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'.
All Apologies
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All apologies
What else can I say
Everyone is gay
What else could I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
All apologies
In the sun, in the sun I feel as one
In the sun, in the sun
Married
Married
I wish I was like you
Easily amused
Find my nest of salt
Everything's my fault
I'll take all the blame
Aqua seafoam shame
Sunburn, freezer burn
Choking on the ashes of her enemy
In the sun, in the sun I feel as one
In the sun, in the sun
Marry
Bury
Married
Buried
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
All in all is all we are (x7)
The lyrics to Yellowcard's song "All Apologies" utilize Kurt Cobain's "grunge" writing style to convey feelings of self-doubt and shame. The opening lines "What else should I be, all apologies" express the singer's remorse for not fitting societal norms or expectations. He believes that he should be more than he is, and is apologetic for not living up to expectations. The following line "Everyone is gay" has been viewed as a nod to Cobain's own acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and showcases the singer's willingness to accept all people regardless of sexual orientation.
The third line "What else could I write, I don't have the right" could be interpreted as the singer's struggle with writer's block or feeling inadequate as a writer. The second verse of the song expands on the feelings of shame and blame that the singer feels, with lines like "Everything's my fault, I'll take all the blame" and "Choking on the ashes of her enemy." Overall, the song conveys deep-seated insecurities that the singer has about conforming to societal norms and struggling with guilt and shame.
Line by Line Meaning
What else should I be
Questioning what else the singer should be in life
All apologies
The singer is sorry for something that isn't clear
What else can I say
Rhetorical question about what else could be said
Everyone is gay
Acknowledging that everyone should be accepted for who they are
What else could I write
Questioning what else the artist could write about
I don't have the right
Recognizing that the singer is not qualified or entitled to something
What else should I be
Questioning what else the singer should be in life
All apologies
Reiterating that the artist is sorry for something that isn't clear
In the sun, in the sun I feel as one
Feeling at peace and part of something larger while in the sun
In the sun, in the sun
Repeating the idea of feeling at peace in the sun
Married
Unsure of the significance of the word in this context
I wish I was like you
Wanting to be more like someone else
Easily amused
Longing for a simpler lifestyle
Find my nest of salt
Discovering a place of rest and solace
Everything's my fault
Taking blame for everything that goes wrong
I'll take all the blame
Continuing the idea of the artist taking responsibility for everything
Aqua seafoam shame
Using vivid imagery to describe feelings of guilt or regret
Sunburn, freezer burn
Comparing physical ailments to emotional pain
Choking on the ashes of her enemy
Feeling suffocated by the consequences of someone else's actions
Married
Repeating the word with unknown significance
Bury
Possible connection to death or burying the past
Married
Repeated again with unexplained meaning
Buried
Possibly referencing being covered or hidden from view
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating a phrase for emphasis
All in all is all we are (x7)
Summing up the idea that we are all connected and part of the same world
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Manfred G
great cover guys! keep rocking!
yc jamo
Love this
İlter Elmas
Betta than original.
josh kemmerer
Wow this is pretty bad. His voice just does not fit this song at all!