a lack of divine intervention in his grief and pain.
The song is a poignant reflection on love and loss, grief, and the uncertainty of what happens after we die. It is emotional and raw, with a sense of haunting melancholy that stays with the listener long after the song has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I sit at Mary Ann's place
I am currently located at Mary Ann's place
Oh baby the rain is always pouring when I'm here
Whenever I am at Mary Ann's place, it always rains heavily
Saw the lightning caught your stone
I saw lightning strike the stone that represents you
Oh maybe the angels of tomorrow will let me go
Perhaps in the future, I will be released from my burdens by the angels
Still the crying hurts in your head
You are still affected by the emotional pain you experienced
Well you're still beneath my feet
You are still inferior to me
Well oh God don't seems to follow
It seems like God is not listening to me
Hear my prayers until tomorrow's settlement
Please listen to my prayers until my situation gets resolved tomorrow
Side by side with Lucy's stone
You are placed near Lucy's stone
You two are forever missing colors in my home
Your absence has left my home colorless and dull, and it will always be that way
Do you think you can forgive
Are you capable of forgiving me?
I know that your life has been a burden
I am aware that your life has been difficult
A living hell
Your experience has been like living in hell
Have you looked into the sky
Have you ever looked up at the sky?
Well oh God don't seem to mind
It feels like God is ignoring you
Will the fire burn the flower
Will the destructive forces of nature harm something beautiful?
Or the angels sing tomorrow, when I'm near
Perhaps the angels will sing when I am close by
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL POULSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarcusAsenlund
In the song, Lucy and Danny dies in a car accident. Mary ann is Mr Ness wife and she commits suicide after Lucys death and Mr Ness is blamed for Marys death and his put in a prison for like 20 years.
After those 20 years he is realesed and is free and he visits Marys and Lucys grave.
Timeline:
Fire Song
Danny & Lucy
Mr & Mrs Ness
Mary Ann's Place
You Will Know
@mtfubigdeezy9350
Came across Volbeat by chance on spotify. Never heard of these guys before. It's 2021 how the hell have I not heard of these guys. I have now listened to everything they have made ( Thank you Spotify so much) all I have been listening to since March this year. Absolutely Amazing Band Def in My Top 5, Can't wait for the new album
@jackjensen5864
Listen too B.s.e feaut Michael Poulsen
@loudoo8582
They crank just as hard now as they did back in early 2000
@timmyreeves9170
Better late than never 👍🏻🤘🏻
@SpookyApparition
lol, I got into Volbeat in 2021 completely by chance as well. They're definitely one of my favorite bands now, and I still haven't listened to 3 or 4 of their albums. I love the new album, and I just saw them live and it was an incredible experience
@mrwasatch
Similar experience here, didn't know them until hearing Shotgun Blues on radio... now they're probably my favorite band - saw them in January live - great show, great catalog of songs!
@bryanpeden4691
THIS IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS AND ALBUM.
@jackjensen5864
Listen too b.s.e feaut Michael Poulsen
@lauracampagne-gregorits2648
I love this song! These guys r AMAZING! MICHAEL Poulsen has the best voice out there!
@jackjensen5864
Listen to b.s..e feat Michael poulsen