Echo and Miller formed the band in the fall of 1998, citing a mutual love of old-school new wave, dance-punk energy and dark pop, with bassist Jeff Jaeger, drummer Scott Ellis (Mellowdrone, She Wants Revenge) and guitarist Mike Smith. The latter left during the recording of their debut album, Shakedown!, which was released on The Label, a sub-label of Geffen Records.
After returning from touring, the band found the label was closing its doors, and, after Scott Ellis' departure, released The 1234 EP independently. Following a 2002 summer tour supporting Scarling., the band gathered enough money to release theSTART EP on Smallstone Records. After a tour supporting AFI, the band was signed to Nitro Records. Stabilizing a new line-up with Erick Sanger and Billy Brimblecom, Jr., they recorded their next album, Initiation. In the meantime, theSTART EP was re-released on Nitro Records under the title Death Via Satellite. Unfortunately, on the day of Initiation's release, Brimblecom announced his departure. The band proceeded to tour with artists such as The Offspring, Auf Der Maur and Garbage with a number of fill-in drummers. Sanger was let go in 2006 for unclear reasons, paving the way for current rhythm section Lance Webber and Chelsea Davis. The band also parted ways with Nitro Records, and signed with Metropolis Records later that year, releasing Ciao, Baby in 2007.
The Conversation
theSTART Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warm and colorful
All the faces shift and fade
Pressed her face against your's
Cold and colorless
She left the conversation days ago
Days ago
Why did you bring me here tonight?
Hope this finds you happy
Know that we are fine
Getting half her share of death
It was nice to know you.
All my best regards.
I'll see you on the other side.
Oh, I will see you on the other side.
Why did you bring me here tonight?
Why did you bring me here?
Why did you bring me here tonight?
Why did you bring me here?
I would give my breath for this to never end
In the dark I know you're mine.
Why did you bring me here?
The lyrics of "The Conversation" by theSTART can be interpreted in several ways, but the overall theme is about the impermanence of human connections and relationships. The first verse "Just before the breakdown, Warm and colorful, All the faces shift and fade" is about the fleeting nature of relationships; that they are bright and vivid for a short period before they ultimately fade away. The second verse "Pressed her face against your's, Cold and colorless, She left the conversation days ago" suggests that while one person may still be holding onto a conversation or trying to sustain a relationship, the other person has already moved on.
The chorus of "Why did you bring me here tonight?" is a question about the meaning or purpose of the relationship or conversation. There may have been a deep connection or attraction at some point, but now it seems to be fruitless or lacking in meaning. The bridge of "Hope this finds you happy, Know that we are fine, Getting half her share of death, It was nice to know you, All my best regards, I'll see you on the other side" is about acceptance and closure. It acknowledges that life is short and relationships come and go, but even if the relationship didn't last, it was still nice to have known that person.
Line by Line Meaning
Just before the breakdown
Immediately before things fell apart
Warm and colorful
Happy and vibrant
All the faces shift and fade
People change and disappear
Pressed her face against your's
They were close physically and emotionally
Cold and colorless
Sad and bleak
She left the conversation days ago
The relationship ended a long time ago
Why did you bring me here tonight?
Asking for an explanation for why they were brought to this situation
Hope this finds you happy
Wishing the other person well
Know that we are fine
Assuring the other person they are okay
Getting half her share of death
Splitting the negative consequences of a situation
It was nice to know you.
Reminiscing about the past relationship
All my best regards.
Well-wishing
I'll see you on the other side.
Looking forward to meeting again in another place or time
Oh, I will see you on the other side.
Repeating the previous sentiment
Why did you bring me here?
Again asking for an explanation for the situation
I would give my breath for this to never end
Expressing desire for the good times to continue
In the dark I know you're mine.
Assurance of loyalty
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.