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'.
One Year Six Months
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I will not forget, I will not forget
How this felt one year six months ago i know
I cannot forget, I cannot forget
I'm falling into memories of you
Things we used to do
Follow me there a beautiful somewhere
I can tell that you don't know me anymore
It's easy to forget sometimes we just forget
Being on this road is anything but sure
Maybe we'll forget I hope we don't forget
I'm falling into memories of you
Things we used to do
Follow me there a beautiful somewhere
A place that I can share with you
So many nights
Legs tangled tight
Wrap me up in a dream with you
Close up these eyes
Try not to cry
All that i got to pull me through
Is memories of you
I'm falling into memories of you
Things we used to do
Follow me there a beautiful somewhere
A place that we can share
Falling into memories of you
Things we used to do
The lyrics of Yellowcard's song One Year Six Months seem to be about the singer reflecting on memories of a past relationship. The lyrics express a desire to remember, but also an acknowledgement that forgetting can be all too easy. The repeated line "I will not forget, I cannot forget" highlights the singer's resolve to hold onto these memories.
The metaphor of "sewing up with threads of reason and regret" suggests that the singer is attempting to make sense of these memories and come to terms with them. The nostalgia is palpable when the singer remembers "things we used to do" and longingly invites the listener to follow him "there, a beautiful somewhere, a place that I can share with you". In a sense, these memories are a way of keeping the relationship alive in the singer's mind.
However, there is also a sense of sadness and loss in the lyrics. The singer acknowledges that "being on this road is anything but sure" and that the relationship may be truly over. The line "legs tangled tight" suggests intimacy and closeness, but that is now just a memory, leaving the singer with only these memories to pull him through.
Overall, the lyrics convey a wistful longing for what was and an acknowledgement that those days are gone. It is a reflective and poignant song that many can relate to when dealing with the aftermath of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Sew this up with threads of reason and regret
I want to remember this moment clearly by logically analyzing my thoughts and feelings while also acknowledging my mistakes and regrets.
So I will not forget, I will not forget
It's important for me to remember this experience and not let time erase it from my memory.
How this felt one year six months ago i know
I vividly remember how I felt exactly a year and a half ago, and I don't want to lose that clarity.
I cannot forget, I cannot forget
This memory is too important to let go, and I am determined to hold onto it.
I'm falling into memories of you
I am being consumed by thoughts and memories of you.
Things we used to do
I miss the activities and experiences we shared together.
Follow me there a beautiful somewhere
I want to escape reality and be with you in a place where everything is beautiful and peaceful.
A place that I can share with you
I want to share this special place with you because it's somewhere we can both be happy.
I can tell that you don't know me anymore
I can sense that we have grown apart and you don't understand me like you used to.
It's easy to forget sometimes we just forget
It's common to forget the important things in life, and I'm scared we might forget each other.
Being on this road is anything but sure
Life is unpredictable and we don't know where this journey will take us.
Maybe we'll forget I hope we don't forget
There's a chance that we might forget each other over time, but I don't want that to happen.
So many nights legs tangled tight
We shared many intimate nights together, wrapped up in each other's arms.
Wrap me up in a dream with you
I want to be in a dream-like state with you where everything is perfect and we're together.
Close up these eyes try not to cry
I'm trying to hold back my tears and not let the sadness consume me.
All that i got to pull me through is memories of you
The only thing keeping me going is the memories I have of you and our time together.
A place that we can share
I want us both to be part of this special place where we can find happiness and comfort.
Falling into memories of you
Once again, I find myself dwelling on my memories of you and our time together.
Things we used to do
I miss the experiences and moments we shared together that are now just a memory.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ERIC HARPER, LONGINEU WARREN III PARSONS, PETER MICHAEL MOSELY, SEAN MICHAEL WELLMAN-MACKIN, WILLIAM RYAN KEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind