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'.
Rivertown Blues
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another leap of faith
I close my eyes and wait to fall
I see a future in which I will soon become
The only truth you know at all
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
I miss you madly and it's raining on the coast
I'm supposed to say "this was your loss", and "I'm fine"
I stare for hours at these numbers in my hand
But ringing you would mend your heart, and break mine
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
(Sometimes I dream)
We laugh 'til we cry
(With smoke in our eyes)
Just like old times
Never again
That was back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
The lyrics to Yellowcard's "Rivertown Blues" tell a story of a relationship that has changed over time. It's a powerful reflection on the loss of something special and how things can never go back to the way they were before. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song: "Here I go again, another leap of faith. I close my eyes and wait to fall." This is a moment that many people can relate to - taking a risk and hoping for the best. The singer sees a future in which they will become "the only truth you know at all." This shows that they have put a lot of themselves into this relationship.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on the past and how things used to be different. They miss the way things were before, but they also know that they can never go back to that place. They think about "back when we built something new, the world was ours to conquer, and we were not afraid to lose ourselves." This is a powerful image of young love and the way that two people can feel like they are changing the world together. But somewhere along the way, the other person changed in a way that the singer could not follow.
The chorus repeats the idea that "something inside this" has changed, and that the singer can never follow the other person down that path. They dream "we laugh 'til we cry, with smoke in our eyes, just like old times" but they know that it can never be that way again. The final lines drive home the point that this is a relationship that has irreversibly changed: "Somewhere inside this, you changed, and I could never follow you that way."
Overall, "Rivertown Blues" is a powerful meditation on the ways that relationships can change over time. It's a song that will resonate with anyone who has looked back on a relationship and wondered what happened to the people they used to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I go again
Beginning another journey of self-discovery
Another leap of faith
Taking another chance without knowing the outcome
I close my eyes and wait to fall
Trusting the unknown
I see a future in which I will soon become
Visualizing a version of oneself that is yet to be achieved
The only truth you know at all
Self-acceptance is the only truth one can hold
You wanna know what I'm thinking
Inviting the audience to consider the singer's thoughts
I think about back then
Reflecting on past experiences
Back when we built something new
Remembering a period of innovation
The world was ours to conquer
Feeling confident and capable
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Willingness to take risks without fear of failure
Somewhere inside this, you changed
A realization that someone has changed over time
And I could never follow you that way
No longer being able to relate to someone who has changed
I miss you madly and it's raining on the coast
Feeling intense longing amidst a somber atmosphere
I'm supposed to say "this was your loss", and "I'm fine"
Feeling societal pressure to seem unbothered by a past relationship
I stare for hours at these numbers in my hand
Holding onto a past memory
But ringing you would mend your heart, and break mine
Understanding that reaching out may hurt more than it helps
Sometimes I dream
Occasionally reminiscing about the past
We laugh 'til we cry
Remembering joyful moments with friends
With smoke in our eyes
Indicating a carefree and rebellious attitude
Just like old times
Nostalgic for the past
Never again
Coming to terms with the fact that the past cannot be replicated
Somewhere inside this, you changed
Reiterating that someone has evolved over time
And I could never follow you that way
Reiterating that the relationship dynamic has shifted
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Longineu Warren Parsons, Ryan Michael Mendez, Ryan William Key, Sean Michael Wellman-Mackin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sofia Ruhh
Here I go again
Another leap of faith
I close my eyes and wait to fall
I see a future in which I will soon become
The only truth you know at all
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
I miss you madly and it's raining on the coast
I'm supposed to say "this was your loss", and "I'm fine"
I stare for hours at these numbers in my hand
But ringing you would mend your heart, and break mine
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
We laugh 'til we cry
(With smoke in our eyes)
Just like old times
Never again
That was back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
李岳林
Here I go again
Another leap of faith
I close my eyes and wait to fall
I see a future in which I will soon become
The only truth you know at all
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
I miss you madly and it's raining on the coast
I'm supposed to say "this was your loss", and "I'm fine"
I stare for hours at these numbers in my hand
But ringing you would mend your heart, and break mine
You wanna know what I'm thinking
I think about back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
We laugh 'til we cry
(With smoke in our eyes)
Just like old times
Never again
That was back then
Back when we built something new
The world was ours to conquer
And we were not afraid to lose ourselves
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
Somewhere inside this, you changed
And I could never follow you that way
thedrumdude97
this is seriously one of their top 3 songs... yellowcard is awesome
Vipe Jay
the machine gun drumming...the guitar riffs at the end...its just freakin perfect...everything yellowcard does is just pure brilliance...and that comes from a guy who hates the Pop Punk genre...
notsleptwell 1
Thx my (not so into that music)friend
Mark Stoner
The energy on this song is unbelievable. Cannot stop nodding my head the whole time
Jeff Smith
Did I just hear a guitar solo from Yellowcard? They need to do this more often.
Steven Hanenburg
Listen to The Takedown, Holly Wood Died, Lift A Sail, etc.
jesuslf20
Yellowcard's best song ever
PopPunkChannel
The guitar solo is freakin' perfect.
MonkeyTurtle100
That drum track is just brilliant, the softness in the first verse is so precise this was LP's greatest track i think
Bryan G.
Punk YC, heck yeah! One of my faves off the album (I'm also an absolute sucker for Here I am Alive, lol). Nate young (formerly of Anberlin, if you haven't heard of them check them out) does great. He recorded for their new album (Lift a Sail) and has toured with them, playing several of their well know songs. I think people were divided about the drummer switch. LP was an absolute beast! NO argument. BUT i think Nate adds his own little touch that i think sounds great. YC forever man!