Their name was inspired by an awkward conversation with a U-Haul employee who was inspecting a van that the band had rented. The U-haul employee, attempting to make polite conversation, asked the three bespectacled band members if they were brothers. They said no. He asked if they were scientists, as they looked like they could be the kind of people who wear lab coats. They told him that they were musicians, not scientists. To this day, they regret telling the truth. They are not named after the Cap'n Jazz song which bears the name.
They are a franchise of Art Rock band, Art Brut. In fact, they are Art Brut 47.
The band formed while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Murray and Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College.
The band has released three self-made EPs (Bitching!, Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) and In Action). Their debut LP, With Love And Squalor was on Virgin Records, the first three singles of which were "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's A Hit". The album takes its name from the J.D. Salinger short story "For Esme - With Love and Squalor". They have since released LP Crap Attack, which is a collection of B-Sides, covers and other rarities, and their full follow-up album, Brain Thrust Mastery which debuted in the UK on March 17,2008 reached number 11 at the UK Album charts.
On the 1st November 2007, NME reported that Michael Tapper has left We Are Scientists under amicable circumstances, and on September 18, 2007, the band announced on their website that Max Hart, a keyboardist and guitarist who has played live with them before, has joined the band temporarily. As they put it: "There's no easy answer as to how long Max will stick around. Maybe we'll grow to hate his sanctimonious ways, which for now tickle us so. Maybe he'll grow to hate our open-minded, funny, refreshing, handsome ways, thus achieving what psychologists and bookies long ago labeled impossible."
And to make things even more exciting for the band, We Are Scientists is featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which Bishop Allen - at the time featuring former We Are Scientists drummer Michael Tapper - appears in a cameo.
According to Keith Murray's Wikipedia he was nominated for World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2007 and is predicted that he will be the new face of Louis Vuitton's spring/summer '09 collection.
The Band's 3rd effort, Barbara, was released in June of 2010 and features ex-Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows.
Courage
We Are Scientists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tell you that everything's fine
I've been waiting for you to arrive
Where is your courage?
Considering how I've been beaten
Looking you still be alive
Time I've been wasting
Where is your courage?
I've been making mistakes
Was in our war
I just barely escaped
The seconds to spare
Seconds to spare
Time I've been wasting
You never arrived
Where is your courage?
In We Are Scientists's song "Courage," the lyrics appear to be about someone who has been waiting for courage from another person, but hasn't received it. The first verse suggests that the singer is trying to reassure the person they're addressing that everything is okay, and that they're waiting for them to arrive. However, they seem to doubt whether the other person has the courage to show up or face a difficult situation.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on their own mistakes and experiences of being beaten down. Despite this, they're still alive and waiting for the other person to arrive, which suggests that they may be relying on them for support or encouragement. The repeated refrain of "where is your courage?" emphasizes the theme of bravery and resilience in the face of adversity, and suggests that the singer is disappointed that the other person hasn't shown up or taken action.
Overall, "Courage" seems to be a song about the importance of bravery and taking a stand, both for oneself and for others. The lyrics suggest that waiting for someone else to provide courage or support can be a frustrating and ultimately futile experience, and that it's important to find the strength within oneself to face challenges and overcome obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
I measure my words when I'm speaking
I carefully choose my words when I talk.
I tell you that everything's fine
I say that things are good, even when they're not.
I've been waiting for you to arrive
I've been expecting you to show up.
Where is your courage?
Why aren't you brave enough to face this challenge?
Considering how I've been beaten
Given how much I've been defeated or worn down.
Looking you still be alive
I'm surprised that you're still alive and well.
Time I've been wasting
I've been squandering valuable time.
You never arrived
You didn't come when I expected you to.
I've been making mistakes
I've been doing things the wrong way.
Was in our war
I was caught in a conflict with someone else.
I just barely escaped
I only narrowly avoided a bad outcome.
The seconds to spare
I only had a few moments left to make it out safely.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CAIN, KEITH MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind