Tim's Strangeland track-by-track: #7 The Starting Line
09 May 2012
7 - THE STARTING LINE LEER ESTO EN ESPAÑOL
I wrote the tune for this in the back of the bus on a boiling hot day in Boston in the summer of 2010. It was right after the show, and I was first on the bus so I cracked open a cold beer and picked up the guitar, and this spilled out straight away. That's my idea of heaven. We were in Lincoln, Nebraska a couple of days later and everyone had gone off to get some rest in the hotel. The tour bus was parked up outside for the day so I thought I would go on there and be able record the piano and vocal for the demo without disturbing anyone. Anyway I was singing away merrily when I felt the bus pull away and before I knew it I was heading out of town - I ended up doing most of the demo outside a Walgreens in the back-end of nowhere. I'm not sure the bus driver ever realised I was on board.
I like the idea of having to almost make a physical effort to get back on track sometimes, if you get really low or things just aren't going right. It's a very sympathetic song, and I think it a good articulation of the human sympathy that is a big part of what ties the album together.
Tim
7 - THE STARTING LINE READ IN ENGLISH
Compuse esta canción en la parte trasera del autobús en un día de calor sofocante en el verano de 2010 en Boston. Justo después del concierto, llegué el primero al bus, abrí una lata de cerveza fría y cogí la guitarra y el tema salió solo. Esta es mi idea del paraíso. Un par de días después estábamos en Lincoln, Nebraska y todos se habían marchado al hotel a descansar. El bus de la gira estaba aparcado fuera durante el día y pensé que podía irme allí y grabar el piano y la voz para la maqueta sin ser molestado. Estaba ensimismado cantando cuando de repente el autobús arrancó y antes de poder reaccionar se encaminó fuera de la ciudad – acabé haciendo la mayor parte de la canción en un Walgreens (farmacia) dios sabe dónde. Todavía hoy, no estoy seguro de que el conductor se diese cuenta de que yo estaba a bordo.
Me gusta la idea de tener que hacer un esfuerzo casi físico para volver al redil a veces, si te vuelves muy perezoso o las cosas no te salen bien. Es una canción muy comprensiva, creo que una buena concepción de la empatía humana es una de los ingredientes que más articulan la coherencia de este disco como un todo.
Tim
Comments (28)
wonderful song! Love it! It was the first one that I posted in my Facebook account! It brings us a great message. Thank you so much!
Great song, when I first heard it wasn't one of my favorites but now I can't keep it out of my head! I'm loving this album more and more thanks Keane! and when's mexico's turn?
you know Tim you are so clever.xx
Dear Tim a radio presenter on radio 5 suggested to Jesse and Richard that Keane had the perfect song for the Olynpics! They didn't know what he ws talking about. Anyway he played the starting line (brilliant song which has grown and grown on me). But yeah he ws right perfect song for the olympics!
I heard this song and I just fell in love with it.. It's a beautiful song and it should be a single.. :D Greeting from Chile!!! ♥♥♥♥
SALUT TIM°°'Ecrire est besoin pour certaine personne peu importe l'endroit ou l'on trouve a l'arriére d'un bus ou assis dans un parc !!ECRIRE c'est se retrouver seul avec soi même; coucher sur un papier toutes les émotions qu'on ressent sur l'instant dévoiler °° SES REVES °° sa façon d'être et ses principes ;;; c'est ce qu'on retrouve a travers tes textes Toujours présent pour aider celui qui est dans le besoin (( qui as perdu tout espoir en son avenir))) je trouve cela FORMIDABLE °°°° imaginer le paradis qu' y'a til de plus beau comme sujet d'inspiration ,???? cest pour cela THE STARTING LINE est si jolie c' esl' une de mes préferées sur l'album après SILENCED BY THE NIGHT la mélodie est si douce; légère je l'adore!! à chaque fois que je l'ecoute elle me donne envie de danser merçi a vous pour tous ses moments magiques ..... °° SINCEREMENT STRANGELAND °°°est un album de trés grande qualité JE TEMBRASSE
I bought Strangeland today and I'm so happy! :) This is one of my favourite songs of the album! good job boys! Argentina loves you! Come back soon!! (if possible close to my birthday! december the 12th)
is beautiful, it should be single
its genius, tim your story is so funny hahaha LOL its incredible how u do your songs (: thanks for share this with us♥ lorena, mexico :D
The Starting Line is amazing. Listened to it loads today. Tim always thinks of others 'without disturbing anyone'.
Tim, I love to read your chronics. I think that even the story behind each track should be a new song. Thanks, Mr. km. Beijos, Regina.
You guys are like part of my family. Your music helped me, when I went through a dark time, a few years ago... I love your songs really so much!!!
my love song !!! great !!
I forgot to mention that the whole album is stunning. When I played it for the first time I got the "O yeah, they did it again" feeling. Strangeland is really really good, it excelles in simplicity. I love Watch How You Go, Neon River, The Starting Line, and Black Rain just send shivers down my spine. Disconnected, Sovereign Light Cafe and Silenced By The Night already feel like classics. And In Your Own Time is simply stunning. Thanks Keane for doing a hell of a job!
This is one of the 1st to catch my ear & heart. One of the greatest songs ever - and to be. @ Bollebijn - the drum fill is absolutely crucial and amazing and WITHOUT it now, I feel it would NOT sound right - it's like, i wait for that little cool moment. That KCRW show was absolutey awesome! What strength in a one set show! I did love the acoustic shows to contrast, but, absolutely LOVE that Richard went to full kit and played his can off! Top of your craft now. You've always had something VERY special. Now, it has gotten to the pinnacle. I know you are enjoying it 'cause it shows! Congratulations! My book is enroute....and at least out of The Starting Line! : )
My favourite lyric is "love won't rest until it brings you to your knees". Your music is like the soundtrack to my life. There's a Walgreens right up the road from me. I should go park there one day and start writing :)
I am so obsessed with this song, as well as Sea Fog. Let's be honest, the entire album is genius. I love the lyric, "Forget the ghosts that make you old before your time". I don't care about all this new Keane old Keane stuff, it's still Keane to me. Your music speaks to me like no else and makes my heart want to sing along. Most brilliant album written so far :)
i love you Tim!!! you are the best!!
@Bollebijn I asked the same thing on Twitter! Richard said it was a fill from Tim's demo that he liked. I find it odd as well, but who am I to question genius?
Hola, Tim. Es alucinante cómo te inspiras y me has hecho reír. Lo que está claro es que tienes una especial y gran virtud, crear. Puedes tocar muy bien el piano pero no tener creatividad. Y tu Tim tocas y tienes la inspiración. Te aprecio como musico. Y ya sabes que te sigo. Es una canción encantadora y como dices comprensiva. Un petó personal per tu Tim. Lluïsa. Barcelona. No sé si algún dia te podré ver en directo. Me conformo en escucharte i leerte. T'estima.
as I am a female human being, which might to include to be odd, when I read as the introduction of this birth of this song: "...so I cracked open a cold beer and picked up the guitar, and this spilled out straight away. That's my idea of heaven" this sounds for me as if opening a cold beer & picking up the guitar is heaven for Tim. And knowing he is married ( I guess I might know too much from the surface) and as a divorced woman this sounds so Macho! Now, after my little cell-brains, which might be somewhere left, I might be able to understand the british language. "That´s my idea of heaven" was referred - maybe- to the part of: "and this (the song) spilled out straight away". So, with my little creative skills I have. I can understand, this felt like heaven. Checked! No worries about your wife, I guess she knows you, which I can´t say. Maybe, if the song lyrics would be longer explained then the introduction of how it was born the song, would help me not to create a mess in my head. Thanks! sorry, for the long post!
I was at that show in Boston! I will always remember that show because the setlist was just perfect. Very cool to hear that you started writing one of the best songs off the new album in my city!
Thank you Tim because you not only write amazing songs, but because you have the time to explain the meaning and tell us the origin of every story that you create. I will never had enough of you, my dear Tim, Keane is a group that made me understand more about what is going on in the world, how humans are more similar than it looks like, no matter our origins, you have an incredible sensitivity towards each situation and person. I know that maybe you don´t live everything that you write but Im certain that you feel it and understand it, that is why you are an AMAZING SONGWRITER and I will follow you, your kind and comprehensive words and pure, honest melodies, until the end of my days. brendavmora@hotmail.com twitter: @itskeanetime
TIM I LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE SONGS!!!!!!!!!! IS XCITING!!!!!!!!! ♥
It's a great song with good lyrics.
hm, Tim´s wife doesn´t read this blog, right?
Love this song, like all of the other songs on the album! As it was said on the 5 Live radio show the other day, I'm sure this song will be played sometime during the 2012 Olympics! Keep up the good work guys! :D
But what happened to the drum riff at the end? It just doesn't sound right. The whole song is great, but that little part..
