As of 2009, the band consists of Kristen Henderson on bass guitar/bg vocals, Cathy Henderson on lead guitar/bg vocals, Dena Tauriello on drums and Nini Camps on rhythm guitar and lead vocals.
The band is primarily known as a touring band, at one time performing 260 shows a year. They earned a dedicated fanbase early on that follows them from concert to concert along the East Coast and increasingly across the country. Fans refer to the band simply as "AR" or "Antigone".
Their first four albums were recorded mostly with independent labels and financed through fan donations. In 2003 they signed up with Lava Records after label president Jason Flom spotted them playing at one of their gigs. In 2005, they became the first artists to be promoted in Starbucks' Hear Music Series, created to discover and spotlight new music. The high visibility, exclusive sale, in-store promotion and airplay at Starbucks across the country helped the band's acoustic EP From the Ground Up sell over 450,000 copies by the end of 2005. The album's single, "Don't Look Back," was very popular among country audiences, and its video received heavy airplay on CMT.
Antigone Rising have shared the stage with Joan Jett, The Rolling Stones, moe., Rob Thomas, Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers and The Bangles[1]. They performed at Lilith Fair 1998 and SXSW 2005 and have co-written with Chris Trapper of The Push Stars and Rob Thomas.
Bloodshot
Antigone Rising Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you listening?
You're miles away from here and now and still
You think that you're still standing right on top
Promises, were wishful thinking
Oh valentine, I fear we're near the end
The knowledge of somedays what I've got
[Chorus]
You said don't leave me now
I said I tried
You said try harder
And I said let go
Thrown
Out of frustration
Are wasted stones, they're used to build
Your anger will leave you unfulfilled
And what I'll miss is air to breathe
And validation
You'll miss the blank stare
Of my bloodshot eyes
Circumstance and compromise
[Chorus]
Don't sink into this valuable lesson with me
Save yourself
[Chorus]
The song "Bloodshot" by Antigone Rising deals with the themes of distance and detachment in a relationship, dissatisfaction, and the inevitability of endings. The first verse speaks to the disconnect between two people – one person being physically present but mentally miles away. The second verse pleads with someone to see the reality of their situation, that the relationship has reached its conclusion. The chorus captures the push and pull of a failing relationship, one party trying to hold onto the other even when it seems futile.
The bridge of the song brings up the idea of frustration and unfulfillment, which is represented by the image of wasted stones that were once used to build something. The singer then moves onto what they will miss when they leave the relationship – air to breathe and validation. The partner, on the other hand, will only miss the blank stare of the singer's bloodshot eyes, highlighting the idea that they never truly saw one another.
The song ends with the repeated phrases from the chorus, urging the other person to save themselves from this valuable lesson. Overall, "Bloodshot" is a poignant, introspective piece that explores the raw emotions of a dying relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
The singer greets the person, hoping to get their attention
Are you listening?
The singer asks if the person is paying attention, indicating she has something important to say
You're miles away from here and now and still
The singer implies that the person is mentally distant and not present in the moment
You think that you're still standing right on top
The singer suggests that the person is overconfident and thinks they are invincible
Promises, were wishful thinking
The singer acknowledges that promises can be unrealistic and not always kept
Oh valentine, I fear we're near the end
The singer expresses concern that the relationship between her and her partner is coming to an end
The knowledge of somedays what I've got
The singer has learned from past experiences and knows that nothing lasts forever
You said don't leave me now
The singer's partner pleads with her to stay by their side
I said I tried
The singer has already attempted to help the situation but feels helpless
You said try harder
The partner insists that the singer needs to put in more effort to keep the relationship alive
And I said let go
The singer has come to the conclusion that it is best to move on and end the relationship
Thrown out of frustration
The singer feels desperate and hopeless in the situation
Are wasted stones, they're used to build
The singer believes that throwing stones is a futile attempt to solve problems
Your anger will leave you unfulfilled
The singer warns that getting angry and holding grudges will only lead to more pain and dissatisfaction
And what I'll miss is air to breathe
The singer will miss the feeling of freedom and space once the relationship is over and she can breathe easy again
And validation
The singer will miss the validation and support she once received from her partner
You'll miss the blank stare
The singer suggests that her partner wasn't really listening or paying attention to her, and their absence will be missed by him/her
Of my bloodshot eyes
The singer's eyes are red and swollen from crying or staying up late, indicating her emotional state
Circumstance and compromise
The singer recognizes that relationships are never perfect and involve giving up some things in exchange for others
Don't sink into this valuable lesson with me
The singer warns her partner not to repeat the same mistakes she made in the relationship
Save yourself
The singer advises her partner to take care of themselves and not let the breakup consume them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CASSIDY CATANZARO, KRISTEN HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DavidS Goldman
Such a wonderful, powerful song and performance!!
Acoustic Alternatives with John Bommarito
I'm grateful to Stephen Kellogg for recommending I check this out. Excellent!
Victoria Scott
Best women's group ever! They never disappoint! Love this song and Switchblade!
Sea Cliff Music
So great to hear this important song finally out in the world and love the video!
Peloma Shoulders
Got to see you perform several years ago your music just keeps getting better..love this beautiful..powerful song
Greg Butchko
Sounds great!
David S Vingman
Awesome music video. it was so cool to see the premiere
Zach H.
Beautiful!
Randy Mucha
Outstanding !
Amanda Spence
Amazing. Thank you.