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'.
Grey
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe everything was meant to be this way
Will it ever change
But are we stuck here on our own
It's all gone grey
It's all gone grey
I know it wasn't you that made me feel this way
Will it ever change
Or are we stuck here on our own.
And give it one more try
I don't know if I would stay
I feel so much better now
And baby begging me
Will leave you so empty inside
So you shouldn't even try
I know every last regret inside of me is my own
The way I hold them close has made me be this way
I will never change
I know I'm stuck here on my own, on my own
Given one more try
I don't know if I would stay
I feel so much better now
Where did we go wrong
I know you still hold on to me
But it's time that you let go
I gave you things I had
That I could not get back again
But I'm better off alone
It's all gone grey
It's all gone grey
It's all gone grey
It's all gone grey
Yellowcard's song Grey explores themes of regret, change, and acceptance. The song begins with the image of grey skies clouding up the things the singer used to see with wide eyes. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which reflects on how the past has influenced the present. The singer wonders if everything was meant to be this way and if it will ever change. They also express being stuck in their current situation alone.
The chorus, "It's all gone grey," is repeated throughout the song, indicating a sense of hopelessness and acceptance of the way things are. The second verse reveals that the hardest thing for the singer was telling the truth, and they acknowledge that it wasn't the other person who made them feel this way. However, the singer feels better now and warns the other person not to try and come back because it will only leave them empty inside.
The bridge suggests that the singer knows all of their regrets are their own and the way they hold onto them has made them be this way. They accept that they will never change and that they are stuck on their own. In the final chorus, the line "I gave you things I had that I could not get back again" suggests that the singer has given everything they could but still can't fix what went wrong.
Overall, Grey is a reflection on past mistakes and how they can shape the present. The singer has accepted the way things are and acknowledges that they are better off alone. The song encourages listeners to confront their regrets and accept the things they cannot change.
Line by Line Meaning
Grey skies clouding up the things we used to see with wide eyes
Our view of the world has become dulled and pessimistic, overshadowed by negativity.
Maybe everything was meant to be this way
Perhaps this is simply how fate intended it to be, without any particular reason or explanation.
Will it ever change
Is there hope for a better future, or are we doomed to endure this indefinitely?
But are we stuck here on our own
Can we rely on anyone else to help us navigate through this difficult time, or must we face it alone?
I found telling you the truth the hardest thing to get out
Confessing my feelings and thoughts to you was incredibly difficult and painful.
I know it wasn't you that made me feel this way
I understand that you aren't to blame for the way I feel, even though it may seem that way at times.
Or are we stuck here on our own.
Perhaps there is no one else we can turn to for support, and we must find our own way out of this.
And give it one more try
Let's attempt to overcome this obstacle and see if we can make things better.
I don't know if I would stay
I'm not sure I have the strength or desire to make this work long-term.
I feel so much better now
Talking about our problems has had a cathartic effect and eased our emotional burden.
Will leave you so empty inside
Continuing to cling on to something that is inevitably doomed will only result in pain and emptiness.
So you shouldn't even try
It would be better to move on and try to find happiness elsewhere, rather than holding out hope for something that can never be.
I know every last regret inside of me is my own
I am responsible for my own mistakes and shortcomings, and cannot blame others for them.
The way I hold them close has made me be this way
My inability to let go of my regrets and past mistakes has shaped me into the person I am today.
I will never change
I am aware of my own flaws and weaknesses, and know that they are unlikely to change anytime soon.
Where did we go wrong
What exactly caused our relationship/friendship to fall apart, and how could we have prevented it?
I know you still hold on to me
You are still emotionally invested in this relationship, even though it is over.
But it's time that you let go
It would be healthier for both of us if you moved on and found closure elsewhere.
I gave you things I had
I invested a lot of time, energy, and emotion into this relationship/friendship.
That I could not get back again
Unfortunately, I can't take back or undo anything that has already been done or said.
But I'm better off alone
Ultimately, it's better for me to be on my own and find happiness and fulfillment outside of this relationship/friendship.
It's all gone grey
Once bright and vibrant, our world has now become dull and monochromatic due to this emotional turmoil.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LONGINEU WARREN III PARSONS, PETER MICHAEL MOSELY, SEAN MICHAEL WELLMAN-MACKIN, WILLIAM RYAN KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind