Coilback - Metal from Texas

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BEHIND THE SONGS
Brief info about many of the Coilback songs

by Lew Morris

They say every song tells a story and that's definitely the case with Coilback. To help listeners get a better idea of the meanings behind the music, here's some brief stories about the songs from Lew.

I'll try and put these in the order they were written...

Green House - This was one of the first songs I ever wrote with Vlad. He had this cool Indian sounding riff and wondered if I could put lyrics to it. I asked him what the title was he had for it. He said, "Green House, but not like where you grow plants - like a house that's sort of overgrown with plants and stuff - almost like in a swamp or abandoned." So he said a bit more about talking about things like going back to where you grew up and stuff and I used that as a basis. Basically, it's from the point of view of a man who's thinking of a lost love. One of those, "...if I could just go back in time and change one thing..." sort of songs. Who hasn't thought that at least once. If we ever ge the budget for it, I have a really cool idea for a video - but then again, my imagination doesn't think in terms of a realistic budget. This song has gone through a LOT of changes since it was first written. The version on the site is not even how it is played with the current line up and was recorded by Liquor Goat. For those who like hidden stuff, if you have the technology, there is a hidden backward message at the end of the solo (on the Liquor Goat version).

Don't Stay - Even though this currently isn't a song we play much, it is still on the "back burner" and we may revisit it. Vlad and I both agree that it's too good of a song to just throw away. It's actually a song I wrote in it's entirety on an acoustic guitar back in like '96 or so. I was going for a real Doors "dark and slow" feel. Really moody. I like it, but it's a bit slow for a crowd that wants to mosh. Good album track. The song is about a man who is tired of his significant other's friends, co-workers, etc. constantly tell her that she should leave him. Basically the typical "friends trying to break up the relationship thing." It sort of starts with a somber mood of "maybe I do suck" and then slowly changes into a "well if you want to believe them, then fine go with them" mood by the time it's done. The Liquor Goat version appears as a bonus track on the "Love is Dead" album.

Ain't Nothin' To Me - The initial "bluesy" riff was actually something I had with me for awhile. One of those "mess around" riffs. Vlad decided to put it in a song, but we all agreed that it was too slow and needed some sort of pickup. It seems to work better live than in the studio and we have yet to get a real recording of it. It doesn't appear on an album yet, but shows up in a live show here and there. The lyrics are just basically straightforward. Summarized: "I don't really give a shit what you do - it isn't going to bother me."

Your Misery - This was one of those songs that I came up with the riff first and then had to find some words to fit it. Basically, I wrote the entire song - riff and all in about an hour or so. It talks about the whole annoyance of people who like to "show off" how miserable they are. The typical, "well if you think you got it bad..." thing. It takes a stab at all those who wear sorrow and misery as a fashion accessory. Some interesting notes: the underlying vocal line that runs opposite of the main line in the bridge was written on the drive to the studio - before that, we had just done it the way we always play it live. Also, for those who are really bored - try and count the beats during the pause after the bridge (EP Version)...The version on the "Love is Dead" album differs drastically from the version on the EP.

Throw Away - This was one of those songs that I was going for a precise feel on. I wanted something with a good build up at the beginning instead of the typical, "hit it and go" approach. The lyrics are more artistic on this than I normally do. It's more about society as a whole - the whole "disposable" attitude that everyone carries. Basically it talks about how people these days are so quick to take things for granted and when stuff gets tough to deal with, they'd rather just throw it away than fix it.

Take it From Me - I had a rough version of this written just before Steven joined the band. I didn't know how it was going to turn out, but I knew I wanted something a bit heavier than we had been doing. This was another song where I wrote the riff and had to find some words for it. The basic idea of the song is someone who is fed up with being pushed around and is about to push back. I'm sure a few of you have been there.

Hate Me - This is the first official song totally written with the current line-up. While we did do "Take it From Me" as the first song we worked on, it was fairly complete already. "Hate Me" was definitely a product of this line up. I really wanted to come up with something that featured some drums on their own. Just to get a different feel. The riff came up in a jam session at rehearsal. Everyone liked it, so I went home and came up with some lyrics for it. Really not much past that making wise - it just came together as a lot of songs seem to now. The songs meaning is different than some people think. It actually is about a certain person I knew. Basically they were one of those friends that would be nice just long enough to get something from you. The ones that make it tough to just tell them to go because they act all sweet and nice at the right moment. The song is saying "Just hate me and it will be a lot less stressful to deal with you since I'll know what side of the fence you are on." The lyrics to this one and "Won't Follow" are actually about the same person. The EP version and the version on "Love is Dead" differ.

Won't Follow - Steven actually came up with the initial riff for this song. I did only some minor changes to it to make it fit the flow of the lyrics a bit more. This one got a little "hacked" in the studio and didn't quite come out the way I had it in my head. We may or may not come back to this one on the next recording (Update: It never ended up being re-recorded for the "Love is Dead" album). The song talks about people who basically lead you on to take you nowhere. It's about the same person that "Hate Me" was written about. Even though the "friend" didn't supply much friendship, they at least gave me some good material indirectly.

Let Me Go - Another riff that came from a jam session at rehearsal. This is by far one of our most popular live songs and is on the "Love is Dead" album. I'm not totally convinced we are through with this one yet. I think you might see a few tweaks here and there before it finally becomes "permanent." The song deals with people who envision you to be something you are not and then hold you to that expectation. This is the sort of "get in their face and do something about it" song. Good for playing on bad days...

Twisted Vision - I've always been big into those songs that start slow and slowly evolve before your eyes. Sort of like Metallica's "One" or Led Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven." I can't really say this compares, but it's the general idea. Everyone seemed to latch on to this song immediately and has been a crowd favorite at every show so far. The general notion of the lyrics are people who are so "out of touch" that they think that the whole world thinks like them - even though THEY are the psychopaths.

Time for Pain - This one came together a lot quicker than I thought it would. I wrote the lyrics with a tune in my head. When I came to the next rehearsal, we went to play it and it came out almost exactly as I had pictured it the first time we played it. Despite how it sounds, it's not necessarily about a specific person. The general idea is to capture the emotion and anger of someone who has been walked all over for awhile and is ready to just "snap" and strike back. Another good song to listen to when you are pissed off at the world.

Nothing's Done - This was written more as a live song. I wanted something to open with where we could basically "hit the ground running." It's got a old school punk influence, along with some good old school metal. The lyrics are about someone who keeps trying to stop from going mad, but is losing the battle...

Unbroken - This song was designed around a few riffs I've had for awhile. The lyrics cover the subject of people who keep telling you that you must be a certain way to fit into society. The message of the song is basically, no matter how hard you try, you can't make me give up my individuality.

Love is Dead - The story behind the song is pretty goofy really. We did a photo shoot in a graveyard awhile back. I was snapping some photos of some interesting headstones. I came across one that just said "Love" on it (of course, that was the family's name). I thought, what a weird concept - "Here Lies Love." Well that phrase sounded a bit too alternative, so I thought, "Love is Dead would be a cool title for a song - and I already have a cover for the single, heh." Problem is, I just couldn't come up with any lyrics at the time that worked for me. So, about two years later, I finally came up with something. Pathetic, but hey, song ideas come from everywhere, right ? The general idea of the lyrics is basically the point you reach when you've totally lost any feelings towards someone that has screwed you over in a relationship. When you are at the point where you are just saying, "It's just not there anymore."

Going Away - This is the most recently written song that appears on the "Love is Dead" album. The song is pretty much focused around someone who is fed up with a "soon-to-be-ex" significant other. The main "hook" riff was actually written on the spot by Vlad. Lew asked for a riff and Vlad spit the riff out immediately. Very heavy and very aggressive - if that makes any sense.

Blind Eye - This one of the first riffs written after the recording of the "Love is Dead" album. I actually was just sitting around the warehouse by myself and dicking around on the guitar when this riff came out. I sat down and worked out the main points of the song, wrote some lyrics and showed the band. Not much changed on the song once the band got a hold of it. The lyrics basically cover the idea of someone who can't see how messed up their thinking is.

Nothing to Say - This was written about the same time "Blind Eye" was. I wanted another song that would make a good opener as an alternate to "Nothing's Done." Why I keep going back to the "Nothing" theme is beyond me, but I guess it works. Some people say it has a slight Marilyn Manson feel to it, but it's pretty straightforward Coilback style music. It covers the whole movement that seems to recently have taken hold of bands that write songs that have absolutely no meaning or message at all (but somehow convey the nonsense as if they are angry about it).

Scapegoat - I hate the fact that I couldn't come up with a more original title, but it does cover the meaning of the song and somehow the first name that fits a tune seems to be the one it gets stuck with no matter how hard you try to get rid of it. This is the first original tune written after John and Eddie joined the band. John had the basic opening / verse riff and I threw in the pre-chorus and chorus riff. Eddie covered the bridge. The title says it all - a song about getting blamed for other people's screw ups.

Bring You Down - The music is all Eddie and John on this one. Basically was written while I was busying working on other stuff at the rehearsal warehouse. I came in, threw some lyrics down and that was it. Written pretty quick. I happily don't play guitar on this right now.

Has-Been - This is a song that has had it's subject our minds the past few months. This applies more to the Dallas scene for us than anywhere else, but I'm sure many can relate on other levels. It's basically about people who used to be a big deal who are nothing now that are trying to use what's left of their "pull" in order to sway things for their own personal gain or ego. All the while they are screwing things up for everyone else. We seem to have a few of those down here.

Take Away My Time - This is the first song written with the new drummer. It has a similar feel to Twisted Vision with a little more edge and complexity. It basically deals with a person who feels like it's all about them and that everyone owes them something. Basically it's saying, if you want it all, you might as well take everything. The lyrics are pretty clear cut.