Letter From Geoff

[Rohan Kohli]

Geoff of Thursday (http://www.thursday.net) recently sent out the following message about the band's song, and first single, "Counting 5-4-3-2-1 (http://www.thursday.net)" - the artwork for the single can be found here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=7552&c=7).
Hey all - Now that you've heard "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" from our upcoming album, A City by the Light Divided, we wanted to tell you a little bit about it. We actually wrote most of this song in the Full Collapse days. If you really listen, you can tell: Like that album, "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" is built around a spiraling guitar line and call and response vocals. We recorded several versions of this song since then but none of them came out quite right. This time we tried recording it almost completely live and it finally worked! When it came time to record the vocals we used an old microphone from our days of putting on basement shows-- when we finished mixing the song, it gave us the same feeling we used to get from seeing all our friends' bands rocking in our favorite places. We hope it gives you that feeling too.

The song is about a friend of mine that died while we were in high school. He was my partner in French class and we had a few things in common. Aside from being terrible at French and loving the same girl two seats ahead of us, we both hated living in a small suburban neighborhood where everyone dressed the same, looked the same and liked the same types of food. Both of us would talk for hours about where we were going to go when we got out of school and went off on our own. Unfortunately, he was hit by a train that runs behind the bleachers on the football field. When I finally finished school and moved away from that town, all I could think of was the fact that he would never have the chance to leave. Now, years later, I think of how many of my friends have been swallowed up by places that they'll never leave and it keeps me determined to follow my heart. I hope if any of you ever get the chance to leave a place that you can't stand, you play this song as you drive away. That would do my heart some good.

thanks and love,

Geoff

54321- let's start a fire

we'll burn this town from inside out until no one's left alive
(counting)
5-4-3-2-What are you waiting for?
The train is catching up.
Keep on running- Don't look back.
'Cause it's 10-9-8-7 everybody's coming to burn this city, burn this city down tonight.
Leave it all behind...
All his life, he lived in the same house same
white fence surrounding him, he swore he would get out but he can't 'cause his foot got
caught in between the rails and all his friends are up ahead.
They can't hear him yelling (yelling for some help) and it's much too late to call the doctor now This town is full of sympathies
We're drowning in it all...
(counting)
5-4-3-2-What are you waiting for?
The train is catching up.
Keep on running- Don't look back.
'Cause it's 10-9-8-7 everybody's coming to burn this city, burn this
city down tonight.
Leave it all behind...

Is that the sound of the gate coming down?
No flashing lights, no warning?
When we press our ears to the ground,
we feel the shake
But it's under the skin so we wilt like violets and can't get up to put the petals in their place.

5-4-3-2-what are you waiting for?

[unwritten]

I love the song.

[Kram41]

Excuses, excuses...

[Tony Pascarella]

That's really cool.

[Jason Tate]

I love Thursday so much.

[Steve Henderson]

Wow.

[Steve Henderson]

Excuses, excuses...
Retard? Or asshole?

[Steve Henderson]

I am just amazed how much he wants everyone to understand and LIKE their music...a class act...

[Ruggiero2oo8]

wow thats crazy. great song,

[leocorrea]

Retard? Or asshole?
I think retarded asshole would work perfectly.

I looove this song

[Doubleya2002]

Wow, he certainly has seen a lot of tragedy in his life.

[Grybo]

thats deep.

[Burnout2888]

Excuses, excuses...
What excuses was he making?

[btbam > you]

i love this band and geoff

[leafsacc]

wow, that gives the song a whole new meaning, that's pretty cool that he would let everyone know that.

[Anton Djamoos]

Not even joking, I remember when this kid got hit by the train. I used to live in the area.

[Frank Giaramita]

Wow. I think Geoff has known more people who have passed away then I know who haven't.

[JunkBondTrader]

Wow, he certainly has seen a lot of tragedy in his life.
you aint kidding.

but yea this song is incredible. everyone decided to hate it right away. definately the best song they have put out since paris in flames. in my opinion. better than some of full collapse, better than jet black new year, better than all of war all the time. fucking love this song.

[Web250]

Geoff Rickley is a master at life.

[xeroedhorizons]

Holy crap Geoff Rickley has had so much loss in his life. One of his friends got shot in the head. This one by a train. Another killed himself. My god, he has perservered through so much and I respect that so much.

[uhh beer]

he touches me in a way

[thebirdsflyhigh]

such an amazing lyricist, and wanting to get out of the town that you were raised in so realatible. shit i love thursday

[Northstar1245]

OK...Geoff is extremely insightful and deep and I love him.

[blinkdude127]

I did a report on Geoff Rickly last year for my english class that foucsed on his lyrics and I can honestly say that Geoff is arguably one of the most brilliant songwriters and that every single song has some sort of story based around it. His lyrics come from the heart and I think thats the most important quality a songwriter should posess. Countdown 5-4-3-2-1 grows on me every time I listen to it and the demos alone conviced me that A city by the light divided is gonna be a great album.

[Francese5]

Yeah Dumont NJ

[cris545]

damn, yet another reason to love thursday

[fullerm]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. although, at times, it is very difficult not to think that a person didnt accomplish all that they wanted in life, i respect someone so deeply that i could not just do that. I cannot believe he just said that.

[JunkBondTrader]

dude......im sorry, but the demos are pretty much better than anything on Full Collapse, and its not one of those "soon as i get it i think its the best thing the band has ever done, and then realize its not after listening to it alot" synodromes......these demos have been out for awhile. If they can pull a great emotion from these songs on the record and the production is great then this cd will be better than Full Collapse easily.

[wakeupgomer]

I am just amazed how much he wants everyone to understand and LIKE their music...a class act...

Good call.

[JunkBondTrader]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. I cannot believe he just said that.
i honestly think you are just going for shockvalue, and you want your own opinion.......i know this because you sit here and lurk after you write it, probably refreshing the page multiple times waiting for a response.

[lightcollapse]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. I cannot believe he just said that.

what the fuck? retard.

this song grew on me like woah.

[mogwaifearsatan]

Wow... amazing. Definitely makes me see the song a new way.

"I hope if any of you ever get the chance to leave a place that you can't stand, you play this song as you drive away. That would do my heart some good."

That hits pretty close to home.

[JunkBondTrader]

"5-4-3-2- what are you waiting for?"

is the best lyric of the year thus far.

[mogwaifearsatan]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. although, at times, it is very difficult not to think that a person didnt accomplish all that they wanted in life, i respect someone so deeply that i could not just do that. I cannot believe he just said that.

Please point to me the part where Geoff said that his friend "lived in vain". He said he felt bad because he never got to leave the place he hated... nothing about "living in vain", in fact he said they were a great person. I'm very sorry you have experienced death, but if you listen to any Thursday, it's pretty obvious Geoff has too, and I think he handles it well. I don't think he meant at all that the person lived in vain at all, the song is about an aspect of his friend's death that he found especially hard to deal with.

[seans seatbelt]

He is so passionate; fuck, I love Thursday.

[Steve Henderson]

Well I think the consensus is this...regardless of what you think of the music value of the song, it is a very deep and involving piece of work.

[thebirdsflyhigh]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. although, at times, it is very difficult not to think that a person didnt accomplish all that they wanted in life, i respect someone so deeply that i could not just do that. I cannot believe he just said that.

just as you would like to be respected for your matters of dealing with death, do the same for him. everyone has different ways of greiving and expressing their emotions. also when someone dies early its unfortunate and depressing to think about how little time they had to accomplish their dreams.

[TgE ARTdamage]

so does anyone have this as an MP3?

myspace keeps taking a huge shit on me when i try to stream it, and i dont have a real player plug in.

if anyone wants to help a guy out - hit me up on aim xEMOxBRATx

[xearlynovemberx]

Geoff Rickley is a master at life.

that is an understatement more like he is a holy ruler at life

[YourFaceIsFunny]

Lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelov elove

[lightcollapse]

so does anyone have this as an MP3?

myspace keeps taking a huge shit on me when i try to stream it, and i dont have a real player plug in.

if anyone wants to help a guy out - hit me up on aim xEMOxBRATx

i need this as well, amy my screen name isn't totally fucking lame.

[eskaparate]

one more reason for me to like thursday even more.

[Frank Giaramita]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. although, at times, it is very difficult not to think that a person didnt accomplish all that they wanted in life, i respect someone so deeply that i could not just do that. I cannot believe he just said that.
You are Completely oblivious, and I truly feel sorry for you. The guy writes songs about things that effect him emotionally (something very few bands do these days) , and goes out of his way to make sure fans understand how fragile life is. How the hell can you possibly criticize that?... If you're looking for a reason to bitch and moan, pick a different place to do it.

[druck]

That gave me chills. Geoff is the man. That last line just makes me want to blast this shit and drive away.

[JunkBondTrader]

these 6 songs i have pwn. i cant wait for this cd.

[lightcollapse]

these 6 songs i have pwn. i cant wait for this cd.

you're talking about the demos and counting, right?

[Flags of Dawn]

i take it this wasnt one of the demos?

[JunkBondTrader]

you're talking about the demos and counting, right?
haha yea, im not going to try and start some leak hysteria.



or am i?

[Punk20]

Wow, I too had a friend in French class who liked the same girl I did, who sat a couple seats up from us. Seriously, that's a crazy coincidence.

[XBurnedDesireX]

good song..

[BIGDeVriendt]

one more reason for me to like thursday even more.
word

[AbsentTruth]

Just listened to full collapse last night for the first time in awhile.

[KidLightning]

wow, that is not cool. i think very less of Geoff as of right now. as i have just experienced a death in my family, that is very wrong and very disrespectful for him to explain that or much less even write a song about that. it makes me very sad and upset for someone to say somebody lived in vain and never got to do what they wanted to from life. especially someone who is only an acquaintance of yours, not even a real friend of his, just 'some dude' he had french class with back in high school. if he is going to remembrer this person's life on the basis of what they DIDN'T do that is cruel to that person and his family. death is about a rememberance of what a person brought into this world, not what they didn't. although, at times, it is very difficult not to think that a person didnt accomplish all that they wanted in life, i respect someone so deeply that i could not just do that. I cannot believe he just said that.
i'm not going to jump down your throat like a few people did, i just want to say that i think you're misunderstanding the song. he's not calling his friend out and saying anything like "haha, sucker you died before you could achieve your dreams" what he's saying is that this kid's life and it's sudden, unpredictable end can just show you exactly how short and unpredictable life can be. so when he says "what are you waiting for" he's saying that you can't just wait for things to happen, you have to go for it and do something. i don't think it was insulting at all.

[starinyourfire]

wow. that is really deep.

[alexwohl29_90]

Deep?


I'll say so.

[ACA]

The lyrics are incomplete, unfortunately.

-ACA

[boekebong]

Thanks Geoff.

[danielplaysbass]

man, i love thursday

[catscradle]

he touches me in a way
haha...i saw that and laughed b/c that can be taken so out of context. I guess i have a dirty mind cause i'm still laughing.

[HIDEOUSstrength]

good stuff

[_all_star_me_]

i need to hear this track, can anyone IM me? i cant get windows media to play on this mac.

[verybarrywhyte]

The lyrics are incomplete, unfortunately.

-ACA

Noticed that too.

5-4-3-2-1 Lets start a fire.
Burn this town from inside out.
Till no ones left alive.
And you can’t feel the rhythm of your steps when you hit the street.
Sixteen is so far away from here, when you're counting every step.

[jawkneephighv]

Excuses, excuses...get the fuck out of santa clara and move to santa fist yourself you worthless asshat.

[DSCN1854]

i honestly think you are just going for shockvalue, and you want your own opinion.......i know this because you sit here and lurk after you write it, probably refreshing the page multiple times waiting for a response.

Heck, who doesn't. I know most people around here sit there ass refreshing and waiting for a response, even if they didn't post anything worthy of "shockvalue" or whatever.

That kid's still a retarded douche though.

[livelovecrydie]

does anyone else think that the whole thing about it being written in the full collapse days is somewhat of a lie to make up for the song not being very good? think about it.. after he realized that very few people were going nuts about their new song, he made up this 'fact' up the song would now relate to their best album, hoping this would then cause people to look at the song in a different [and better] way? that could explain why he said "most of it" was written back in those days, not all of it, so it wouldnt be a complete lie. maybe just one sentence of the lyrics to this song were written back in the full collapse days, and thats it.

and don't waste your time criticizing me or my comment (since thats what most of you love to do when someone speaks a single negative word about geoff whatever-his-last-name-is), i'm just curious if anyone else was thinking that too.

[DSCN1854]

does anyone else think that the whole thing about it being written in the full collapse days is somewhat of a lie to make up for the song not being very good? think about it.. after he realized that very few people were going nuts about their new song, he made up this 'fact' up the song would now relate to their best album, hoping this would then cause people to look at the song in a different [and better] way? that could explain why he said "most of it" was written back in those days, not all of it, so it wouldnt be a complete lie. maybe just one sentence of the lyrics to this song were written back in the full collapse days, and thats it.

and don't waste your time criticizing me or my comment (since thats what most of you love to do when someone speaks a single negative word about geoff whatever-his-last-name-is), i'm just curious if anyone else was thinking that too.

Not at all.

[Steve Henderson]

does anyone else think that the whole thing about it being written in the full collapse days is somewhat of a lie to make up for the song not being very good? think about it.. after he realized that very few people were going nuts about their new song, he made up this 'fact' up the song would now relate to their best album, hoping this would then cause people to look at the song in a different [and better] way? that could explain why he said "most of it" was written back in those days, not all of it, so it wouldnt be a complete lie. maybe just one sentence of the lyrics to this song were written back in the full collapse days, and thats it.

and don't waste your time criticizing me or my comment (since thats what most of you love to do when someone speaks a single negative word about geoff whatever-his-last-name-is), i'm just curious if anyone else was thinking that too.
Good conspiracy theory. Fucktard.

[analog_boy]

Shame the song is shit.

[ACA]

The first thing I thought when I heard this song:

"The spiraling guitar paints an image of a train, much in the way Understanding paints an image of a driving car..these two songs must have been written around the same time."

Interesting to learn it's true.

-ACA

[March_Faster!!]

I love Thursday and always will. Geoff honestly seems to really care how people feel while listening to their music. I love how he opens himself up to everyone. Good shit.

[1000shadesofred]

im sorry people but island has ruined thursday... their last album was BARELY worth mentioning... and this single... just sounds so horribly over produced and non-thursdayesque... and dont get me started on their garbage lyrics... what happened to the raw hardcore thursday that i used to see when i was younger.... the first concert i ever went to was a thursday concert... and im very dissappointed in their direction under this label

PS by "garbage lyrics" i mean simply on this song.....

[UrOwNdISaStR180]

I truly appreciate the passion in Thursday's music and the fact the Geoff pours so much of himself into his lyrics, he truly is a great songwriter... That being said I still am not enamored with this song, there again I haven't given it a proper number of spins

[DroppedUrPocket]

I don't understand why he feels the need to explain when the song was recorded or how many times they did it or with what microphone. Explaining the meaning behind the lyrics is understandable, but It's like he came into the General Forum and saw everyone calling it their worst song yet and decided to make a statement trying to justify the song.

I thought the song was good, but I thought this statement from him was unnecessary.

[NFG4ever]

haha that's cool , so many kids could relate to this tune. Sounds like a cool guy

[Jonas900]

certainly helps explain the song and make me appreciate it more...but i don't really hear the "basement" sound, it still sounds really produced to me.

[Steve Henderson]

I don't understand why he feels the need to explain when the song was recorded or how many times they did it or with what microphone. Explaining the meaning behind the lyrics is understandable, but It's like he came into the General Forum and saw everyone calling it their worst song yet and decided to make a statement trying to justify the song.

I thought the song was good, but I thought this statement from him was unnecessary.
If you read the remarks Rickley made about how much he cares that people love his music, it makes sense.

[projectmayhem16]

I'll play this song when I leave, and I'll never look back

[DroppedUrPocket]

If you read the remarks Rickley made about how much he cares that people love his music, it makes sense.
Why you little!

http://hem.passagen.se/andreas_schennings/homer.jpg

[Steve Henderson]

Why you little!

http://hem.passagen.se/andreas_schennings/homer.jpg
Gak Ackkkkk Arggghg <misc other choking noises>!

[mogwaifearsatan]

does anyone else think that the whole thing about it being written in the full collapse days is somewhat of a lie to make up for the song not being very good? think about it.. after he realized that very few people were going nuts about their new song, he made up this 'fact' up the song would now relate to their best album, hoping this would then cause people to look at the song in a different [and better] way? that could explain why he said "most of it" was written back in those days, not all of it, so it wouldnt be a complete lie. maybe just one sentence of the lyrics to this song were written back in the full collapse days, and thats it.

and don't waste your time criticizing me or my comment (since thats what most of you love to do when someone speaks a single negative word about geoff whatever-his-last-name-is), i'm just curious if anyone else was thinking that too.

Well, you're theory might be correct, if the song was in fact "not very good" like you said. Something tells me that Geoff cares way more about how the song will relate to people and letting people know what the song meant than exaggerating irrelevant logistics on when the song was written to fool people into liking his music. Stop thinking so much.

[s.deel.besonym]

Whoever said "5-4-3-2 what are you waiting for" is the best lyric this year.. wtf.

I respect Geoff, and this statement, but the whole counting bit.. "10-9-8-7.. 5-4-3-2.." that's so.. silly.. when Thursday puts it in a song. To me it seems immature and goofy.

No disrespect to Thursday, I think they're extremely amazing artists, that's why I'm disappointed to see such an oddball lyric use in their song.

[HiddenInNJ]

Excuses, excuses...

someone should beat you back into retardation... I'm glad to know the story behind the song especially since growing up near the area

[Ponyboy]

i think the chick they both liked mite be my old english teacher

she went to high school with him and said how he liked her or sumthing
but she was stupid and thought nothing of it...

[sweethypocrisy]

im sorry people but island has ruined thursday... their last album was BARELY worth mentioning... and this single... just sounds so horribly over produced and non-thursdayesque... and dont get me started on their garbage lyrics... what happened to the raw hardcore thursday that i used to see when i was younger.... the first concert i ever went to was a thursday concert... and im very dissappointed in their direction under this label

PS by "garbage lyrics" i mean simply on this song.....
LOL YA U R SO PUNK ROX MAJUR LABELES RUIN BANDS!!!!!11111111111111111\m/



fuck off.

[Shatter_Glass]

Just look how amazing Geoff is in the situation I am about to talk about. Remember when the Thursday demos leaked and how Geoff issued that statement along the lines of "enjoy it guys!" He came off like a real stud. Now look at the Brand New demo situation with the managment and the band. We all know what their reaction was. NOW saying that i KNOW the circumstances that people can argue as far as these demos are about "Deja" old and the Thursday's were brand spankin' new. Brand New could argue so many things and so could everyone on here but look at the end result. Thursday are happy you have their demos and Brand New is not. Thursday > Brand New*. Take this with a grain of salt and when in rome.....

*maybe ;)

[sweethypocrisy]

Just look how amazing Geoff is in the situation I am about to talk about. Remember when the Thursday demos leaked and how Geoff issued that statement along the lines of "enjoy it guys!" He came off like a real stud. Now look at the Brand New demo situation with the managment and the band. We all know what their reaction was. NOW saying that i KNOW the circumstances that people can argue as far as these demos are about "Deja" old and the Thursday's were brand spankin' new. Brand New could argue so many things and so could everyone on here but look at the end result. Thursday are happy you have their demos and Brand New is not. Thursday > Brand New*. Take this with a grain of salt and when in rome.....

*maybe ;)
yeah, then when you look at AVA's manager saying even talking about the band on here was bad.

[Shatter_Glass]

yeah, then when you look at AVA's manager saying even talking about the band on here was bad.

in the words of the great Mystikal, "True, true" or as Kurt Angle would say: "It's True, It's True."

[reductiondesign]

Geoff is an awesome dude. Can't wait for this record.