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'.
Down On My Head
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For one more day that I can say I'm all alone, alone
I just need time
And I will say what I believe and I'll come home, home
And all I know
I never thought I would wake up in bed
Watching the world coming down on my head
This is the world coming down on your head
As life flies by
I'm not sure how I'm gonna do this all again, again
So write my line
I write this down and I'm just trying to find the end, the end
And all I know
I never thought I would wake up in bed
Watching the world coming down on my head
I'd sleep like a dog if you would never had said
This is the world coming down on your head
You gave it to me
I remember it well
You got the world coming down on your head
There's nothing to fight for, it's already dead
And this is the world coming down on my head
I never thought I would wake up in bed
Watching the world coming down on my head
I'd sleep like a dog if you would never had said
This is the world coming down on your head
I'm not gonna swallow now that I'm fed
'cause I want the world coming down on my head
I'm just gonna find out you're already dead
And that was the world coming down on your head
The lyrics of Yellowcard's "Down On My Head" tell a story about the struggles and pressures of life that can lead to feelings of isolation and misunderstanding. The first verse describes the singer's need for some time alone to gather their thoughts and express their beliefs. The second verse expresses the singer's uncertainty about facing life's challenges again, and their struggle to find a way to bring their thoughts and feelings to an end. The chorus, which repeats twice, talks about waking up to a world that is coming down on the singer's head, something they never expected, but must now face.
The third verse takes a singular turn, as the singer sings about someone who had previously given them trouble, and how the world is now coming down on their head. The final chorus switches from a feeling of helplessness to one of empowerment, with the singer declaring that they will not give up, and that they want the world to come down on their head, rather than just lying down and accepting their fate.
Overall, Yellowcard's "Down On My Head" is a song that speaks to the human experience of facing the pressures of the world, and the need for courage and strength to face those challenges head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
I work all night
For one more day that I can say I'm all alone, alone
I put in long hours for the sake of being able to say that I have some time to myself, but it leaves me lonely and isolated.
I just need time
And I will say what I believe and I'll come home, home
And all I know
I require some space and reflection, and when I speak my truth, I will be able to find my way back to a sense of home and belonging.
I never thought I would wake up in bed
Watching the world coming down on my head
I'd sleep like a dog if you would never had said
This is the world coming down on your head
I was not prepared to wake up to the harsh reality of the world and all of its problems. I would rather hide from it all, but unfortunately, someone has called my attention to it.
As life flies by
I'm not sure how I'm gonna do this all again, again
So write my line
I write this down and I'm just trying to find the end, the end
And all I know
As time continues to pass by, I am uncertain if I have the strength to face the challenges that lie ahead. Writing allows me to process and attempt to make sense of it all, even if I don't know what the outcome will be.
You gave it to me
I remember it well
You got the world coming down on your head
There's nothing to fight for, it's already dead
And this is the world coming down on my head
I vividly recall when someone first made me aware of the state of the world and its troubles. It seems as though there is no hope left and nothing worth fighting for. The weight of all of these things bear down on me heavily.
I'm not gonna swallow now that I'm fed
'cause I want the world coming down on my head
I'm just gonna find out you're already dead
And that was the world coming down on your head
I refuse to accept things as they are and will not ignore them despite feeling overwhelmed. Rather, I will confront the issues and acknowledge that sometimes we must grieve for what has already been lost before moving forward.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER MICHAEL MOSELY, WILLIAM RYAN KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind