The band’s name is inspired by a lactating contortionist stripper named Alexis Fire. This caused problems when she discovered that they were using her website name (alexisonfire.com) as their band name, and threatened to sue. However, since she had never trademarked the title nothing became of these threats. In the end, the band decided to change their website’s URL in spite to theonlybandever.com
Alexisonfire’s lyrical topics range from relationship troubles to go-karting. They have two primary vocalists, screaming duties carried out by George Pettit, and singing by Dallas Green, with support from Wade MacNeil.
While their largest fanbase is in their home country of Canada, they also became more popular in other parts of the world, including Japan, Australia, Europe and the US. In the second half of 2010, they toured Australia with Break Even, Europe with Chickenhawk and The Computers and then Canada with Norma Jean and La Dispute.
The band was nominated for "ugliest rock band ever" at the CASBY awards (held by local Toronto radio station) but lost out to another Canadian born band, Sum 41. In 2010 they then won the "Best New Single" Award for their track The Northern.
Members:
* George Pettit - Vocals (2001-present)
* Dallas Green - Guitar and vocals (2001--present)
* Wade MacNeil - Guitar and vocals (2001--present)
* Jordan 'Ratbeard' Hastings - Drums (2005--present)
* Chris Steele - Bass (2001--present)
Former Members:
Jesse Ingelevics - Drums (2001-2005)
Announced on their website on June 14th 2005 that he was leaving the band because he had slowly grown apart from the band, and wanted to spend more time with his family and fiancée. His relationship with Alexisonfire slowly deteriorated, and "keep it on wax" documented this.
Side Projects
* City and Colour - Dallas Green's solo project.
* Black Lungs - A band formed by Wade MacNeil as lead vocalist, originally featuring George Pettit playing bass and Jordan Hastings on drums and Sean McNabb. After a few shows disolved to being Wade's solo project.
* Strange Notes - A project of George's where he interviews people from different bands.
* Cunter - A band where drummer Jordan Hastings plays with some members from Moneen.
*Dead Tired A band formed by George.
*Say Yes A band that Hastings drums in.
*Gallows A band that Wade Macneil is currently the vocalist for.
Discography
* "Math Sheet Demos" (3 Song Demo) - 2001
* "Pink Heart Skull Sampler" (2 Song Demo) - 2002
* "Alexisonfire" (Debut Album) - 2002
* "Brown Heart Skull Sampler" (2 Song Demo) - 2004
* "Watch Out!" (Album) - 2004
* "The Switcheroo Series" (EP, split with Moneen) - 2005
* "Crisis" (Album) - 2006
* "Crisis (Bonus Tracks)" (Two Songs, download only, but appeared on the Japanese Pressing of the album) - 2006
* "Old Crows / Young Cardinals" (Album) - 2009
* "Old Crows / Young Cardinals (Bonus Tracks)" (Two Songs, download only, but appeared on the Japanese Pressing of the album) - 2009
* "iTunes Original" (EP) - 2010
* "Dog's Blood" (EP) - 2010
* "Death Letter" (EP) - 2012
* "Live at Copps" (Live Album/DVD) - 2016
This Could Be Anywhere In The World
Alexisonfire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This town, it takes lives, without mercy, without hate
The streets are in distress
The sun suffocates behind darkened skies
The grass is growing on top of my feet
I'm sinking, won't be long, before I'm too deep to run
The line up seems endless
Underneath the salvation signs
We are the dead ones, we are the lost cause
We are the bend before the break, Our steps seal our fate
Because this city
This city is haunted
By ghosts (ghosts)
From broken homes (homes)
Because this city
This city is haunted
And there's no hope (hope)
Left for these souls (souls)
Every step I take I leave a small piece
Of myself behind, soon there will be nothing left
The cracks in the pavement
Match the cracks in their weathered skin
The sky's a brick wall
The ground's a juggernaut
Each day they get a bit closer
Between them, I am caught
I stare in amazement
I can't believe this is where I live
Every breath I take I feel my lungs seal
This breeze feels more like shards of glass, I'm more scars than skin
Because this city
This city is haunted
By ghosts (ghosts)
From broken homes (homes)
Because this city
This city is haunted
And there's no hope (hope)
Left for these souls (souls)
Our steps seal fate
Our steps seal fate
This is our celebration
Come join the lost souls
This is our celebration
Come join the lost souls
This city
This city is haunted
Oh!
Walk with us, oh!
Down
Walk with us
This city
This city is haunted
By ghosts (ghosts)
From broken homes (homes)
Because this city
This city is haunted
And there's no hope (hope)
Left for these souls (souls)
The lyrics of Alexisonfire's "This Could Be Anywhere In The World" paint a bleak picture of a city that is suffocating its inhabitants. The opening lines describe how the town has its "claws buried in [the singer's] neck," a striking metaphor for how the city has a hold on him. The next lines describe how lives are taken in the town without mercy or hate, indicating a kind of indifference that has taken hold in the community.
The remainder of the song continues to paint a dark picture of the city, with descriptions of distressed streets, suffocating skies, and growing grass that is ready to consume those who walk on it. The salvation signs, which in another context might indicate hope, instead serve as markers for the dead and lost cause.
The chorus of the song highlights the central theme of the lyrics, in which the city is haunted by ghosts from broken homes and there is no hope left for the lost souls. The celebration referred to is that of the lost souls, indicating perhaps that the singer is also one of them, lost in this haunted city. The lyric "our steps seal fate" is repeated, suggesting that the singer is resigned to his fate in this town.
Line by Line Meaning
This town has its claws buried in my neck
The town consumes me and won't let go, as if claws are dug into my neck.
This town, it takes lives, without mercy, without hate
The town consumes souls without prejudice or passion.
The streets are in distress
The streets are in a state of chaos and disorder.
The sun suffocates behind darkened skies
The town is dark and gloomy, with no room for sunshine or optimism.
The grass is growing on top of my feet
I am stuck in the town, sinking deeper and deeper, feeling as though I am being consumed by nature.
I'm sinking, won't be long, before I'm too deep to run
I am sinking in the town's grip, and it will not be long until I am too caught up to escape.
The line up seems endless
The problems and issues in the town seem to never end.
Underneath the salvation signs
Even in places where there should be solace and comfort, the town's grip is still present.
We are the dead ones, we are the lost cause
We are those who have been consumed by the town and are beyond saving.
We are the bend before the break, Our steps seal our fate
We may still have hope, but every decision we make brings us closer to our doom.
Because this city, This city is haunted, By ghosts (ghosts) From broken homes (homes)
The town is haunted by the memory of its broken and damaged inhabitants.
Because this city, This city is haunted, And there's no hope (hope) Left for these souls (souls)
There is no hope left for the broken souls of the town.
Every step I take I leave a small piece, Of myself behind, soon there will be nothing left
The town is draining me of my very essence, and I soon I will be nothing but a shell of who I once was.
The cracks in the pavement, Match the cracks in their weathered skin
The souls of the town are as worn and damaged as the town itself.
The sky's a brick wall
There is no room for hope or growth within the town's limits.
The ground's a juggernaut
The town is powerful and unstoppable, crushing everything in its path.
Each day they get a bit closer, Between them, I am caught
The town's grip tightens every day, and I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I stare in amazement, I can't believe this is where I live
I can't comprehend how I ended up in such a hopeless place.
Every breath I take I feel my lungs seal
The town is suffocating me, leaving me with no options or hope.
This breeze feels more like shards of glass, I'm more scars than skin
Even the air feels like it is attacking me, leaving me as nothing but a walking shell of my former self.
Our steps seal fate
Every decision we make leads us closer to our dismal end.
This is our celebration, Come join the lost souls
We celebrate and embrace our shared misery and hopelessness.
Walk with us, oh! Down, Walk with us
Join us in our descent into the abyss of this hopeless town.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dallas Green, Wade Macneil, Jordan Hastings, Chris Steele, George Pettit
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind