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.
Waiting For You
We Are Scientists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once you′ve wasted all of your precious time
I'll be there
I′ll be there
When you fall headlong into the unknown
Know that you're not going through it alone
I'll be there
Waiting for you
I know
Waiting for you
I know
I′ll keep waiting for the rest of your life
You've been aching for it all of this time
I′ll be there
I'll be
Waiting for you
I know
Waiting for you
I know
The next big step
You aren′t prepared
I'll give you my whole life
The next big step
Is under way already
My whole life
My whole life
I′ll be waiting for you
I know
Waiting for you
I know
The lyrics to We Are Scientists' song Waiting For You seem to be about being a support system for someone who may be struggling with their life choices or feeling unsure about their future. The first stanza, "Are you waiting for the rest of your life? Once you've wasted all of your precious time, I'll be there, I'll be there," suggests that the singer is aware that the person they are addressing may be hesitant about making moves or being stuck in a rut. The offer of being there could be interpreted as an assurance that they will help guide the person towards making positive moves forward.
In the second stanza, "When you fall headlong into the unknown, know that you're not going through it alone, I'll be there, I'll be waiting for you," the singer seems to be comforting the person that they will be there to offer their support when they take a big step and the outcome is uncertain. The singer proceeds to repeat the chorus, emphasizing that they'll be there for the person they are addressing, waiting for them.
The bridge, "The next big step, you aren't prepared. I'll give you my whole life, the next big step is underway already, my whole life, my whole life," further stresses the previous point of reassurance that the singer will dedicate themselves to helping the person through the next big step they take. They promise their "whole life" to the person, again emphasizing their dedication. The chorus is repeated again to close the song.
Overall, the lyrics of Waiting For You seem to be a positive and reassuring message to someone who may be struggling with taking a step forward. The tone of the song is one of encouragement and support, with the use of repetition in the chorus reinforcing the message of being there for someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you waiting for the rest of your life?
Do you feel like you're stuck waiting for something that may never come?
Once you've wasted all of your precious time
After all the time you've spent pursuing things that never truly mattered to you
I'll be there
I'll support you through your trials and tribulations
When you fall headlong into the unknown
When you take a leap of faith and dive into unfamiliar territory
Know that you're not going through it alone
Remember that you have someone to lean on through it all
Waiting for you
I'm patiently waiting for you to take that next step, whenever you're ready
I know
I'm confident that you'll be able to do it
I'll keep waiting for the rest of your life
I'll be here for you for as long as it takes
You've been aching for it all of this time
You've been longing for this next big step for a while now
The next big step
The next significant change in your life
You aren't prepared
You may not feel ready for it, or it may catch you off guard
I'll give you my whole life
I'll be there to support you fully, giving you everything I have to offer
Is under way already
The next step has already begun, and it's time to start moving forward
My whole life
I'm giving you my full support and commitment to help you through this time
Writer(s): Christopher Cain, Keith Murray
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.