7 Sept 2011

Light Out, Light Out - Lyric Day

On Monday evening me and my poorly ankle (torn ligament) went off to meet my mum for a "secret" Snow Patrol gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Mum is a big fan of SP - she's seen them 4 times and I've seen them 3 times. (skip to the bottom if you want to check out a couple of videos I took at the gig)

I think SP create mixed feelings about their music - unfairly so I would say, as Run was just played so much, everywhere and even copied by Leona Lewis. Additionally, Open Your Eyes and Chasing Cars seemed to be used on every blimmin advert and TV show on telly. So they kind of made SP really mainstream and poppy when actually they're a bit grittier than that.

I was surprised to learn that SP have been going for over 15 years actually - first formed by Gary Lightbody at uni in 1994 - but they only hit the big time with Run. Which is an awesome song. All the haters out there, really, you have to admit it's a great song - I bet you have a little sing-a-long to it when you're on your own!! Anyway, the rest of their stuff is worth a listen to - particularly Chocolate and Spitting Games.

I first listened to Final Straw loads when one of my best friends moved to Australia for a year and all the tracks really remind me of her! I also saw SP support U2 at Croke Park in Dublin and they were pretty awesome - even in the pissing rain to a half empty stadium. The stuff on the new album that they played on Monday was pretty good - a couple of love songs that were a little too much for me but some of the other stuff sounded really intriguing - Fallen Empires in particular - which even managed a touch of drum'n'bass. (Mum was a bit perturbed at this juncture!!).

So anyway, today's Lyric Day song is, unsurprisingly, Run. It's a gorgeous song - I've chosen a live version because it's amazing to hear 1000's of people singing along! And also because the official vevo version on youtube cuts the song off before the end - weirdly.....

On monday night, Gary came on stage with just a guitar and sang the first two verses. He then walked off stage and the entire place sang the whole song to him. It was so incredibly beautiful and I was so glad to be part of it. Here are the lyrics:

"I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do

Light up...

Slower slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads

Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess"
Thank you and good night,

Stupidgirl has left the building

PS Here are a couple of videos I took at the gig



PPS Cheryl, this blog post is for you lovely!

2 comments:

  1. very vibalicious. know which 'back in the day' band I think is due to be rediscovered?----Eric Burdon and The Animals....'I'm just a soul whose intentions are good....Please, Lord don't let me be misunderstood.' I play it in my head as 'Jonathon's Theme' (all of them actually) when I write episodes of the wonderland. Hope your ankle heals up quickly...nite....

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  2. Eric Burdon and The Animals! Now you're talking :-)

    Wonderful night at Shep Bush and I love Gary, so there. What do you mean I was perturbed by the drum'n'bass????

    I do love RUN so thanks for featuring it but honestly they have so many good tracks it is hard to have a fave.

    They play again in London this month I've discovered, btw ....

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