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'.
Keeper
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you to love me, I want you to leave me
I want to stand where I can see
I'm watching you love me, I'm watching you leavin' me now
But I wish I could be somebody else
I wish I could see you in myself
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
You know I need something that's real
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
I wanna know if I could be
Someone to turn to that could never hurt you
But I know what you think of me
Yeah, you had a breakthrough and now I'm just bad news for you
But I wish I could be somebody else
I wish I could see you in myself
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
And say what you really feel
You know I need something that's real
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
I should've told you everything
I never gave you anything
I should've told you everything
If I could give you anything
Then I would tell you everything
I wish I could be somebody else
I wish I could see you in myself
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
And say what you really feel
You know I need something that's real
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
I should've told you everything
I should've told you everything
I should've told you everything
The lyrics of Yellowcard's "Keeper" express a complicated mix of desires and regrets. The singer discusses his wish to be loved and left alone simultaneously, speaking to the conflicting emotions that can exist within a person. He expresses a desire to be with his partner, but also acknowledges his wish to be someone else entirely. He watches his partner as they both love and leave, wanting to be someone they could never leave behind. The singer admits to being bad news for his partner after they had a breakthrough, implying he was holding them back in some way.
Despite the mixed emotions, there is a yearning for something real, a desire to connect and be understood. The singer regrets not sharing everything with their partner and acknowledges they never gave enough. The lyrics encapsulate the complexities of human relationships, the desire for love and companionship, and the many ways that we can hold ourselves back.
Overall, "Keeper" is a poignant exploration of the complications that can arise within relationships. The song speaks to the desire to be loved and understood, combined with the fear of being rejected. It speaks to the desire to be oneself while also being someone else entirely, a complicated mix of emotions that is universal to the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna love, I wanna leave
I have mixed feelings about this relationship and can't decide whether to stay or go.
I want you to love me, I want you to leave me
I'm torn between needing your love and needing my independence.
I want to stand where I can see
I want transparency and honesty in this relationship.
I'm watching you love me, I'm watching you leavin' me now
I'm aware that you are simultaneously loving me and pulling away from me.
But I wish I could be somebody else
I wish I had a different personality or traits that would make me more desirable to you.
I wish I could see you in myself
I wish I had more in common with you, or that we shared similar personality traits.
I wish there was something inside me to keep you beside me
I wish I had the internal qualities or skills to make you want to stay with me.
And say what you really feel
I want open communication and for you to express your feelings honestly.
You know I need something that's real
I want a genuine relationship that isn't just based on surface-level interactions.
I wanna know if I could be
I'm curious if I have the potential to be the type of partner you need and deserve.
Someone to turn to that could never hurt you
I want to be a source of support and comfort for you, without causing you pain.
But I know what you think of me
I'm aware that you may have negative opinions or feelings towards me.
Yeah, you had a breakthrough and now I'm just bad news for you
You may have reached a realization that I'm not the right fit for you or that being with me may not be healthy for you.
I should've told you everything
I regret not being more open and honest with you in the past.
I never gave you anything
I feel like I haven't contributed much to this relationship or given you what you need from me.
If I could give you anything
I want to be able to provide for you and meet your needs in a way that makes you happy.
Then I would tell you everything
If I had the chance, I would be completely transparent with you and share everything about myself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: LONGINEU WARREN III PARSONS, PETER MICHAEL MOSELY, RYAN MICHAEL MENDEZ, SEAN MICHAEL WELLMAN-MACKIN, WILLIAM RYAN KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind