Hawthorne Heights developed a huge MySpace following that became a catalyst that would launch them from underground to international awareness. The band became regulars on MTV, their signature hit Ohio Is For Lovers the anthem for the new wave of “emo”. Their debut album The Silence In Black And White soon went Gold, and with their second album If Only You Were Lonely, the band scored Victory Records’ biggest ever debut, landing at #3 on the Billboard 200 in 2006. The band appeared on Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel, and became magazine cover stars, sending sales of The Silence… to Platinum status.
In November 2007, whilst in the midst of legal disputes, tragedy struck within the Hawthorne Heights family. Casey Calvert, the much loved guitarist and resident “screamer” of the band, lost his life while on tour, due to an accidental overdose of medications prescribed by his doctor and dentist, which proved to be lethal combination. The effects on the band were evident, both personally and musically.
On August 5 2008, Hawthorne Heights return with Fragile Future, a brand new album. Although the sound is still distinctly Hawthorne Heights, the music, as with the band, has understandably evolved.
“After spending the last 2 years in a deep dark place, we decided to try to find the bright lights again with Fragile Future,” noted singer J.T. Woodruff. “We, as a band, noticed that everyone has tremendous ups and downs, so we wanted this record to communicate that. We chose the title Fragile Future, because it sums up the current state of our band, as well as what is going on in the outside world. We must all make good choices to create a better situation in our lives.”
"With the loss of Casey, and no plans to replace him, we've had to make some obvious changes to our sound on this record,” added drummer Eron Bucciarelli. “Originally there were less screams planned for this record than the second one, but sadly we never got the chance to do even that. This forced us to take a creative approach to certain songs. We've beefed up the guitars in parts, added gang vocals, choirs and all sorts of effects to still capture some of the energy that Casey brought.”
Current Members
JT Woodruff: Vocals/Guitar
Mark McMillon: Guitar
Chris Popadak: Drums
Matt Ridenour: Bass
Previous Members:
Casey Calvert(deceased): Guitar/Backup Vocals
Eron Buciarelli: Drums
Micah Carli: Guitar
For more information, visit: http://www.hawthorneheights.com
Ohio Is For Lovers
Hawthorne Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know it's hard to feel like I don't care at all.
Where you are and how you feel.
Put these lights off as these wheels
Keep rolling on and on. (and on and on and on...)
Slow things down or speed them up.
Not enough or way too much. (and on and on and on...)
Are you and I gone?
[Chorus:]
And I can't make it on my own.
(And I can't make it on my own.)
Because my heart is in Ohio.
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.
(Cut my wrists and black my eyes)
So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.
Because you kill me.
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.
Spare me just three last words.
"I love you" is all she heard.
I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever.
[x2]
[Choruses w/ ad-libs]
The song "Ohio Is For Lovers" by Hawthorne Heights is a heart-wrenching ode to lost love and longing. It speaks to the pain of being separated from a loved one and the desperate desire to be reunited with them. The opening lines immediately set the tone of the song, as the singer admits that it may be hard to believe that he cares at all about his distant lover. The refrain, "And I can't make it on my own, because my heart is in Ohio," drives home the point that he feels incomplete without his beloved.
The lyrics describe the struggle to find balance in the absence of a loved one. The lines, "Slow things down or speed them up, not enough or way too much," convey the feeling of being stuck in a painful limbo. The singer seems to be comforted in the idea of being reunited with his love, even if it means death, as he sings, "So cut my wrists and black my eyes, so I can fall asleep tonight, or die. Because you kill me, you know you do, you kill me well. You like it too, and I can tell. You never stop until my final breath is gone."
In the end, the song leaves the listener with a sense of bittersweet hope. The closing lines, "Spare me just three last words. 'I love you' is all she heard. I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever," speak to the idea that love can transcend time and distance, even when it feels impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there,
Greeting the listener, implying the singer is addressing someone.
I know it's hard to feel like I don't care at all.
Acknowledging that the listener may feel neglected or unimportant.
Where you are and how you feel.
Inquiring about the listener's current location and emotional state.
Put these lights off as these wheels
Desiring to turn off the lights and stop moving.
Keep rolling on and on. (and on and on and on...)
Feeling stuck in an endless cycle, unable to break free.
Slow things down or speed them up.
Contemplating the pace of life and whether it is too fast or slow.
Not enough or way too much. (and on and on and on...)
Questioning whether there is too little or too much of something in life, without resolution.
Are you and I gone?
Wondering if the listener and speaker have drifted apart or will soon be separated.
[Chorus:]
Introducing the chorus section of the song.
And I can't make it on my own.
Confessing that the artist needs support and cannot carry on alone.
(And I can't make it on my own.)
Repeating the same sentiment for emphasis.
Because my heart is in Ohio.
Explaining that the artist's true home is in Ohio, and they are not happy where they are currently located.
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.
Musing about self-harm as a way to numb the pain of separation.
(Cut my wrists and black my eyes)
Repeating the same line and adding emphasis through the use of parentheses.
So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.
Despairing that the singer may only find peace in dreams or in death.
Because you kill me.
Blaming the listener for causing the artist's emotional distress.
You know you do, you kill me well.
Admitting that the listener is skilled at causing pain and suffering to the artist.
You like it too, and I can tell.
Suggesting that the listener enjoys causing the singer pain, whether consciously or unconsciously.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.
Accusing the listener of wanting to completely destroy the singer's emotional and physical being.
Spare me just three last words.
Begging the listener for a final declaration of love or affection.
"I love you" is all she heard.
Stating that the listener only said the three words that the artist wanted to hear.
I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever.
Acknowledging that the artist is willing to wait for the listener, but not indefinitely.
[x2]
Signifying that this is the end of the song and the previous line is to be repeated twice.
[Choruses w/ ad-libs]
Announcing that the chorus and additional improvised ad-libs will be repeated for the remainder of the song.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Casey Calvert, Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger, James II Woodruff, Matthew Ridenour, Micah Carli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind