Their music features a rare contribution to the genre, incorporating the use of a violin. Formed in 1997, the final line up consisted of Ryan Key (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ryan Mendez (lead guitar, vocals), Sean Mackin (violin, vocals), Nathan Young on drums, and Josh Portman on bass.
Yellowcard was formed in 1997 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA after meeting at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. The band was made up of six members back then:
Ben Dobson (1997 - 2000) : vocals, Todd Clarry (1997 - 2001) : guitar, vocals, Sean Mackin (1997 - 2017) : violin, vocals, Warren Cooke (1997 - 2002) : bass, Ben Harper (not the same as Ben Harper) (1997 - 2005) : guitar, Longineu W. Parsons III (1997 - 2014) : drums.
Former members: Ben Dobson (1997 - 2000) : vocals, Todd Clarry (1997 - 2001) : guitar, vocals, Warren Cooke (1997 - 2002) : bass, Alex Lewis (2003 - 2004) : bass, backing vocals, Ben Harper (1997 - 2005) : lead guitar, Peter Mosely (2002 - 2003, 2004 - 2007) : bass, vocals, Sean O'Donnell of Reeve Oliver(2010–2012) : bass guitar, backing vocals
The band released their first album, Midget Tossing, in 1997 but with not much success.
Around that time their lead singer was replaced by Ryan Key who convinced the band that they couldn't be successful in Florida, so they decided to move to Southern California.
The new group released their debut album, One for the Kids (Lobster Records), in 2001, and followed up with The Underdog EP (Fueled by Ramen Records) in 2002.
Yellowcard signed with Capitol Records in 2003 and released Ocean Avenue, which is their most successful album to date.
Soon after, bassist Alex Lewis was let go by the band. Pete Mosely who had produced and played bass on most of the songs on Ocean Avenue took over on bass.
The Yellowcard popularity "skyrocketed" after this period, with a song from Ocean Avenue, Breathing appearing in the game Burnout 3: Takedown.
Lights and Sounds was released in January 2006. The title track, Lights and Sounds, was the first single released off the album. It is also featured on the game Burnout Revenge. How I Go features Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.
In 2005 the guitarist Ben Harper left the band. He chose to work with his record label TAKEOVER RECORDS and has signed bands since his departure. He was replaced by Ryan Mendez (formerly of Staring Back) shortly before the Lights & Sounds tour began.
Paper Walls released on July 17th, 2007. Light Up the Sky was the first single released off this album. The album debuted at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling about 40,000 copies in its first week. After their tour for Paper Walls in 2008, the band went on hiatus for almost 2 years.
While touring for Paper Walls, Peter Mosely announced in a MySpace blog message that he would be leaving Yellowcard. . Josh Portman took over on bass until the reformation of Yellowcard in 2010, upon which Sean O'Donnell became the bass player.
Yellowcard's official Facebook page announced on August 1, 2010, that the band has reformed and will be working on a new record. When You're Through With Thinking, Say Yes released on March 22, 2011. On October 24, 2011, the band released an acoustic version of the album.
Sean O'Donnell left the band in early 2012, replaced by Josh Portman.
Southern Air was released on August 14, 2012. It debuted at 10 on the US Billboard top 200, making this their second album to debut in the top 10 and their second-highest debut. The album's first single, Always Summer, was released May 22, 2012. Here I Am Alive was released July 31 as the second single.
An acoustic version of Ocean Avenue was recorded for the album's tenth anniversary. The album was released on August 13, 2013.
On March 13, 2014, the band announced that drummer and founding member Longineu Parsons III had left the band. Parson's departure left Sean Mackin as the only remaining original member of the band.
On August 4, 2014, Yellowcard announced that the next album would be titled Lift a Sail. On August 19, 2014, the band released the first single, One Bedroom. Lift a Sail released October 7, 2014. The album is a notable change of sound for the band, moving away from pop-punk.
On June 7, 2016, the band announced on Facebook that its next album would be a self-titled album. Yellowcard was released on September 30, 2016. On June 24, 2016, the band released the lead single titled Rest in Peace.
On June 25, 2016, the band announced on via its website that the group would be breaking up after a final tour, stating: "Please come and join us on our last trip around the globe. We hope to share this final record and tour with each and every one of you." The band's final show was on March 25, 2017 in Anaheim, CA.
In 2019, it was reported that they were suing American rapper Juice WRLD over his hit song 'Lucid Dreams'.
2 Quarts
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No choice to decide,
What we're doing now
Is what we do in life
Tell us what we have
Just can't follow right
Somehow I don't believe
I think it's all a game
Someone's having fun
Playing with our minds
As if they've already one
There is nothing left
Here to call my own
There is no new sound
There is no new show
Everything's been done
What's been fun?
The only thing I've got
Has abandoned me
Taken away my life
Sit and think poor me
There is nothing left
Here to see
I wanna know right now
I wanna know right now
I wanna know right now
(1-2-3-4, go)
There is nothing left
Here to call my own
There is no new sound
There is no new show
Everything's been done
What's been fun?
Born into this world,
No choice to decide,
What we're doing now
Is what we do in life
Tell us what we have
Just can't follow right
Somehow I don't believe
Not for one second
I think it's all a game
Someone's having fun
Playing with our minds
As if they've already won
I wanna know right now
I wanna know right now
I wanna know right now
Right now
Right now
Right now
Right now
I wanna know right now
Right now
Right now
The lyrics of Yellowcard's song "2 Quarts" are about the existential questions that people often ask themselves about life. The opening lines convey a sense of helplessness and confusion about being born into the world without any choice in the matter. The lyrics suggest that life is like a game, and we are all players in it, controlled by someone else who is having fun at our expense. The lyricist questions the purpose of life, wondering what is left to be explored when everything seems to have already been done.
The chorus of the song is a cry for answers, a plea to know the truth behind life's mysteries. The repetition of the line "I wanna know right now" suggests a sense of urgency and frustration, as if the lyricist is tired of not knowing what is going on.
The final lines of the song return to the opening lines, bringing the song full circle. The lyricist reiterates the idea that we are born into this world without any say in what happens to us, and that we are simply doing what we do in life.
Overall, "2 Quarts" is a song that explores the meaning of life and the quest for truth and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Born into this world,
We didn't choose to be here.
No choice to decide,
We have no power or say in our birth or existence.
What we're doing now
Our present actions define our life.
Is what we do in life
Our choices, actions and behaviors often determine our destiny.
Tell us what we have
It's uncertain what our purpose or reason for existence is.
Just can't follow right
We feel lost and uncertain about the path we should follow.
Somehow I don't believe
I don't trust what's going on.
Not for one second
I don't believe it at all.
I think it's all a game
I speculate that existence is just a meaningless game.
Someone's having fun
An unknown force or entity is enjoying the game.
Playing with our minds
This entity is manipulating and controlling us.
As if they've already one
As if this entity has already achieved victory.
There is nothing left
There is nothing new or exciting.
Here to call my own
I don't have anything unique or special.
There is no new sound
There's nothing different or remarkable.
There is no new show
Nothing is changing or evolving.
Everything's been done
Everything has already been experienced.
What's been fun?
What's the point or enjoyment of anything?
The only thing I've got
The only thing that brings meaning to my life.
Has abandoned me
Has left and is no longer with me.
Taken away my life
The thing that gave me meaning is gone.
Sit and think poor me
I'm left alone to feel sorry for myself.
There is nothing left
There's nothing left to live for.
Here to see
Nothing is worth observing or experiencing.
I wanna know right now
I crave answers and understanding.
Right now
I want answers immediately.
(1-2-3-4, go)
I want to take action now.
I wanna know right now
I crave answers and understanding.
Right now
I want answers immediately.
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wind11011
I can't believe that yellowcard changed that much.. this is like another band!
@kyleosendorf2494
this is awesome! i didnt know these guys were punk rock
@dannyo633
This is super sick! We need some new young punk rock bands again
@Gawy77
best album name ever
@nena00655
Actually he used to be the vocalist of a post-hardcore band called from first to last and yes the band's style is kinda emo :)
@addman34555
thanks for uploading this
@michaelisaacs1060
HAHAHA. That's hilarious. I like what you did there.
@meatwoodflac4526
Sellin' out
@jaminjamesbaby
This isn't bad! I actually like this a lot! I'm just shocked this was them before I started listening at Ocean avenue. :P
@GhostAbortions
One two three four go